What is a Domain Name? 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 "halifaxhost.com".
When you type www.halifaxhost.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 $15.00 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.
How do I "point" my
domain name to a web hosting account?
Every domain name's registration has certain common elements. The
most important settings are as follows:
a)
Registrant's name and contact details
b) DNS (Domain
Name Server) settings
c) 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 with 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:
ns1.halifaxhost.com
(216.67.229.195)
ns2.halifaxhost.com (216.67.229.196)
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.
Our parent company (Bishmore
Holdings Ltd.) is also a Domain Name Registrar, meaning we can register
your domain names for you. If you register your domain name through our
service, you will not have to change your DNS settings, because we will
do it for you. Click
here to register a new domain name.
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