#1 (permalink)

Hi all,

I'm a newb here to the forum, signed up because it looked like the best place to get an answer to my question. Hope I have it in the right category.

Here is the issue at hand:

I'm working on a local biz (large manufacturing company) website, that is using an AT&T based hosting account, with a very limited control panel. To do what we would like done on this site, we'll be moving the site over to a cpanel hosting account.

When I went in to create a complete backup of the site, I realized that there are about 32 email folders on that site, with many of the company personnel using the server for all of their emails. Since I've never had to back up and move a huge group of email accounts like that, now I'm pretty stumped.

Here are my questions:

1. How do I go about creating a decent backup of all these email folders, so that nobody loses any of their emails while I transition the website onto a new hosting account?

I can back everything up to my hard drive right before changing the DNS settings, but what do I tell the client? Do I tell them that they'll all have to keep their emails closed during the time it takes to move the site?

2. During "propigation" time - how will everyone's emails be handled? - In other words, as soon as I change the DNS settings, there will be the "propigation" of up to 72 hours... - does this mean that folks will not be able to get in and out of their email accounts while the site propigates?

I'm soooo confused on this one. Have not run across the sheer number of email folders on a site like this before, with people using these accounts daily - then have to move the entire site to new hosting.

Anyone have any good tips, tricks, ideas on how I can accomplish the move without messing up everyone's email accounts?

Thanks!
Michelle