Web Hosting 101

You can purchase a domain name for a large variety of Domain Name registrars, like Network Solutions, Dotster, and Register.com. I include a domain name in the student hosting package that is available for $50 per year.

IP (Internet Protocol) Address – every computer, server, router, or other device on the Internet has a 32 bit binary address, similar to telephone numbers. You are assigned a public IP address by your ISP or Web Hosting Company. Looks like this: 66.125.13.172

Domain name – URL – Uniform Resource Locator – A domain name provides an easily remember alternative to harder to remember IP addresses. Looks like www.mywebsite.com instead of 66.125.13.172

DNS Servers – Databases in these servers help direct requests to resources on the Internet, and serve the same functions as Directory Assistance. They resolve easily remembered domain names into IP addresses. These servers are run and managed by Registrars, ISPs, hosting companies, and major backbone providers like ATT and MCI.

Every Web site needs a server (computer) on the Internet to hold the Web content and make it available to Web surfers. These servers go by a number of names that include Internet Service Providers, Web Hosting Companies, Web Presence Providers and the like. We will use the term Web Host to refer to this service.

When you get a Web Host for your site, make sure that you know the path for publishing, the login id, and the password. All three of these pieces of information are required, no matter how you publish your site.

FrontPage Server Extensions – your Web Host must support FrontPage Server Extensions. Most do, but before you sign up, make sure the one you are using does support this. Front Page Server Extensions installs special folders and files on the server into the root directory of your web site. They are shown in the illustration to the right.

Comcast Personal Web Pages (PWP) will support FrontPage Server Extensions. Qwest.net offers FrontPage Server extensions support on a product called Qwest Choice Internet Prime. in practice I have had problems getting the web sites to work properly with these companies.

A low cost alternative is 1&1 (http://www.1and1.com). You need to have a comfortable level of understanding how DNS and email aliasing works.

WyzHost.com is my own hosting business, and I offer my students a web site package for $50 per year.

Many security issues to address when you allow anyone to access your computer from the Internet. Not recommended for beginners. If you are considering this option, you should register for my Computer Security Class.

Dave Zan's Domain Name Blog comes through once again with the guide to transferring a domain between registrars. Here's the short version:

Make sure your domain name is eligible for transfer - Mostly this means making sure the LOCK is off and that your contact information, especially your e-mail address, is correct.
Start and confirm the transfer request with the gaining registrar FIRST - Start the transfer at the site of the gaining registrar, i.e. the one to which you are transferring the domain. You will receive at least one important e-mail, so make sure you're checking for it.
Confirm the request with the losing registrar - Many registrars don't do this, they just let it happen, as ICANN rules require no more than that.

Beware of Domain Renewal Fraud

There are companies that send out renewal notices to domain name holders that look very official and legal and tell you to renew or domain anme or risk losing it. The companies are really trying to trick you into changing your domain name registrar to them, at a much higher cost than you will pay my company, or any other reputable registrar. See the examples on my WyzHost web hosting site.

Your Web Site – The Essential Ingredients

Beware of Domain Renewal Fraud