Domain Names

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Please choose from the following questions.

If you can't find your question, please let us know and we'll answer it in e-mail and add it to the FAQ.

1. How is it determined if a domain name is already in use?
2. Which domain name do we use?
3. Is it possible to have a domain name transferred from another provider to one of your servers?
4. How long does it take to register a domain name?
5. Since we have our own domain name servers elsewhere, is there any problem with just pointing our domain name at your machine to get our virtual host setup working?
6. With the Business Virtual Host Account or Econo Virtual Host Account, do I get a true domain name, or an alias?
7. Who would register my domain name?
8. Who is responsible for keeping my domain name up and running?
9. Do you help with domain name registration?
10. Is it possible to handle domain name registration on my own if I decide to host a page on your server?
11. Is it possible to get a national domain name (for example, mydomain.de or mydomain.it)?
12. How many letters long may a domain name be?
13. Can I redirect the www.mydomain.com to you, while still retrieving my e-mail locally?
14. Is the use of the prefix www optional?
15. How can I update the contact information for my domain name?

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How is it determined if a domain name is already in use?

The InterNIC provides a web form to query the domain name registry.

Which domain name do we use?

The one you choose and enter in the order form when ordering a virtual host.

I already have a domain name with another service provider. How difficult would it be to transfer that name to your service?

It is easy. Just fill out the online order form.

Type in your domain name where it asks for Desired Domain Name and select Move Existing Domain Name.

How long does it take to register our domain name?

The InterNIC, when they are not running their auto registration filter, takes about two weeks to process applications. But 24 to 36 hours is more common.

Since we have our own domain name servers elsewhere, is there any problem with just pointing our domain name at your server to get our virtual host setup working?

We recommend that you point your domain name servers at our domain name servers using NS records as opposed to using A records. Delegate the www subdomain of your domain name to our name servers using NS records.

With the Business Virtual Host Account or Econo Virtual Host Account, do I get a true domain name, or an alias?

You get a true domain name.

Who would register these virtual domains?

We would as part of our service.

Who is responsible for keeping my domain name up and running?

Your domain name would be on our domain name servers and would refer to one of our web servers. We are responsible for keeping the our systems running.

Can my account name be completely different from my domain name?

Yes.

Do you help with domain name registering?

Yes, we register your domain for you.

Is it possible to handle domain name registration on my own if I decide to host a page on your server?

Yes. However, we prefer to handle it for you because we need to setup your domain name on our name servers before the application for your domain name is submitted to the InterNIC.

Can a domain only contain 8 lower case letters.

That is a restriction on account names not domain names.

Domain names are case insensitive, and are generally written in all lower or uppercase. Because of the nature of your domain name must end in ".com". You may use up to 24 letters, numbers, or the "-" character. Shorter domain name are preferable because they are easier to type and easier to remember.

A period in a domain name is a special character and indicates a subdomain. You may not include a period besides the one in ".com" which will be at the end of your domain name (as in "yourdomainname.com").

Is it possible to get a national domain name (for example, mydomain.de or mydomain.it)?

Yes. However, in this case, we require you to handle the registration yourself. We will send you an example completed application as it would be filled out for the InterNIC, you will have to adapt it appropriately.

Can I redirect the www.mydomain.com to you, while still retrieving my e-mail locally?

Yes, if you local provider will cooperate by setting www.mydomain.com to an IP address we will provide you. Put a "*" in the domain name field when ordering to indicate that you want a IP address only Virtual Host.

Is the use of the prefix www optional?

Yes. Both yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com will refer to the same virtual host.

How can I update the contact information for my domain name?

Yes. Please use the InterNIC form at:

http://rs.internic.net/cgi-bin/reg/domain-update-form

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