== How do I transfer my site to May First/People Link? ==

This How-To provides an overview of how to transfer your site from your existing Internet Service Provider to May First in a smooth and predictable manner. There are five steps in the process:

 1. '''Setup your account with May First.''' When you join May First/People Link, a web site and a single user account are created by default. However, you may want to add additional email accounts (see our [wiki:add_email_address_to_account faq on adding email addresses]). After this step is complete, you should test all settings - log in with the user name and password we provide for you (and make sure you can log into all the email accounts created via our [https://members.mayfirst.org/ webmail system]).
 1. '''Copy your web site to May First.''' If you have a standard html-based web site, this step should be a straight forward process of copying the file from your old Internet Service Provider to you computer (how do this may vary depending on your old Internet Service Provider), and then copying them from your computer to May First (see our [wiki:sftp faq on Secure FTP for more details]).  
 If you use a Content Management System (like Drupal or WordPress) or some form of database driven web site, you may need extra help copying the database to May First. We have a [wiki:copy_mysql faq on copying databases]. Or, MFPL can help you find a member to hire to help you with the transition. After you copy the files - don't make any updates until after the change over takes place!
 1. '''Configure your email settings''' to download email from both your old Internet Service Provider and May First. Alternatively, if you use web mail, synchronize your email from your old Internet Service Provider to May First. This step has so many variations depending on how you use email, that we've developed a separate [wiki:transfer_email how-to] on this particular topic.
 1. '''Transfer control of your domain name''' from your existing Internet Service Provider to May First. This change typically takes 1 - 3 days to complete. More information on transferring your domain name is [wiki:transfer_domain here].
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