What is a domain name?
A domain name is your unique address on the Internet. The domain name
functions as an alias for the numerical IP (Internet Protocol) address
assigned by your host provider. Since people remember names better than
numbers, domain name helps visitors find your web site simply by entering
the web name (e.g. www.slashtime.com) instead of hard-to-remember IP
address.
Who is
InterNIC?
The InterNIC is an independent organization responsible for holding the
registration and routing of Internet domain names. Without these people it
would be virtually impossible to maintain sanity on the Internet. Next
Generation hosting handles all InterNIC registration forms and transfers,
making your domain's stay on the internet as comforting as possible.
What is
"WHOIS"?
WHOIS is a tool that permits people to access information about a
particular domain name.The Internic updates their WHOIS data twice every
24 hrs. This means the data it presents isn't as up-to-date as it could
be. For example, if a domain name has transferred ownership, it's possible
this fact wouldn't be available to you for up to twelve hours.
What's
the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?
Originally, the
three letter extensions after the dot (or Top Level Domain/TLD) were meant
to denote whether the domain name was being used for business (.com)
charity/non-profit (.org) or for a technology based company (.net).
However, with the explosion of the Internet (and specifically, the world
wide web) as a new business medium, the lines were blurred, and companies
and individuals alike started cross-registering domains (ie. Me.com,
me.net, me.org) just to protect their interests. Now, .com, .net, and .org
names (the generic Top Level Domains) can be used for any purpose.
Why should I
buy a domain name?
Whether you are a business or an individual, there are several important
reasons for buying a domain name. These reasons include:
Exposure: Your domain name means that anyone in the world can find
information about you, your products or your services 24 hours a day.
Protection: Securing a domain name protects your name, your company
name or your product name(s) on the Internet.
Profitability: Domain names help to establish the Internet's
"points of contact." This is where online buyers, suppliers and
partners conduct electronic commerce.
If you have anything to communicate "say" or sell, or if you
just want to be more accessible, then securing your unique domain name is
a smart move.
How can I
find out if a domain name is available?
To search for a domain name, simply type the name in the domain search box
on the slashtime.com home page and click "GO!". Within seconds
we will tell you if your selection is available! Keep in mind that your
name is not registered until your payment has been processed, and there is
no obligation to buy.
How do I
choose the best domain name?
Generally, the best names are those that are easy to remember, easy to
type, and easy to spell. Short names are usually preferable to long names.
For instance, the domain name "slashtime.com" is easier to
remember than "slashtimecomputech.net", even though the longer
name is more descriptive. A good domain name will convey a unique sense of
what your web site has to offer.
What are the
guidelines for a domain name?
Your domain name may include any letters in the English alphabet, any
numbers, the dash (-) and the underscore* (_). No spaces or other
characters are allowed. domain names must be less than 64 characters in
length (including the extension portion), and must begin and end with a
letter or a number. We also offer the following helpful hints:
Be careful using a zero, as it may get confused with the letter
"O". To separate words, use the dash (-). Spaces are not
allowed. Domain names are not case sensitive, most users enter in all
lower-case letters. Try to select a domain name that is a maximum of 15
characters. *Note: The underscore (_) is not allowed in sub-domains.
Can I choose
any domain name?
In theory, you can register any domain name that is available. In
practice, however, there are some restrictions. Our policy states that you
cannot register a name which you know to be the registered trademark,
service mark, or copyrighted property of another (i.e. tyota.mysite.com).
In doing so, this is a violation of the Terms of Service, and may also
violate the copyright or patent laws of the Canada and other countries.
How can I
find out whom a domain name has been registered to?
Enter the domain name you wish to research in the domain search box on the
slashtime.com Home Page. If the name is registered, it will be displayed
as a link to the public information of the registrant.
What is URL
Forwarding?
If you currently have a website, URL Forwarding can make it appear when a
visitor types in your domain name. Using proprietary URL Forwarding
technology, your domain name is pointed to your existing site on the
Internet. For instance, if you register "www.mysite.com", you
may use URL Forwarding to "point" to "www.geocities.com/members/city/papers7799.html".
What is DNS
and how does it work?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is the system that the Internet uses
to convert numerical IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to mnemonic form (eg,
www.slashtime.com). Domain names are registered with a central
organization in each country and are also associated with two DNS servers:
a primary server and a secondary server.
When someone types a domain name into a web browser, his or her Internet
Service Provider's DNS server looks to its cache for an IP address
associated with that domain name. If the ISP does not have an entry
cached, it sends a "lookup query" to other DNS servers, which
then return the IP address associated with the requested domain name back
to the ISP. Once the ISP's server has that information, the user can
access the web site.
IP addresses are typically 12 digit numbers that identify a computer on
the Internet, much like a street addresses. They refer to specific servers
and their physical location on the network. Domain names are like the
names on the mailboxes - they are associated with people and content.
Registry?
Registrar? Registrant? What do these words mean?
Registrar: A
"Registrar" (or "Domain Name Registrar") is an
organization like BulkRegister or Network Solutions that has control over
the granting of domains within certain TLDs (top level domains, like the
generic .com/.org/.net or country-specific .ca/.us/.mx etc.).
Registry: The 'Registry' is the backend that registrar's have shared
access to. Each registrar writes new names to a central registry database,
from which the authoritative root (essentially, a table of all domain
names on the Internet) is built.
Registrant: A registrant is the person or company who purchases a domain
name. For example, Mick Black (registrant) registers the name mickhome.com
through BulkRegister (registrar) who in turn writes the name to the
central database (Registry). |
