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Estimated cost of switching Web Hosts

Looking for cost estimate

         

webknowledgeskr

4:02 pm on May 19, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I am about to embark on a project to move a mid-size website (approximately 200 pages) and the accompanying SQL dbase to a new hosting environment. The site has been built using Microsoft.NET framework.

Wondering if anyone might have an idea of the costs that a developer might charge to transition the site to a new web hosting environment.

Additionally, I am changing developers in the process as well, to what degree will the new developer and the old developer need to collarborate to make this move a success?

crashomon

9:34 pm on May 19, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Well, to answer your question as briefly as possible, the correct answer is "it depends."

What you're trying to do is move the site from ISP A to ISP B and ensure that the database is migrated with no loss of integrity, correct? Well, that will take a few hours at the very least (verifying data, backups, etc).

As for the developer time to switch, that really depends on how cooperative developer A is with developer B. Is there a manual provided for handling maintenance? Are the tables and triggers named in some obsure klingon language? Are the developers able to meet face to face?

It could take a few days, it could take a few weeks. But I don't see any reason why this should take more than 80 man hours assuming 3 things:
1. Developer B has all the tools (and experience) to do the job and has done this type of transfer before.
2. ISP B has the necessary bandwidth, security and database hosting issues all lined up.
3. The tables and all database related items are DOCUMENTED properly and in a language that most SQL developers can easily understand. (no blueprint? imagine trying to fix a house with no electrical diagram, or plumbing schematic . . . .all bets are off.)

Hire a project manager to oversee this or else have some clauses inserted into your transfer agreement that dictates the 3 items explicitly. Proper planning makes for successful programming. There are (I'm sure) other items to be considered, so continue to ask opinions and don't be afraid!

Good luck,

Patrick Elward

webknowledgeskr

2:42 pm on May 20, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Patrick, thank you for your response. I actually estimated a total of 4 weeks for the overall project(giving extra time for bumps in the road) with 80 hours worth dedicated to DB admin, and NT Admin work.
So you confirmed my estimates.