Transfer domain from hosttech to CURIAWEB: change nameservers or transfer domain

If your domain is registered with hosttech and you want to use CURIAWEB hosting, you do not necessarily have to transfer the domain.

You can keep the domain registered with hosttech and simply adjust the nameservers or DNS records. Alternatively, you can transfer the domain completely from hosttech to CURIAWEB and manage the domain through CURIAWEB in the future.

Briefly explained: If you only want to move your hosting to CURIAWEB, the domain can remain with hosttech. If you also want to transfer the domain management, you need a domain transfer and the auth code from hosttech.

Option 1: Keep the domain at hosttech and use CURIAWEB hosting #

Domain registration and web hosting are separate services.

A domain registered with hosttech can therefore continue to be renewed and managed there, while your website is operated via CURIAWEB.

There are basically two possibilities for this:

• At hosttech, you change the nameservers to the CURIAWEB nameservers.
• You keep the hosttech nameservers and only adjust the required DNS entries there.

We explain the differences in more detail under Keep domain with another registrar and connect to CURIAWEB Hosting.

Add CURIAWEB nameservers at hosttech #

If the domain is registered with hosttech, you can change the nameservers in the myhosttech customer center.

Proceed as follows:

1. Log in to myhosttech Customer Center a.
2. Click on the left Domains.
3. Open that Domaincenter.
4. Click on the domain in question Details.
5. Select in the open menu Change nameserver.
6. Enter the CURIAWEB nameservers.
7. Save or confirm the change.

The CURIAWEB nameservers are:

ns1.curiaweb.ch
ns2.curiaweb.ch

You can find further information at Finding and correctly using CURIAWEB nameservers.

Important: Prepare the DNS zone in CURIAWEB before changing the nameservers of a domain that is in productive use. Changing the nameservers does not automatically copy the existing DNS records at hosttech to CURIAWEB.

What should be considered with DNSSEC? #

If DNSSEC is activated for your domain at hosttech and you switch to external name servers, this point must be taken into account before the changeover.

hosttech explicitly points out that when changing to external nameservers, the DNSSEC protection option – if active – must be deactivated and the corresponding key must be deleted.

The reason for this is that the previous DNSSEC configuration no longer matches the new DNS zone after the nameserver change.

Attention: An incorrect DNSSEC configuration can cause DNSSEC-validating resolvers to no longer resolve your domain correctly. Therefore, do not simply change the nameservers on a whim while DNSSEC is active.

Check existing DNS configuration before switching #

Before you change the nameservers, you should document which DNS records your domain currently uses.

In addition to the website, for example, the following services can depend on the DNS zone:

• Email
• Subdomains
• SPF
• DKIM
• DMARC
• external services
• Domain Verifications

With the CURIAWEB DNS-Check can you check publicly visible DNS information of your domain.

You can find a more detailed explanation at Check DNS records: View current DNS configuration of a domain.

Can I keep the hosttech nameservers? #

Yes.

You do not necessarily have to change the nameservers to CURIAWEB in order to use CURIAWEB hosting.

If you want to keep your DNS management with hosttech, the hosttech nameservers can remain active. You then simply adjust the DNS records that should point to your CURIAWEB hosting.

Hosttech explicitly supports both options: using external name servers or adjusting individual DNS records.

Change DNS records at hosttech #

If you want to keep the hosttech name servers, you can edit the DNS records via the myhosttech customer center.

According to the current hosttech instructions, proceed as follows:

1. Log in to myhosttech Customer Center a.
2. Open Domains → Domaincenter.
3. Click on the domain in question Details.
4. Choose DNS Records.
5. Edit existing entries or create the records required for your CURIAWEB hosting.

These changes are only effective if the domain is actually resolved via the corresponding hosttech DNS infrastructure.

Which DNS records do I need to change? #

That depends on which services are to switch to CURIAWEB.

If only the website is moving to CURIAWEB, you should not automatically change the email configuration.

For the website, A, AAAA, or CNAME records may be relevant, for example. For email, MX and TXT entries are important, among others.

We explain the individual record types under DNS Records Explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, and CAA.

Important: Use exclusively the specific server or DNS data of your CURIAWEB hosting. A general guide cannot provide a universally valid hosting IP.

How long does a DNS change take at hosttech? #

hosttech states that for changes to individual DNS records, it takes up to 6 hours can take for the changes to become active.

When changing the nameservers, hosttech specifies a timeframe of up to 24 hours.

This information does not mean that every change will take exactly that long. DNS caches and TTL values can cause different resolvers to use different information during a transition period.

We explain the technical background at What is DNS propagation and why does a DNS change take time?.

Option 2: Transfer domain from hosttech to CURIAWEB #

If you want to transfer your domain management from hosttech to CURIAWEB in addition to the hosting, you need a domain transfer.

For this purpose, hosttech provides a Auth code or transfer code Ready.

This code is used to authorize the registrar transfer.

Request auth code from hosttech #

According to the current hosttech documentation, the auth code is requested as part of the domain cancellation process.

Proceed as follows:

1. Log in to myhosttech Customer Center a.
2. Open Domains → Domaincenter.
3. Click on the domain in question Details.
4. Choose Cancel domain / AuthCode or rather Cancellation / AuthCode.
5. Execute the scheduled cancellation of the domain.

Hosttech will then send the auth code required for the transfer, along with the cancellation confirmation, to the email address registered in the customer account.

Important: According to the current documentation at hosttech, domain cancellation is part of the procedure to obtain the auth code for an outgoing transfer. Therefore, do not cancel the domain on suspicion, but only if the subsequent transfer is actually planned.

What do I do with the auth code? #

You use the auth code received from hosttech for the domain transfer to CURIAWEB.

Treat the code as confidential. It serves as a security feature for authorizing the registrar change and should neither be published publicly nor passed on to unknown recipients.

We explain the general procedure under Domain transfer to CURIAWEB: How the transfer works.

What if my domain is included in a hosttech domain subscription? #

There is a special feature for domains within a hosttech domain subscription.

Hosttech points out that such a domain cannot be canceled in the usual way. It must first be removed from the domain subscription.

To do this, follow the current hosttech instructions as follows:

1. Log in to myhosttech Customer Center a.
2. Open the Domain Center section Domain subscriptions.
3. Uncheck the box for the domain in question.
4. Save the change.

Subsequently, the domain can be canceled through the normal process and the auth code can be requested.

Can I also cancel the domain in writing with hosttech? #

Yes.

According to its own documentation, hosttech also accepts a signed cancellation letter as an alternative.

This can be sent to hosttech by post or as a scan or photo by email.

For a standard domain transfer, the function in the myhosttech customer center is usually the more direct route.

Do I also need to unlock the domain at hosttech? #

Whether an additional transfer approval is required in addition to the auth code depends on the respective domain extension and the current domain status.

Therefore, it should not be claimed across the board that every domain registered with hosttech must be unlocked via a separate registrar lock switch.

If the transfer is not possible despite a valid auth code, the specific error message or domain status should be checked.

You can find more information at Unlock domain for transfer: Registrar Lock and transfer lock explained.

Do I need to change the nameservers before the transfer? #

No, not fundamentally.

A domain transfer and a nameserver change are different processes.

If the existing DNS infrastructure can continue to be used after the registrar transfer, the nameservers can initially remain unchanged.

However, if you are moving the domain, website, and DNS completely away from hosttech at the same time, it should be clarified in advance where the DNS zone will be hosted after the transfer.

Practical Tip: Before a complete switch, document the current nameservers and DNS records. This allows you to check after the transfer whether your website, email, and other services are still pointing to their intended destinations.

What happens to my website at hosttech? #

A domain transfer does not automatically transfer your website to CURIAWEB.

Website files and databases are part of the hosting and must be transferred separately to the new hosting environment.

Therefore, the existing hosttech hosting should not be cancelled as long as the website is still running there or data is needed for the migration.

What happens to my email accounts at hosttech? #

Email accounts and existing messages are also not automatically transferred by a domain transfer.

If your email accounts are also to be moved to CURIAWEB, they must be set up on the new hosting environment and existing messages migrated if necessary.

If email is to continue to be operated via hosttech or another provider, the necessary DNS records must be retained.

You don't want to migrate your website and emails yourself? #

If, in addition to the domain, your website and email accounts are also to be transferred from hosttech to CURIAWEB, you do not need to carry out the technical migration yourself.

CURIAWEB handles the migration of a website, including databases and email mailboxes, for new customers as part of the Free moving service.

The new hosting environment is being prepared before the final DNS switchover takes place.

Practical Tip: If you would like to use our moving service, do not cancel your previous hosttech hosting prematurely and do not change nameservers or DNS entries on a hunch. For a controlled migration, the previous environment must first remain accessible.

Can the domain stay with hosttech and only the hosting be changed? #

Yes.

hosttech itself points out that a domain does not necessarily have to be canceled or transferred away just because an external hosting provider will be used in the future.

You can keep the domain registered with hosttech and connect it to CURIAWEB via nameservers or DNS records.

Can only the website switch to CURIAWEB and the email remain with hosttech? #

Basically yes, provided your existing hosttech service continues to include the desired email usage.

In this case, only the DNS records required for the website are pointed to CURIAWEB. The MX and other DNS records required for the existing mail service remain unchanged.

Website and email do not have to be hosted with the same provider.

What is the safest order for a complete move? #

If domain, website, and email are to be completely transferred from hosttech to CURIAWEB, a controlled process is recommended:

1. Document the existing DNS configuration.
2. Check if DNSSEC is enabled for the domain.
3. Set up the CURIAWEB hosting.
4. Transfer website and databases.
5. Prepare email accounts and mail migration if necessary.
6. Set up all further required DNS records on the DNS infrastructure to be used in the future.
7. When switching to external nameservers, deactivate the existing DNSSEC configuration, if applicable, according to the procedure provided by hosttech.
8. Request for a domain transfer via Cancel domain / AuthCode the auth code.
9. Start the domain transfer to CURIAWEB.
10. Carry out the planned nameserver or DNS change in a controlled manner.
11. Check website, HTTPS, email, and DNS.
12. Do not terminate unneeded hosttech services until after a successful check.

How long does the domain transfer from hosttech to CURIAWEB take? #

The duration depends on the domain extension and the respective transfer procedure.

A single time specification for all top-level domains would therefore not be correct.

With certain country-code extensions, a transfer can take place very quickly, whereas with other domain extensions, a transfer procedure lasting several days may be required.

You can find more information at How long does a domain transfer to CURIAWEB take?.

How do I check the domain after the transfer? #

After a nameserver change or a complete migration, you should check which DNS information is publicly visible.

With the CURIAWEB DNS-Check Can you check the DNS configuration?.

If the CURIAWEB nameservers are to be used, you expect:

ns1.curiaweb.ch
ns2.curiaweb.ch

Then check additionally:

• Website and HTTPS
• Email reception and transmission
• Subdomains
• Forms
• external services and domain verifications

Change nameservers or transfer domain? #

If you only want to use CURIAWEB hosting, you do not need to transfer your domain away from hosttech. You can leave the domain registered there and simply adjust the nameservers or DNS records.

If you also want to transfer domain management and renewal to CURIAWEB, you will need a domain transfer and the auth code.

Note: A hosting change does not require a domain transfer. Decide separately where your domain is registered, where its DNS zone is managed, and where your website and email should be hosted.

Summary #

A domain registered with hosttech can be used with CURIAWEB hosting without necessarily having to be transferred.

For a nameserver change, you open according to the current hosttech instructions Domains → Domaincenter → Details → Change Nameserver and save it there ns1.curiaweb.ch as well as ns2.curiaweb.ch.

If you want to keep the hosttech nameservers, you can under Domains → Domaincenter → Details → DNS Records instead, only adjust the required DNS records.

For a complete domain transfer, you choose Domains → Domain Center → Details → Cancel domain / AuthCode. hosttech sends the required auth code along with the cancellation confirmation to the email address stored in the customer account.

If the domain is in a hosttech domain subscription, it must first be removed from this subscription. When switching to external nameservers, any active DNSSEC configuration must also be taken into account.

Domain transfer, nameserver change, website migration, and email migration remain distinct processes and should be carefully coordinated during a complete transition.