Test your website before the move
Put your website on WebOké already and view it exactly as it will appear once it's live, while your current site keeps running as usual. No hosts file, no DNS changes: your browser only asks our nameservers for your domain's address.
Which website do you want to test?
A warning about the certificate is normal
As long as your domain hasn't moved to us yet, we can't create an SSL certificate for it yet. That's why your browser warns you about https. Choose to continue to view the site; after the move your site will automatically get a valid certificate. Some sites don't allow clicking through (HSTS). In that case try it with http:// before your domain.
How it works
- Put your website in your package at WebOké (for example via FTP or File Manager).
- Fill in your domain name below. You'll get a personal address for your browser's proxy setting.
- Paste that address into your browser once. Go to your domain: you'll now see the version at WebOké. All other websites keep working as usual.
- Done testing? Turn the setting off again, or leave it as is: after 14 days everything automatically switches back to direct.
How exactly does this work?
The problem
A domain name always points to one place. When someone types in your domain, the computer first asks your domain's nameservers: "what address is this website on?". As long as your domain is still with your current provider, those nameservers give the address of the old server. Even if you've already set up the website completely at WebOké, everyone, including you, will simply see the old site.
Web builders usually solve this with the hosts file: a hidden system file in which you manually enter "this domain is at that address". That works, but it's cumbersome, you need administrator rights, and it's not something you want to have a client do. If you forget to change it back, you'll see the wrong site later.
What the proxy does
A proxy is a relay station: your browser doesn't request the website itself, but has proxy.weboke.nl do it instead. Our proxy doesn't ask your current provider's nameservers for your domain's address, but only WebOké's nameservers. They already know where your website is with us, even if the move hasn't been completed yet. This way you end up at the new version, exactly as if you had edited the hosts file.
Your browser only uses the proxy for the domains you add here. This is arranged by the address you get (an "automatic proxy configuration script"): it's a list of your domains. For all other websites, your browser simply goes direct, as usual. With the Current site button, the proxy looks up your domain the normal way again, so you can quickly compare the old and new versions.
What does and doesn't happen
- Nothing changes to your domain or your DNS: visitors to your website won't notice anything.
- The proxy only goes to websites hosted at WebOké, and only for the domains you add yourself here.
- With https, the connection between your browser and the website stays encrypted; the proxy can't read along.
- After 14 days it stops automatically. Your browser will then go everywhere directly again, even if you forget to turn off the setting.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as editing my hosts file?
Yes. Your browser asks our nameservers for your domain's address instead of the current provider. The difference is that you don't have to change anything in system files, and you can turn it off again with one click.
Will visitors to my website notice anything?
No. Only your browser looks through us. Everyone else just sees the current site, until you move the domain name.
Can I also log into WordPress?
Yes. You see your site exactly as it runs with us, so managing WordPress or another CMS works too.
Can I have my client use this?
Of course. Send your client to this page and have them fill in the domain, or send them the address you get here.
Why isn't my domain working?
The domain needs to be in a package at WebOké. If it isn't there yet, or if the DNS zone with us points to a different server, we can't show the site.