Email Migration FAQ
Is your email account being migrated from Byte Productions' email server to their new hosting service? Then this is the place to find more information about the move, as well as common troubleshooting information.
Why are you moving my email? I liked my email where it was?
In one word ... service. Although the previous email system had a lot of features, keeping up with the other guys in regard to mailbox sizes and spam filtering became a losing battle. Spammers are constantly finding new ways to get their cruft into your inbox. Contracting this service to a company that has a large and dedicated team for just this purpose simply makes sense. Moving your email accounts continues to give you the level of service that you expect from Byte Productions.
How much is this going to cost me?
Nothing! This is an absolutely free upgrade for you.
Will I need to change my password?
That depends. The new system enforces relatively strong password requirements. If you have not changed your password from the original, temporary, password that was set when your account was created, chances are that you will need to create a stronger one. Here are the requirements to having a good password:
- Cannot have 3 or more consecutive numerals (e.g., 012, 567, 1234, 98765).
- Cannot have the word "password"
- Cannot have the mailbox user's name
- Cannot have the mailbox's domain name
- Should have at least 6 characters, preferably more
- Should utilize both upper and lower case, numbers and special characters where appropriate
What actually happens during the migration? Will I lose my email?
You will not lose any existing or incoming email messages. Your email is currently stored on our server. When the migration begins, these messages will be imported from the old server into the new server's accounts. If you store your messages on the server for any time, you may see them appear as new messages after the import. You can keep this "side effect" from happening by downloading your messages before the migration begins.
After this initial import has finished, there is a modification that takes place that changes the routing of your email from the old server to the new one. This usualy takes about an hour to complete. During that time, and possibly for a few hours after, email could get routed to either server. We do a second import 24 hours later to catch any messages that were delivered to the old server and bring them in to your new account. Once that is completed, your original email accounts are deleted from the old server and you will strictly be using the new servers.
How long will it take to complete the migration?
The migration spans across two days, but it is not two days without your email. Once we begin, the migration usually takes an initial startup of about an hour and then we schedule the first import of your email from the old server. Once that is complete, email is then routed to the new server and a final import is scheduled for 24 hours later to catch any email that may have gotten delivered to the old server. For this reason we do not like to schedule the migrations to begin any later than Thursday to give it a chance to complete before Friday so your team will not have issues prior to the weekend.
What is the SSL thing I keep reading about?
SSL stands for "Secure Socket Layer," and is a way of encrypting your connection between your workstation and the email server. This provides an extra layer of security while your email travels across the internet. This is particularly important if you send or recieve sensitive email messages, or if you are using a mobile device on an untrusted network.
You mean I have to change my mobile devices, too!
Unfortunately, yes, you will have to make some edits to the configuration of your mobile devices; specifically the incoming and outgoing server names and ports.
- Outgoing Server: secure.emailsrvr.com Port: 465 SSL: Yes
- Incoming Server: secure.emailsrvr.com Port: 995 SSL: Yes
- If there is an option for "authentication", set it to "Password"
Help! The migration has started and I can't get my email! And there's a really important one, too!
There are lots of reasons why you can't check your email while the migration is happening. Let's get you to being able to check your messages first. Your email message will be in one of two places: the original email server or on the new email server. Fortunately, you can view messages on both servers using their respective webmail programs. Follow either, or both, of the links below keeping in mind that your username is your complete email address.
Okay, I got my email, but how do we fix it so it "just works?"
There is usually one thing you can do that fixes 90% of the problems you are seeing. Reboot your workstation. A lot of times your workstation doesn't release the location of the old server and won't get the new location of the email server. A simple reboot forces your workstation to look it up again.
Nope, still broken.
Well this usually means that another piece within your network is not looking up the new location. You have two options.
- Wait it out and let that piece "fix itself". It will eventually get the new location, but may take some time. If you have the luxury of waiting, then this option allows you to not have to worry about editing any settings and lets you experience the new and improved webmail software, by using the link above, until it becomes resolved.
- Go in to your email software and adjust the settings to be those from the Mobile Devices section above. This may be a better solution as it will allow you to start using the secure communication link to the server. You can view the screenshots on how to adjust many email software configurations.
Ugggh! Why can't I get this working?!
Still having problems? Please give us a call, and we will troubleshoot your configuration together.