What happens if you change your webserver's IP address and have Google Apps?

December 20, 2008 10:33 AM

I am generally responsible for the technology operations of a startup nonprofit. We currently have our web server hosted on a Windows box. However, we will need to move over to a Linux server for various reasons, including running a new install of Drupal properly. As a result, we'll have a new IP address, though we'll be retaining our domain name and using the same hosting company. But what problems might I run into, especially with Google Apps?

My understanding is that there will likely be some downtime or general glitches with the webserver as the new IP address information propagates through DNS(?). This is probably fine for a day or so.

But my major concern is with our email. Right now, we use Google's Apps For Your Domain for email. If we get a new IP address, will we have to set our account up with them again? If so, is there any chance that we will - gulp - lose all of our email? Or what kind of disruptions, if any, can we expect? And finally, if there are any disruptions, will our email disappear, or be bounced back to the sender?

I am normally a strong advocate for Google Apps, but not having any control over our email during this transition is making me very nervous. I'm not an IT expert by any means but definitely would consider myself a skilled amateur, so I should be able to understand most of your advice :)

Many thanks for your help!

posted by thumpasor to computers & internet (3 comments total)

I don't know Google Apps for Domains, but as for DNS you can turn down the Refresh to 5m ahead of time (further in advance than the current setting) so that the changes propagate quickly when you do make the change. If you don't host your own DNS, then your DNS provider may already have it at 15m or so, in which case you should be fine, but check first.
posted by rhizome at 10:50 AM on December 20, 2008

including running a new install of Drupal properly

Since you say "including," I take it this is not the only reason. Because you can run Drupal just fine on WIMP. I can't think of anything you can't do, outside of automating cron, but that's easily accommodated.

Other than that, I have nothing to contribute here... just wanted to make sure you aren't taking on an unnecessary project.
posted by bricoleur at 11:16 AM on December 20, 2008

Changing the IP address of your web server should not affect your email provider. There are multiple types of DNS records. Your mail server is stored in an MX record. It points to google servers. Changing the A record for your domain won't interfere with this.
posted by PueExMachina at 11:44 AM on December 20, 2008