How can I redirect an important website address for 2 weeks since server failed?

[Wekiva]

Long story short...I've been in charge of my high school class website for many years. It's basically used each 5 years when we have a reunion (announcements, class party info, etc). We were starting to transition to Facebook and I was about to let the site go. Our 25th reunion is in 2 weeks and there was actually a lot of traffic to the site over the last month. It's at this point that the server appears to have failed. I can't ping the server at all. The server is buried in a friend's old work location (the boss knew it was there and was OK with it). My friend has since left the company and moved out of state. So...it appears the server is dead and gone.

Is there any way to redirect the site's address to point to some static page telling people to go to our Facebook page...or just call me for info?

I realize that I could start hosting the site with a company, but it's a shame to start doing this literally 2 weeks from when I was going to let the site go.

I've been using network solutions to update the site address (not the cheapest I know) and I believe at some point in the past I did something there to point to the site. Something to do with DNS? I'm a real newbie when it comes to this sort of stuff. I knew a little more 15 years ago when I had children and had a family web site...but have done almost nothing with web sites since.

Any advice or am I out of luck and going to have to start hosting this for a few weeks?

Thanks

 

[Elixer]

Yeah, update the DNS record to point to the new location.
If you don't have another location to point to... your out of luck.

 

[debian0001]

If you own the domain just redirect it using the company that is holding the domain.

 

[RossMAN]

Just to clarify, you own or have access to the domain (not hosting)?

If you do, the domain is registered with Network Solutions?

 

[Wekiva]

I own the website name (at least for 5 years anyway). Each 5 years I renew it through Network Solutions. I also use Network Solutions to direct the DNS (am I saying that right?) A long time ago I remember going through a process where I entered some IP numbers (several of them) so I believe N.S. also points to the site.

The website files were sitting on a server that was parked at a friend's work place. That server seems to have failed.

I just was just hoping there might be a free, quick solution that I could somehow redirect the website address to something that could give some alternate directions telling people to go to facebook or give a phone number for a few weeks. I was trying to keep it simple. I guess I could try one of these many hosting sites and find one that is cheap.

 

[jaedaliu]

never done this, but maybe you could set up a free blog with wordpress or whatever, then log into network solutions and point your website to the blog?

 

[Markbnj]

When you entered the IP addresses at Network Solutions you were telling them the addresses of the name servers at the host where the website resided. If you can't restore the existing server (or another server within that same subnet, served by those same name servers), then you're going to have to move the site files to a new host, and update Network Solutions with the new name server IPs. Once that's done inside of 24 hours the new address should propagate.

 

[RossMAN]

I own the website name (at least for 5 years anyway). Each 5 years I renew it through Network Solutions. I also use Network Solutions to direct the DNS (am I saying that right?) A long time ago I remember going through a process where I entered some IP numbers (several of them) so I believe N.S. also points to the site.

Are you able to login to Network Solutions and change the DNS nameservers?

http://www.networksolutions.com/support/move-dns-to-a-new-server/

http://www.networksolutions.com/support/how-to-verify-that-my-domain-name-servers-have-been-updated/

The website files were sitting on a server that was parked at a friend's work place. That server seems to have failed.

You probably already know this but unless you or friend has backups, those files are gone forever.

I just was just hoping there might be a free, quick solution that I could somehow redirect the website address to something that could give some alternate directions telling people to go to facebook or give a phone number for a few weeks. I was trying to keep it simple. I guess I could try one of these many hosting sites and find one that is cheap.

There is, I'll set you up with a temporary hosting account for only $279.95 per month, use coupon code hardcorenef to save $279.95.

I'm kidding, it's free.

I can get this setup for you today, please PM me with your domain name, your name, e-mail address and phone number.

 

[RossMAN]

YGPM

 

[quakefiend420]

RossMAN FTW

 

[RossMAN]

Or if you'd rather pay for web hosting here's a good deal.