Testing before the DNS switch is what separates a smooth migration from a public outage. The goal is to confirm the new server serves the site correctly while the old one is still live.
Preview the New Server
Use one of these methods to view the new server without changing DNS:
- A temporary preview URL provided with the account.
- Editing your local hosts file so only your computer points the domain at the new IP.
Both let you browse the migrated site exactly as visitors will, but only for you.
Functional Checks
Walk through the site as a real user would:
- Load the home page and several inner pages.
- Submit a contact form and confirm it saves or emails.
- Test login if the site has user accounts.
- Complete a checkout step if it is an online store.
Technical Checks
| Check | What to confirm | |-------|-----------------| | Database | Dynamic content loads without errors | | Links | No 404s on internal pages | | Images | Assets load and paths are correct | | Email | Forms and notifications send | | SSL | HTTPS works on the preview |
Look at the Details
- Check the browser console for missing scripts or styles.
- Confirm file permissions are correct if pages return 403 errors.
- Verify hardcoded links do not still point to the old host or a staging URL.
Sign Off Before Switching
Only update DNS to ns1.nairohost.site and ns2.nairohost.site once every check passes. Catching issues now means fixing them quietly, instead of under pressure with live traffic hitting a broken site.