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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 "vfhost.com". When you type
http://www.vfhost.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:
Registrant's name and contact details
DNS (Domain Name Server) 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 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:
Primary Nameserver:
dns1.vfhost.com
Secondary Nameserver: dns2.vfhost.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.
Our partner company 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. |