A domain name is your website's virtual address. It is what visitors to your website will typically enter into their internet browser so they can view your website. Our domain name is
thegreathostingcompany.com. When you type www.thegreathostingcompany.com
into your internet browser, everything after the "www" is considered the domain name, and is registered to the owner of the associated website.
There are two definitions for "domain name" found at www.dictionary.com:
Domain Name
n.
A series of alphanumeric strings separated by periods, such as www.hmco.com, that is an address of a computer network connection and that identifies the owner of the address.
Strings of letters used to name organizations and computers and addresses on the internet; "domain names are organized hierarchically with the more generic parts to the right".
In order to have a fully functional website, you have to have a domain name registered in your name, and you have to "point" that domain name to a
web hosting account, where your website will reside.
| How do you get a domain
name? |
|
In order to get your own domain name, you have to "register" one at a "domain name registrar". Registering a domain name is a relatively simply process.... you merely have to search for a domain name you want, see if it's available (i.e. make sure no one else has registered it), and complete a registration form at the registrars website.
You will also have to provide payment details because domain name registrations are not free. Domain name registration prices are typically anywhere from $10.00 to $50.00 per year, depending on the registration company you choose.
Even though there are hundreds of domain name registration companies to choose from, they are all affiliated in some way with the main registry where all domain name registrations are held. Therefore, when you register a domain name with any domain name registrar, your registration will be placed with the main registrar so that no one else will be able to register the same domain name. Your registered domain name will remain yours as long as you continue to pay your annual registration fee.
Click here to register a new domain
name.
| How do I point my domain name
to my web hosting account? |
|
Every domain name's registration has certain common elements. The most important settings are as follows:
- Registrant's name and contact details
- Domain Name Server (DNS) settings
- Expiry date
The DNS settings are responsible for directing traffic to your web hosting account, where your website is located. Every web hosting server is defined
by their own unique DNS settings, so when you enter the DNS settings for the server where your web hosting account is, into your domain name's registration, your domain name will "point" or "redirect traffic" to your website when people enter your domain name into their browser.
Most web hosting servers have two sets of DNS settings, a Primary Nameserver and a Secondary Nameserver. For example, the DNS settings for one of our servers is as follows:
Primary Nameserver: ns1.nameserver11.com
Secondary Nameserver: ns2.nameserver11.com
Once you register a domain name to use for your website, you will have to change the DNS settings of that domain name, to the correct settings for the server where your web hosting account is. This is typically done by logging in to your Domain Manager (provided by your domain name registrar), and making the changes yourself.
If you register a domain name with us,
we will do this for you.
Learn more about our web hosting
accounts.
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