Switching to new server

Will I make Google mad?

[iJeep]

Over the past couple weeks I have been switching from NT hosting to *nix hosting. I have had the new website, databse and all up and running for about a week. I have changed the DNS settings to point to the new server. 99% of my traffic is on the new servers. The only thing that scares me about shutting off the old server is that most of the traffic yesterday was comprised of Googlebot and Inktomi. If it weren't for these I would pull the plug. Should I wait for them to stop coming, or let them figure out the change?

[Nick_W]

Wait. What harm will it do? -- I'd not risk it personally..

Nick

[uptil7000]

I switched last month and didn't really see the new site in Google until after the dance. I would wait( it's only a few more days).

[jamesyap]

It won't give you any problem if you change a host as long as you maintain the same domain name (URL). Bots recognize domain name instead of IP/DNS.

[bcc1234]

Keep your old hosting until you start seeing hits from googlebot on your new box. Make sure it's not freshbot, but googlebot.

[frontpage]

I switched to a new webhost this month for two of my websites at the same time (both PR5).

Both sites were given unique IP addresses and propagated properly.

Googlebot found site #1 within one week and I am getting "google fresh" on my pages.

However, Googlebot has not found after two weeks or cares to find my site #2 with a PR5. Site #2 results are from old google cache from last update. Go fiqure...

[frontpage]

Spoke too soon. Googlebot 2.1 hit my site #2 some two 1/2 weeks later after switch of webhosts.

Hopefully, it got in before the next update.

[ciml]

frontpage, it's been just about the most important question for a long time now IMO, but I've not seen a clear answer yet. Early this year, GoogleGuy indicated that they were checking DNS more often to reduce the number of missing sites.

Some people find that Googlebot switches within a very few days; when I moved a bunch of domains last Spring I kept the IPs going for two update cycles. This is quite easy with port forwarding, but it can be expensive and only works if you have your own IP(s).

Even after the new IP gets some Googlebot hits, the old one could still get some too due to the Googlebot servers having their own DNS caches in addition to the large central cache(s) that are believed to exist.