This announcement applies only to dedicated server and cloud server customers still using the old Helm control panel. It also applies to shared hosting customers who elected to take the early migration option to the new control panel previously. Your account will be moved to new high powered web servers.

Today we are announcing the upgrade of dedicated servers, virtual/cloud servers and remaining shared hosting customers (who elected to take the early migration option) to the new (new) platform. Starting on Thursday, July 5th, and continuing for 1-2 weeks, we will migrate your dedicated server, virtual server or shared hosting account per the specifics below. Your websites will be moved at an unannounced time, but we will send you a notification when we start and complete the migration.

You may have some questions regarding this move is necessary. We have organized our reply by the type of service you have. Please read carefully to determine if any action is needed on your part during the migration window.


Shared Hosting Customers (who elected to take the early migration option):

The migration of websites from the old Helm platform is going so well that we have decided to move customers who took the early migration option previously on to the new servers. Your website will be placed on speedy new x64 bit servers packed with 24 CPU cores / 32GB of RAM, Windows Server 2008 R2 / IIS 7.5, PHP, .NET, ColdFusion 8 (soon to be 10), full .HTACCESS support, and our new control panel software.

*Your participation will be required.*

We have listed some specific situations that may cause some problems. Please take a moment to review the list under "Technical Details" below to see what applies to you.



Dedicated Servers:

Dedicated server service with EPhost, Inc. is still using the defunct Helm control panel. We are installing our new control panel system called WebsitePanel on your server and will import resources from your server into the new system.

*This upgrade will require PATH change to where your files are located on your server*

Your participation may be required to update your website application to use the new PATH. We will initiate an automatic find and replace updating your website files accordingly. However, if you have referenced the path in a database entry you will need to update this after the move.

Other than the path change, no change will be needed.



Virtual Servers

For our virtual server customers we will be combining a few steps into one to upgrade your operating system and to move to our new cloud hosting platform. First, we will be migrating you to a new server on our new cloud hosting platform, and then updating the control panel software. For customers still on Windows Server 2003, you will be upgraded to Windows Server 2008 R2. This is being done for security and performance reasons. If you are still on the Helm platform we will be moving you to WebsitePanel. If you are already on WebsitePanel, you will be imported into the system again.

*IMPORTANT NOTES*

1) We will be unable to pull over customer installed software (e.g. ColdFusion or ISAPI_rewrite, or HeliconAPE), scheduled tasks or other custom executables on to the new server automatically. If you have specifically installed such software, or are unsure, please contact us immediately to discuss installing it manually in advance. Your websites, and other such web hosting services, will be moved automatically.

2) Unfortunately, it will be necessary to re-add any FTP accounts once the migration is complete. This is due in part to upgraded FTP software.

3) This upgrade will require PATH change to where your files are located on your server.  We will initiate an automatic find and replace updating your website files accordingly. However, if you have referenced the path in a database entry you will need to update this after the move.

4) Your IP address will be changed. If you are not using our DNS services then you will need to update DNS on your DNS providers website to point to the new server and dedicated IP addresses for your website.

5) If you are using Password Protection or ISAPI_rewrite on your server please contact us immediately to see about purchasing and installing Helicon APE on your new server.



Technical Details - Please review carefully.

Note, many of the items will not apply to dedicated or virtual server customers but are being listed just in case.


If you are not sure if these settings apply to you, please note we are making our best effort to migrate your website with little or no problems. We WILL notify you of issues we find and will provide assistance in correcting those issues once your account has been moved.


Windows Server 2008 R2 x64

Your website(s) will be moved to new high-powered servers (24 CPU Cores and 48GB of RAM each) running Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 with IIS 7.5 and Helicon APE, an Apache emulator to extend functionality. Websites will be placed in their own Application Pools for performance and isolation. The new control panel system is called Web Site Panel and includes the Microsoft Web Application Gallery, database/website backups tools, the latest PHP & .NET releases (All Frameworks) and ColdFusion 8 (soon to be ColdFusion 10). IIS 7.5 features remote IIS access, configurable web.config files for making on-the-fly IIS changes, integrated URL Rewriting, Caching, and Compression options. The new Helicon APE tool will give you the ability to use standard .HTACCESS files for URL rewriting, caching, compression, and password protection too.

By default, websites are created in a 32bit Integrated Application Pool with PHP 5 and ASP.NET Framework 2 enabled by default.  This is ideal for website’s running PHP and ColdFusion as you will still need .NET enabled to use the new .HTACCESS capability and make modifications to your web.config file.  If you are using ASP.NET you may upgrade the application pool to whatever version you need.

 

File Paths

The PATH to your website files will change for those of you referencing it in your scripts. The new path will be sent to you when we move your website. We will be attempting to automatically update files with the invalid reference, but in some cases this may not be possible. E.g. stored in the database

 

MS Access / 32 bit ODBC DSNs

If you are using an ODBC DSN, aside from a ColdFusion DSN, you may need to request us to manually setup a 32bit ODBC connection as Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 typically uses x64 ODBC DSNs. Please contact us AFTER the move by submitting a DETAILED email to support@ephost.com. Please be sure to include the name of the requested 32Bit ODBC DSN, and the location of your MS ACCESS database.

 

Dedicated IP addresses

If you have a dedicated IP address or are using an SSL certificate (a dedicated IP is required) your dedicated IP address will almost certainly change. We will update DNS for you if you are using our DNS service.

If you are not using our DNS service for your domain please see Customers with 3rd Party DNS Servers below.

 

SSL Certificates

If you currently have an SSL certificate we will be migrated them to the new server automatically. This process may take longer to complete. Please contact us if your SSL certificate is not working after we notify you that your site has been moved.

 

Password Protection Services

If you are currently using the old password protection tools please take steps now to protect your content if it absolutely cannot be exposed. we recommend renaming those pages temporarily. We will not be held responsible for exposed data.

We will be making all attempts to restore your password protection automatically, but due to variations in those systems over the years and file path changes it may not be possible. We have two ways to protect content going forward using the new control panel. Please see Secured Folders or .HTACCESS in the settings area for your website in the new control panel.

 

Shared SSL

Shared SSL will not be able to be migrated to the new system automatically. Additionally, the URL to the shared SSL feature will change. If you are currently using the Shared SSL feature you will need to re-enable it in the settings area for your website in the new control panel system, and then update your links accordingly in your website code.

 

Usage of URL Rewriting

(Only applies to our new shared hosting environment)

If your website is doing URL rewriting using our ISAPI_Rewrite 2 tool then you will need to update those rules to the new .HTACCESS format we now support. You will know this is the case if you have a file in your WWWROOT folder called HTTPD.ini.

The new rewriting tool emulates what you might typically use on Linux/Apache servers so most of what you find online for .HTACCESS can be used interchangeably on either system.

Please see the following examples to rewrite your rules to the new format.

Old Tool:
http://www.isapirewrite.com/docs/

New Tool:
http://www.helicontech.com/ape/doc/mod_rewrite.htm
http://www.helicontech.com/ape/

Please note, IIS 7.5 also has a URL Rewrite tool built-in which can be configured using the web.config file which will now automatically appear in all websites regardless if you are using .NET or not.  The web.config files adds a whole new level of control over your IIS website.

See Rewrite Tool:
http://weblogs.asp.net/owscott/archive/2009/11/27/iis-url-rewrite-rewriting-non-www-to-www.aspx

See Web.Config Reference:
http://www.iis.net/ConfigReference

 

Front Page Users

FrontPage was discontinued in 2003 and was replaced by Microsoft Expression in 2006. Our new servers WILL NOT support Front Page, but will support Microsoft Expression and Web Matrix.

If you have a Front Page website it may not function entirely, or function correctly, after this move. please take immediate action.

We recommend upgrading to Microsoft Expression or one of the many open-source options out there like WordPress. We would be happy to help set this up ASAP for you to begin moving content.

See: http://www.microsoft.com/web/platform/tools.aspx

 

Non Standard DNS / Web Server Setups

Over the years we have made custom DNS and custom web server modifications to users for a variety of reasons, but most especially for DotNetNuke users running multiple portals (aliases) with and without independent email service.

These custom changes will be lost and unrecoverable. You will need to re-implement your custom DNS and web server changes using the control panel AFTER you are moved. This DOES NOT apply to custom email MX DNS records. If you are using a 3rd party name server this will be especially important. See Customers with 3rd Party DNS Servers below.

 

Customers with 3rd Party DNS Servers

The process of moving your website will likely involve an IP address update. If we are managing your DNS then we will take care of updating your DNS for you.

However, if you are using a 3rd party DNS server, action will need to be taken by you after your website has been moved. If you do as “WhoIS” look up on each of your domains and one of the following nameservers is NOT listed - then this applies to you.

After the move you will need to login to the new control panel, determine your new IP address and update the WWW and @ records at your 3rd party DNS provider to the new IP address.

Instructions:

1) Go to http://www.whois.sc  
2) Type in your domain name
3) Look at the bottom where it says “nameservers” and see if one of our nameservers are listed.

EPhost Nameservers:

NS1.EPHOST.COM
NS2.EPHOST.COM

DNS1.EPHOST.COM
DNS2.EPHOST.COM

DNS1.WEBSITECONTROLS.COM
DNS2.WEBSITECONTROLS.COM

NS0.FRAKLANDHOSTING.COM
NS1.FRANKLANDHOSTING.COM

NS0.FRAKLANDHOSTING.NET
NS1.FRANKLANDHOSTING.NET

NS1.INSTAHOST.NET
NS2.INSTAHOST.NET

NS0.NETWORKNAMESERVERS.COM
NS1.NETWORKNAMESERVERS.COM

 

Sub-Domains & Domain Aliases

Domain aliases and sub-domains may be added beyond your total domain limit count inside the new web hosting plans. However, in the case you want to use a sub-domain as an independent website, or an independent website pointing to a sub-directory in your primary site root folder, it is counted against your website count. Otherwise, it will simply point to the root of your primary website. This is contrary to our Helm system where it did not count against your hosted website quota. We will grandfather in existing setups like this and increase your website quota when used reasonably. You can circumvent this by using .HTACCESS directives if you so choose. See our KB.

 

Virtual Directories

Virtual Directories will not be able to be migrated to the new system automatically.  If you are currently using virtual directories you will need to re-add the virtual directory using in the settings area of your website in the control panel.