I have a new VPS on which I have set up several sites. These sites are currently hosted elsewhere, and I want to test them to make sure they are working properly on the VPS before I move the DNS.

What's the best way to do this?

Well, you can do it a few ways.

1. You can, one by one, set the host header in each site to 127.0.0.1 Port 80 and on the VPS go to that address in your browser. and you'll be able to see your site. Just be warned, that if two sites are using the same host header, it will stop the conflicting sites. So when you are done, remove it.

2. You can, one by one, set the host header in each site to use your VPS IP address and on any computer go that address in your browser. and you'll be able to see your site. Again, just be warned, that if two sites are using the same host header, it will stop the conflicting sites. So when you are done, remove it.

3 You can just stay up late at night and just switch the DNS on each site on by one. and hope for the best

There are other ways of doing it by modifying your HOSTS file. (At least that's how I do it(, but it can be long and complicated.

Thanks. I tried that, and it worked, except that it brought up a windows authentication dialog first. After I put in my server credentials, it showed the site.

Did the authentication dialog come up because I'm browsing locally, or do I have some setting screwed up and it will do this even after I move the DNS settings?

Hmm..I've gotten that evil authentication message before. Usually it's a problem with the permissions on the folder that the website is in. Creating a new folder for that website usually works for me. Did you recently move your Inetpub Folder?

OK, another DNS question.

I'm moving my website to a CF VPS+ windows plan.

The site is currently on a shared hosting plan with another vendor. The nameservers for that vendor are currently listed in my Go Daddy account (domain name registered with Go Daddy.com).

To have my domain name point to my new VPS IP address, is it as simple as ...

- Delete current Nameserver entries (wn3.OldVendorDNS1.com and wns4.OldVendorDNS2.com)

- enter my new VPS IP address in the Nameserver1 block.

- wait 24-48 hrs for propagation

Is that it? (I am only hosting one domain name on my VPS and in IIS I've associated that domain name directly with the IP address. If I type http://xxx.xxx.xx.xx/index.cfm, I can see my site.)

[quote="Jason101]Did you recently move your Inetpub Folder?[/quote]

No, I didn't, but I'll take a look at the permissions on that folder. Thanks.

You'll first need to tell HostMySite that you are transferring a domain name and going to switch the DNS over. They will then add that domain to their system so it is recognized when it hits their nameservers. After that, yes it's as easy as switching the DNS and the IP.

wait 24-48 hrs for propagation <-- I can believe this with GoDaddy.. They are a stickler when it comes to domains. I will never deal with them ever again.

If your domain was with HostMySitie, it would be more like a 30 second propagation. You should at some point switch your registrar to HostMySite.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thanks for your help!