A DNS cutover is the moment you switch traffic from your old server to the new one. Done correctly, visitors experience zero downtime throughout the migration.
Step 1: Lower TTL Before the Switch
At least 24 hours before the planned cutover, lower your domain's DNS TTL to 300 seconds (5 minutes). This means cached DNS records expire quickly and new visitors resolve to the new server faster after you make the change.
Step 2: Verify the New Server
Test your site on Double Hosting before switching DNS. Add a hosts file entry on your computer mapping your domain to the new server's IP:
192.0.2.1 yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.comVisit the site in your browser and verify everything works. Remove the hosts entry after verification.
Step 3: Update DNS Records
Update your domain's A record (or nameservers) to point to Double Hosting. With a 5-minute TTL, most visitors will be on the new server within 15 minutes.
Step 4: Monitor and Restore TTL
Watch error logs and monitor uptime for 30β60 minutes after the cutover. Once propagation is complete and everything looks stable, raise your TTL back to 14400 (4 hours).