DNS Transfers
November 29, 2007
Before a domain name can be live on our servers so the world can view it and send e-mail, it must be changed to show our name servers as its “authoritive name servers.” This is accomplished via what is called a domain “modification” or domain “transfer.” or just simply a “DNS transfer”.
We like to think of it as an “internet change of address” – it’s so much simpler when you think of it like that.
We can HELP you transfer the domain name but we cannot authorize the transfer. If we could, then we’d could have every website in the whole world, if we wanted them, and that would be a little bit scary. Therefore, it can only be done by the owner of the domain name, and you must have the user name and password for the account. Hey – we don’t make the rules. We just help you play the game. If you can’t remember who your registrar is, you can look it up through Network Solutions. Once you have the user name and password you can either provide it to us, or follow the steps for “transferring the name” – In any event, don’t skip the next part about e-mail. That’s important stuff.
By the way! you MUST continue to renew your domain name with your registrar each renewal period and you should keep your e-mail address and contact information current at all times. This is a contract between you and the registrar and is the only way you will keep your domain name. If you’re paying more than $15 per year for the registration of the name, then you’re paying too much and you should check with us about cheaper options.
E-Mail Considerations
Before you transfer your name, you need to plan for a time of transition with regard to your e-mail. While the internet change of address happens globally, some people will see your old site and some will see your new site and some e-mail will go to the old site and some to the new site. No way around this – it’s how the ‘Net works. You’ll need to check your e-mail in both places during this time to insure that you receive all your mail. This usually resolves in about 48-72 hours from the time you authorize the change. We say usually because each Internet Service Provider chooses when they update their address information and some servers in Ghana might only do it one every full moon. Here in the USA, it’s pretty much every day. We suggest, however, that you make the change on a Friday to reduce the impact to your operations. Especially those in Ghana.
Create all the mailboxes for your new account
Setup your new mailboxes in Outlook/Outlook Express using your IP address as the incoming and outgoing server.
Call the company that currently hosts your e-mail (this is usually the same company that hosts your website, or it could be a separate company. If you’re not sure, we may be able to help you determine who it is) and tell them that you need the settings to check your e-mail with an IP address because you are transferring your domain and e-mail. They should be able to walk you through this part and make any needed changes on their end to reflect the change, as well. If they are ALSO your Internet Service Provider (in addition to your webhost) they will need to change their system so they properly allow your outgoing mail.
When you’re finished, you’ll have two accounts per person in Outlook/Outlook Express. About a week after the new website is live, you can remove the account for your previous host.
Transferring the Name
Look up your registrar (http://www.internic.net/whois.html)
Work with the registrar to determine your user name and password to administrate your account. You may have to apply for lost passwords or lost accounts to do this. Allow plenty of time before any deadlines to make sure you have this information.
Change the NameServers and the Technical Contact information, or send the user name and password to us and we’ll make the change for you. Be sure and tell us the date you want the change made, and be sure that your e-mail preparations are in place!
Our NameServer Infomattion and Technical Contact information are as follows:
Primary Name Server:
NS1.GEMTRAVELSITES.COM
Secondary Name Server:
NS2.GEMTRAVELSITES.COM
Technical Contact
Crossover Consulting, Inc
15842 Portillo Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
909-752-5318 – FaxNetwork Solutions NIC Handle:
CY360
If you have any questions regarding these steps, please let us know and we’ll step you through it.
Reminder: No Bulk Client Mailing Allowed
November 14, 2007
For some reason since switching to the new server the outgoing email has gone through the roof. We are working to stabilize the server load, but in the meantime allow me to remind everyone that it is NOT permissible to send out bulk mailings (and that includes internal office and/or client mailings to more than 10 recipeints) using our server.
When things settle down tonight I’ll look at the server logs and see exactly which users are dragging the server down. In the meantime, if you don’t use your consortium to send mailings (vacation.com, STN, Carlson) you need to contact me for alternatives.
Also, PLEASE stop hitting the send/receive button to check mail every other minute. I realize this has been frustrating, but it is also causing the mailserver to lock down because it thinks its being attacked. Please set your mail to automatically check every 10 minutes and don’t hit send/receive or get mail any more than that.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Chelle
Installing Spam and Antivirus
November 14, 2007
This morning there will be intermittent times when email times out while I reload the Spam/AntiVirus protection. I’m sorry to do it during the day, but we’re getting SLAMMED by Spam Mail and if I don’t deal with this now it could take longer for mail to come in, and cause more outages as the connections to the server are used up. It should be finished by 2pm Central Time.
Importing Existing E-mail from Webmail or Outlook/Outlook Express to GMail
November 13, 2007
As promised, here are the instructions for importing your existing e-mail from webmail or Outlook/Outlook Express/Thunderbird to GMail
Download the PDF file of these instructions to print out
This pdf outlines two ways – the simple way and the technical way. Please be sure you’ve got some technical help if you choose the second path! It will be essential to have someone ONSITE with you if you run into difficulties.
Changing Mail Settings
November 9, 2007
You will need to make some simple changes in your mail program (Outlook/Outlook Express/Thunderbird) to be able to get your mail.
- If you have been using an IP address such as 65.109.77.xx then you MUST change it ASAP – that is the OLD server and no mail is going there anymore. You may have some old mail there that you might want to download for reference, but no NEW mail is going to show up – ever.
- If you changed it earlier this week to the 66.225.221.45 address, then you need to change it to 216.246.45.203
Yes, you need to change it. Yes, you really do.
Right now: Change your INCOMING MAILSERVER to 216.246.45.203
Thank You. That wasn’t so hard, was it?
If you use Webmail then I STRONGLY encourage you to switch to gmail – see my post below. It is the only program I have ever endorsed since AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. are not designed for business – but gmail is. You will absolutely not have to change your email address with us. They integrate seamlessly. You will still send mail, and receive mail with your domain name using gmail.
Chelle
Instead of Webmail, Use Gmail
November 8, 2007
There’s a lot of reasons why. I have a whole article on it, in fact – which is in a web-box around here somewhere, lost in the move, so to speak. I’ll dig it out and mail it in a little while.
(Edit: Here’s the link: http://mentalgaragesale.com/2006/12/review-using-gmail-for-travel-agencies.html)
In the meantime:
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