Prostack is changing some of the IP addresses in its UK1 datacentre. This article details some of the frequently asked questions you may have.
What is changing?
The IP address of your server(s) will be changing. IP addresses are unique identifiers (like telephone numbers) of your server on the internet.
Your website(s) are translated into IP addresses using a system called DNS. As part of the change, you'll need to update your DNS to point to the new IP.
Your server is not being migrated, and everything else remains the same. Both old and new IPs work identically.
How do I know if I'm affected?
If you're on a Shared or Reseller plan, you are affected.
If you're on a Cloud or Dedicated server, and your IP address(es) start with `83.223`, then you are also affected.
Will I have downtime?
No. We plan to run both IPs side by side for a minimum period of three months. This should give you plenty of time to change over IPs.
Why are you doing this?
We're upgrading the network infrastructure in our UK2 datacentre. As part of this upgrade, we need to move certain IP announcements to new ranges.
This work will allow for faster page load times, greater network reliability, and additional capacity, positioning us for future growth whilst delivering immediate benefits in speed and resilience.
Can you help me update my DNS?
Of course. Our engineers are on hand to assist with this change and are happy to advise you- just ask.
- If you use Cloudflare (and we are a member of your account) we can assist by changing DNS records for you.
- If you have DNS hosted by us, we can automatically make this change on your behalf. We'll ask for your approval to do this.
If you are not sure where your DNS is, we can advise. Usually this will be your domain registrar.
What exactly do I need to change?
For a given domain, you'll need to change the following DNS records:
- Any A records that are set to the old IP - change these to the new IP.
- Any SPF records that contain the old IP- you should add the new IP to the record.
This must be done for all of your domains. Your DNS provider may have a 'bulk update' tool.
For GDPR reasons we are not able to log into third party systems to make this change for you.
What else do I need to be aware of?
You may have systems that rely on the old IP address. These may include:
- External firewalls that allow traffic from the old IP address.
- Third party systems (such as inventory tools, payment gateways or similar)
- Access control lists
These systems will need to be updated with the new IP.
Do I need to do anything once I've switched over?
No- just let us know you're no longer using the old IP. We'll switch the old IP off and let you know so you can verify everything is OK.
Once you've changed my IP, will it change again?
No. We will not be changing IP addresses again in the future.
I have a question not listed here
Contact our support team and we can advise.
