Monday, October 31, 2005

[Hosting] [Typepad] Hosting problem & moving to Movable Type

When I eagerly bought my domain name (from Go Daddy) I also signed up for a hosting package.

I'm now thinking it might have been the wrong thing to do. Firstly, am I correct that if I'm still using Typepad, I don't actually need to host the website, I can simply redirect the DNS settings at www.silverbrowonfood.com to silverbrowonfood.typepad.com ?

Second, I really want to upgrade Movable Type. My problem is that it looks a tad confusing installing it, so ideally I'd like to go with a host where it comes installed as part of a package - Go Daddy is not currently one of those companies. However, I'm concerned that if I try to move host, my site will collapse - is this unfounded?

So my questions are these
If I stick with Typepad, and don't do the MT option, do I need a host or can I redirect my DNS settings?
Has anyone tried installing MT themselves? How tricky is it?
Should I move hosts away from Go Daddy to another host that has MT installed as part of a package? Or, should I stick with Go Daddy and try to install MT myself or get MT to do it?

Silverbrow from Silverbrow on Food

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some hosts do have easy control panels to allow you to redirect without a lot of fuss.

The MT install isn't too hard, but then I've done it a few times. If you've even heard of the terms file permissions and perl modules, you won't have any trouble, and even if you haven't, it's not as bad as it looks.

Obviously a host with MT built in is ideal, but you'll probably wind up getting your hands dirty playing with this stuff eventually anyway.

I personally have a bit of a moral objection with Go Daddy, as they've been ruthless about the way they snatch domains, but that's just my opinion, and they're probably not any worse than anyone else.

Ed said...

I use Movable Type. I tried for two days to install it and gave up as I just couldn't get it right. Part of the problem is that the documentation is really bad and assumes you are an expert. You can get Six Apart to install it for $90. It al depends how tecchie you are. I thought I would be okay. I'd studied theoretical physics and had done some programming at uni.But als I'm an idiot. If you do move to MT, and it is an excellent system, www.learningmovabletype.com is an excellent resource to help in tailoring it.

Professor Salt said...

"...I don't actually need to host the website, I can simply redirect the DNS settings at www.silverbrowonfood.com to silverbrowonfood.typepad.com ?"

That's exactly right. Set up domain forwarding with your registar so silverbrownfood.com points to silverbrownfood.typepad.com. You can also set up "masked" domain forwarding. Users will be forwarded to the contents of silverbrown.typepad.com, but the address that shows in their browser is masked as silverbrown.com

silverbrow said...

I've had some offline chats with a couple of the people here about this thread and Prof Salt suggested I reposted here, so below is my email and below that is Prof's reply.

Thanks to Prof and the others for replying to my msg

From me to the prof

Prof
First, thanks very much for the replies to my post on FoodScool.

However, I have a couple of quick follow-up questions I hope one of you will know the answer to.

Am I right that if I cancel my hosting accounting with Go Daddy then as long as my DNS settings are redirected to typepad all will be well and the site will continue to work?
Assuming I am able to delete my hosting account with GD without destroying my blog, at some point I would like to move to hosting with one of the hosts that MT has a deal with. I assume therefore, that there are no issues with my having registered my domain name with GD but using another host?
I know that Prof answered a similar question to 1. in food blog scool, but I'm paranoid about all this, as my knowledge is limited, and you know what they say about a little knowledge causing a lot of damage. Similarly, I imagine that the answer to 2. is that there are no issues using another host, I just want to be 100% certain.

Cheers
Silverbrow

from Prof to me

Hi Silverbrow,

I'm gonna suggest that you repost our responses on FoodSchool, as they may help someone who's in a similar situation. I've been through the exact same thing you're asking, so I'm speaking from experience.

Am I right that if I cancel my hosting accounting with Go Daddy then as long as my DNS settings are redirected to typepad all will be well and the site will continue to work?

Yes. Go Daddy serves two separate and distinct functions in your case. As your domain registrar, they're the traffic cop that directs traffic wherever it should go. As your host, they maintain your web and mail servers. Oh yeah - if you're using email @ your domain, you'll lose that function when you cancel your GD hosting service.



Assuming I am able to delete my hosting account with GD without destroying my blog, at some point I would like to move to hosting with one of the hosts that MT has a deal with. I assume therefore, that there are no issues with my having registered my domain name with GD but using another host?
No problem at all. Like I said, *you* tell GD where to send your traffic. In the past I've used Hurricane Electric and Avid Hosting. I recently moved all of my personal domains to Host Matters. Their user interface is much friendlier than my prior hosts, their tech support and customer service are prompt. This is important to me because I'm not Linux geek, and having a friendy UI is important to me. Plus I can host all three of my domains under one plan for $11 a month with enough other features that I'm set for the foreseeable future. I use WordPress for my blog, but they have Movable Type and many other software preinstalled on their servers. To activate any of them, it's a one click install using an interface called Fantastico.

Hostmatters will let you preview their control panel before you subscribe, so you test drive beforehand. If you end up using their services, please mention that professorsalt.com referred you in the comments. I think I get $3 off, whee!

Anonymous said...

I guess I have selected a mind blowing and interesting blog.

cheap canadian hosting review

Unknown said...

Your contents are wonderful and advisory. hosting coupons

Anonymous said...

We give you everything you need to know on watches to save money and the best places to buy them from traditional stores to online!replique montre aaa