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NEWSLETTERS | DECEMBER, 2002 DNS Problems When a Website "Goes Live"From Dealing with DNS by Eric Holter What actually happens when DNS records are modified? One of scariest moments in making a site live is making the changes to the DNS records. Because these records ultimately point the whole world to the email and website related to the domain name, a mistake can completely "break" access to the site and email. Because of the way modifications are implemented, if a mistake is made there is no instant way of fixing it. This is because of how domain name servers work. There are millions of DNS servers in the world. Anyone can set up a DNS server, we have one through RackSpace. Every DNS server contains a long list of every domain name in the world and their corresponding records. These DNS servers have to keep track of lots of information. Domains change all the time and so DNS servers must update themselves frequently. How frequently? That's the kicker. It's up to the system administrator who runs the DNS server. Some update every few hours and others perhaps daily. Therefore, when a change is made to a DNS record it may take a day, or sometimes two, for all the DNS servers to update themselves, thus making the change complete. During this time some DNS servers will point to the new server, and others that haven't been updated will point to the old server. One effect of the DNS update process is that it is entirely possible for users in one part of the world to be accessing an updated DNS server so that they see the new site, while others who access an un-updated DNS server may still be directed to the older site's server. Because of the way DNS records are updated mistakes can be costly. If the www records or the email records are not modified correctly (misspelling of a domain, or accidentally transposing numbers in an IP address) the new modification will result in updating all the DNS servers with the wrong information so that the website will not be found, and email bouncing. Correcting the record itself can be done very quickly, but the correction won't fully take affect for a day or more. Additionally, because there is usually more than one party involved in DNS modifications, and information between these parties can sometimes be misunderstood or incorrect, problems with DNS modifications are not uncommon. And again, the more parties that are involved the more delay there can be in making domain record modifications.  
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  Subscribe To Our NewsletterJanuary 2012 The Truth About Content  |
Hi, Not sure if you can help but the person who hosts my website has done a disappearing act and I finally tracked them down last week by face book, he was meant to come round to the house and Imake a few changes but didn't show, I do not know where he lives as he company has now gone bang, his phone goes on to answerphone and he dosn't return to my facebook messages, My website is a valuble part of my company and to keep it up to date I need to make necessary changes as a matter or urgency, where do I go to get help, I do not have access to change certain parts of my website but not fully and I need full access as my sponsors are not longer current, please can you tell me where to go to get access to my own site, i have not fell out with this guy he has simply disappeared, his name is carl fearby and used to trade as paper hat or neofuture neither exist anymore help
Hi Amanda. The company (Paper Hat Creative) did not file any accounts which escalated within Companies House to a 'proposal to strike off'; and as a result and has since been dissolved. According to the records and history this is at least the second company this guy has managed to sink. I would assume that you are not the only one with issues with this guy unfortunately. You may want to consider contacting Trading Standards (if it's personal) or the Office of Fair Trading (if it company) - they were really very helpful. If you have paid for the website, you own it and it's content. He has no option but to comply if you request the content and a transfer. If there is no contract or agreement in place, make sure you have every email and communication logged as this will be needed since some cowboys try to claim that certaon services are 'on loan' which would render some sites/content pretty useless. Either of the above (Trading Standards or Office of Fair Trading) would help you with that in terms of direction. I notice that although the company is 'dissolved' he's still trading as 'Paper Hat' at www.paperhat.net. There are a few threads about this chap on the net which make interesting reading. He has a very, very poor reputation by the looks of it. Hope that is of some help. Amir
Amanda, I've sent you an email with contact details for Carl Fearby. I hope it helps.