Update Schedule
Below are the currently scheduled updates that will cause downtime for parts of the DealerFire website platform. This page will be updated as new updates are scheduled, and it will also be used to provide information about the updates and how they will affect you.
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| Affected Service(s) | Scheduled Start Time | Scheduled End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Engine 6 Websites | June 22 (10:00 PM EDT) | June 23 (7:00 AM EDT) |
| Ignite 2 / Builder 2 | June 22 (10:00 PM EDT) | June 23 (7:00 AM EDT) |
| Engine 5 Websites | June 22 (10:00 PM EDT) | June 23 (7:00 AM EDT) |
| Engine 6 Websites | June 24 (10:00 PM EDT) | June 25 (7:00 AM EDT) |
| Ignite 2 / Builder 2 | June 24 (10:00 PM EDT) | June 25 (7:00 AM EDT) |
| Engine 5 Websites | June 24 (10:00 PM EDT) | June 25 (7:00 AM EDT) |
Required Action for Engine6 Websites
You need to make whatever preparations are necessary to have your website's DNS records updated to point to the new datacenter. This is a critical step in the migration process, and it is essential that it be completed during the migration window on June 23, 2025. See the section below for information and instructions for updating your DNS records.
Updating Your DNS Records
The process of actually updating your DNS records is actually quite simple, but if you are unsure about what to do and you don't have anyone managing your IT, we recommend that you contact your DNS provider for assistance. They will be able to guide you through the process and ensure that everything is set up correctly. Below are the steps and information you will need to update your DNS records.
When to Update
The preparation for the migration is already underway, but June 23, 2025 is what we refer to as the Cutover Date. The actual migration will take place overnight, starting around 10pm EDT on June 22 so that it is completed well before dealerships open for business on June 23.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Changing your DNS records too soon will cause your website to go down, and changing them too late will cause your website to stop functioning properly after the migration is complete, and failing to change them at all will eventually cause your website to go down completely when we shut down the AWS servers.
Step 1:
Figure out who manages your DNS records
This is often the hardest part for many people because it's easy to forget the details of how your domain name was purchased and configured after so many years. The most common DNS provider is GoDaddy, but if you're not sure who manages your DNS you can use the DNS Check Tool on MXToolbox to find out.
Once you enter your domain name and click the DNS Check button, it will show you the DNS records for your domain. You can actually ignore all of them for now, because the information you're looking for is underneath the records table where it should say: Your DNS hosting provider is "PROVIDER NAME"
NOTE: When looking up your domain's DNS records, make sure you don't include https:// or www. in the search bar. For example, the DealerFire domain name is just dealerfire.com.
NOTE: If you don't see that under the DNS Check results, you can use the Whois lookup tool. The name of your DNS provider should be the first thing in the table of results.
NOTE: If the DNS hosting provider is listed as either "Amazon Route 53" or "Rackspace", then your DNS records are managed by Solera and you do not need to do anything with your DNS records. We will handle the migration process for you. If your DNS is Solera-managed, you will be contacted separately if any action is needed on your part. No changes are required at this time.
Step 2:
Log into your DNS provider's control panel
Once you have identified your DNS provider, you will need to log into their control panel. This is where you will be able to update your DNS records. If you don't know how to log in, you can usually find instructions on the provider's website or by contacting their support team.
Once you're logged in, look for a section named something along the lines of DNS Management, DNS Settings, or maybe just DNS. This is where you will be able to update your DNS records. Once you find the DNS Management section, you should see a list of your current DNS records. Some providers might require you to click an "Edit" button before you can make any changes.
Step 3:
Locate the DNS records for your website
There should be 3 DNS records that are used to configure your website with DealerFire, and they will have these values:
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| Type | Host Name | Data/Value | TTL (seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 34.206.154.172 |
3600 (1hr) |
| A | @ | 52.2.222.120 |
3600 (1hr) |
| CNAME | www | e6env-webserversnlb-3dc16ce9b4d9ca48.elb.us-east-1.amazonaws.com |
3600 (1hr) |
NOTE: If your TTL values don't match the table, that's okay. As long as you set the correct TTL in the steps below.
Step 4:
Delete the old DNS records for your website
Yes, that says "delete". Depending on the DNS provider, attempting to change DNS records can often lead to confusing errors and other similar headaches. So, to keep it simple, we recommend that you delete the old DNS records for your website before adding the new ones. This will ensure that there are no conflicts or issues with the migration process. Make sure you save or apply your changes, if that's an option, before proceeding to the next step.
⚠️ WARNING: Make sure you only delete the DNS records for your website, which are listed in the table above in Step 3. Deleting other DNS records could break anything from third-party authentications to your entire company email system.
Step 5:
Add the new DNS records
Now that you have deleted the old DNS records, you can add the new ones. Below are the new DNS records that you will need to add:
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| Type | Host Name | Data/Value | TTL (seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 136.179.129.162 |
300 (5min) |
| CNAME | www | e6lb.dealerfire.com |
3600 (1hr) |
NOTE: If your DNS provider also includes a "Priority" or "Priority Level" column, you can leave that blank or set it to 0. It is not required for these records.
Step 6:
Save your changes
That's it, you've successfully updated your DNS records! Make sure to save or apply your changes before you log out of your DNS provider's control panel. Then, all you need to do is keep an eye on your website to make sure everything is working properly after the migration is complete.
Post-Migration Checks
After the migration is complete, you should check your website to ensure that everything is functioning properly, especially where any third-party (non-DealerSocket) services are involved. There aren't many services that would be affected by a DNS change, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If you notice anything that isn't working properly, please reach out to our support team for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is actually happening?
Solera is upgrading the DealerFire Website Platform by moving all Engine6 websites from AWS (Amazon Web Services) cloud servers to our own local datacenter. This will improve system stability and performance across the board, as well as significantly reduce the frequency and severity of system-wide outages that have often been caused by AWS server instability.
How does this affect me?
During the overnight migration, your website will be temporarily unavailable as we move it to the new datacenter.
What if I don't update my DNS records?
Your current website will continue to be online for a short period of time after the migration process. This is to ensure there is no disruption to customers as DNS changes can take 24 to 48 hours to fully propagate. Our migration instructions will include steps to speed up the propagation time.
After migration has started, ALL changes to your website, including inventory or pricing changes will NOT display until the DNS records are updated. It is imperative you make this change for your website to stay up to date.
Will my customers notice any changes?
Because we are handling the migration process overnight, your customers should not notice any changes to your website.
Does this cost me anything?
No, this migration is completely free for all Engine6 customers. There are no additional costs or fees associated with this upgrade.
What does "Improving System Stability and Performance" actually mean?
All Engine6 websites are currently hosted on AWS cloud servers. Basically, this means your website "lives" on a server in an Amazon data center. That same server is divided into many pieces that are rented out to many different companies, including Solera. So, because Solera does not own or fully control the server, we are at the mercy of Amazon's infrastructure and any issues that may arise. This can, and often has, led to performance issues and outages that affect all Engine6 websites at once.
By moving to our own local datacenter, we will have complete control over the entire system that hosts your website from top to bottom. This means we can ensure that your website is always running at peak performance, and we can quickly address any issues that may arise without relying on a third-party provider.
What is Engine6?
Engine6 is the latest version of the DealerFire Website Platform, and is the successor to the previous version, Engine5. Engine6 is quite literally the engine that powers...
- The Engine6 Builder used to construct and edit the content of your website
- The Ignite 2 Backend Portal used to manage your website's settings and features such as leads, inventory, and dealership information.
How do I know if I have an Engine6 or Engine5 website?
The fastest way to figure out whether your website is running on Engine6 or Engine5 is to check the footer of your homepage for the following text:
| Platform | Footer Text |
|---|---|
| Engine6 | "Next-Generation Engine 6 Custom Dealer Website powered by DealerFire. Part of the DealerSocket portfolio of advanced automotive technology products." |
| Engine5 | "Responsive Dealer Website by DealerFire" |
Hint: Press Ctrl + F, or Cmd + F on Mac, to search for the text.
What if my website does not have either of these footers?
Some dealers specifically request that the DealerFire footer content be removed. If you don't see either footer, log into Ignite and go to the Pages module. If it says "Website not found in builder," your website is on Engine6. If there is actually content in the Pages module, your website is on Engine5.
If you need any help identifying which platform your website is on, you can contact support via the Chat tool in Ignite or by calling +1 (888) 556-2447.