Mapping existing domains- Concerns

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  vanderloo · Member · Feb 1, 2011 at 4:59 pm

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  I’m reading the instructions here on mapping my existing domain to wordpress by changing the DNS’s.Is there anything I need to be concerned about like losing my email address functionality. I’m reading in the instructions where it says any email addresses I have under the current DNS may stop working when I change DNS’s. I’m a little fuzzy on what I’m supposed to do to prevent this.
  Also, I recently loaded up a new site and did 301 re-directs from the old site pages to the new. I see in WordPress’s mapping instructions that wordpress automatically removes the “WWW” from any web addresses. This tells me I have to change to 301 re-directs?? Is this correct?

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  airodyssey · Member · Feb 1, 2011 at 11:52 pm

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  Hi. If I understand correctly, you already have a domain name. Once you change your existing DNS settings for those of WordPress.com, and once buy the domain mapping option, you can change certain DNS settings through your WordPress.com dashboard, including MX records:
  http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/custom-dns/

  Some email providers have specific MX records you need to enter in order to continue receiving email. However, that’s not always the case. Fortunately, you can use free Gmail Apps to get email addresses for your domain name. See the link above for details (which may be outdated) or click below (up to date apparently):
  https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/mx-records-for-google-apps?replies=27#post-545568

  As for the 301 redirects… what do you mean by “loading up a new site”? Are you talking about the same blog/domain name for your first question about email? (Or maybe I’m not understanding clearly but another volunteer does).

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  vanderloo · Member · Feb 2, 2011 at 1:28 am

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  airodyssey,
  I changed my main web site to a whole new site and in order to make sure people are still able to find the new site by using the old address, I did a 301 re-direct for each page. when you do a redirect you have to type in the old page name with www and direct it to the new page name so it automatically sends the user there. So, since wordpress eliminates the www from the address, I’m not sure if I have to change all of my re-directs. Same goes for the sitemap in my main site. Will it confuse the crawlers if I change DNS servers that eliminate the www? It seems now the crawlers will be mis directed unless I change the sitemap.

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  frustratedarab · Member · Feb 5, 2011 at 11:20 pm

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  I don’t know if this is relevant in its entirety to the replies thusfar but I’m having trouble transferring my domain from WordPress to Bluehost.

  When I get to the Automattic login page it asks me to enter a 4 digit code and when I do it send me back to the login page, and after I login in (again) it sends me back to the security page and asks me for a 4 digit security code.

  All I want to do is transfer hosting.

  Any help would be great.

  Email: (email visible only to moderators and staff)