domain downtime

[minette]

I am in the process of designing a new website. I have a domain name and currently am with another host.
If I cancel my current hosting account and move to Hostgator how long do I have to wait before I can continue to work upon setting up my site? Is there downtime for that domain name before I can continue using it?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

[M@rc]

The only "down time" you will experience is DNS Propagation. This occurs when your domain's name servers has been changed, because you'll have to switch from your current hosting name server, to HostGator's name servers.

It takes up to 24 hours for a domain to fully propagate once name servers has been changed, so you'll see your old website until the domain has been fully propagated.

[mrcycling]

Set up your account with HostGator, copy your website files over to your new account (using the IP address, not domain name, for ftp'ing). Then change your DNS settings at your Domain Registrar. Give it a few days, to make sure the new DNS settings have fully propagated worldwide, THEN cancel the old account.

Your website visitors shouldn't notice any change. And you can always work on the new website using the IP address until it propagates.

Whenever I have moved hosts, I add a small change to the files on the old server, such as an extra period at the end of the first paragraph. That way I can easily determine if I am viewing the new or old hosting service.

[minette]

Thankyou M@rc and Mr Cycling for your responses. It's really helpful to know that it's possible to move with minimal disruption.