Swapping out an A record and pointing DNS to a new environment, especially Acquia Cloud, involves a few critical steps and considerations. Here’s a straightforward game plan to help you and your team ensure a smooth launch, along with contingencies for potential issues.
Key Concerns for Swapping an A Record
- Propagation Delay: DNS changes can take time (usually up to 24-48 hours) to propagate globally. During this time, some users might still see the old site while others see the new one.
- Downtime: While swapping A records shouldn’t cause downtime if done carefully, it’s essential to plan for a brief maintenance window, especially if you’re handling sensitive data.
- Cache Issues: Cached data (both browser and CDN) might still point users to the old IP address. Clear all caches after the DNS change.
- SSL Certificates: If the site uses HTTPS, make sure SSL certificates are in place on Acquia for the new domain setup to avoid security warnings.
- Redirects and URL Structure: Confirm that any necessary redirects are in place if the URL structure has changed. This will help maintain SEO and user experience.
Game Plan for Launching the Site with a New A Record on Acquia Cloud
1. Pre-Launch Preparation
- Set Up the Domain in Acquia: Add the new domain to your Acquia environment if not already set up.
- Test on a Subdomain or Temporary Domain: Before the final launch, deploy the site on a temporary domain (e.g., staging.example.com) to test its functionality in the Acquia environment.
- SSL Certificates: Obtain and install the SSL certificates for the new domain in Acquia Cloud.
- Content Freeze: Implement a content freeze (if necessary) on the live site just before the switch to avoid data inconsistencies.
- Backup: Take a full backup of both the site and database before the DNS change.
- Plan for Reversion: In case the new site encounters issues after going live, confirm if you can revert the A record to the original WordPress instance to allow a temporary rollback to the old site if needed. Ensure the original environment will remain intact as a fallback.
2. Switching the A Record
- TTL Adjustment: Lower the TTL (Time to Live) on the current DNS records to something short (e.g., 5 minutes) a few hours or a day before the change. This will help the DNS change propagate faster.
- Update the A Record: Once you’re ready to go live, update the A record in your DNS settings to point to Acquia’s IP for the new environment.
- Identify Key Risks Before Public Announcement: Delaying the public announcement for a brief time after the DNS change allows you to verify that the new site is stable and functioning correctly, addressing any downtime, broken functionality, or SSL issues before public attention.
3. Post-Launch Steps
- Clear Caches: Clear caches in Acquia Cloud, CDN (if applicable), and any server-level caching (e.g., Varnish).
- Monitor Performance and Errors: Track site performance, uptime, and error logs closely to catch and address any unexpected issues quickly.
- Check SSL and HTTPS Redirects: Verify that SSL is correctly configured and that all HTTP traffic redirects to HTTPS.
- Run a Final Site Check:
- Confirm that all major pages load correctly.
- Test forms, critical functionality, and integrations.
- Confirm that tracking scripts (e.g., Google Analytics) and any third-party services are functioning as expected.
4. SEO and Analytics
- Submit Updated Sitemap: Submit the new site’s XML sitemap to search engines.
- Monitor SEO: Track search engine performance, as a DNS switch can sometimes temporarily impact rankings.
5. Post-Launch Communication
- Notify Stakeholders: Inform team members and stakeholders that the site is live on the new domain.
- Prepare for Troubleshooting: Keep key team members available post-launch to troubleshoot any immediate issues.
By adding these contingencies, such as the option to revert to the original site and delaying the public announcement until the new site is stable, you can better manage risks associated with the go-live transition and ensure a successful launch.