Creating Domain prior to changing DNS when moving

I will be moving a site to DH. The site is currently in JSP. It needs converted to php, names changed, etc.

Can I create the domain and make needed changes to the site PRIOR to changing the DNS servers to point to DH?

Thanks

Yes, easily. Just add the domain to your DH account, and it'll create a directory in your webspace where you can work on the files exactly as if they were being served. The system doesn't know or care whether the DNS records are actually pointing to the files it's trying to serve.

If you want to test the site prior to changing the DNS servers, create yourself a free dreamhosters.com subdomain and set that to mirror the main domain. Then if everything looks good, you can just change the DNS records and everything will magically start working just like you want.

Thank you. I thought as much, but have never had to move a site.

Here's an article about it in the Dreamhost wiki: http://wiki.dreamhost.com/index.php/DNS_-_Viewing_site_before_DNS_change

Note to self: Always check the WIKI !!

Thanks