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Check your DNS before moving a website

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DNS records tell visitors and email systems where to find your services. Before a website move, save a copy of the current records so you can compare changes and restore them if needed.

Find out where DNS is managed

Your domain registrar, DNS provider, and website host can be three different companies. Check the domain’s active nameservers to identify the provider that controls the current DNS zone.

Separate website records from email records

  • An A record points a name to an IPv4 address; an AAAA record points to an IPv6 address.
  • A CNAME record makes one name an alias of another.
  • MX records direct incoming mail. TXT records can contain email verification and security settings.

Moving a website does not automatically mean moving email. Keep existing email records unless you have a separate, confirmed plan for changing them.

Change only the records you have confirmed

Get the correct destination from your hosting provider. Check both the main domain and the www name, and look for old IPv6 records that could send some visitors to the previous server. Do not guess an IP address or replace the entire DNS zone without reviewing it.

Allow for caching

Resolvers may keep an earlier answer until its cached record expires. Test from more than one connection, and keep the previous hosting available while you verify the move. If you are unsure about a record, contact CanyonHost before changing it.

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