| What is a domain name? |
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A domain name identifies a server on the Internet. Servers provide information to users. The domain www.PlanetEagle.Com is a Web server, while Mail.Yahoo.Com is a mail server. |
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| What does a domain registrar do? |
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When you type an Internet address into your browser, the domain naming service (DNS) looks up that name in a database and cross references it to an IP Address, such as 123.45.6.78. This is like the postman knowing that Mr. George Johnson lives in Apartment 3 at 123 4th Street.
A domain registrar handles the technical details of updating your domain information on the Internet, that is, updating the DNS database. |
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| How do domain registrars differ? |
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All domain registrars must be sanctioned by ICANN, the Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers, to ensure that the DNS entries for all domain names are distributed across the Internet.
All domain registrars pay ICANN the same fees. What sets them apart is the additional services they offer, their pricing structure, and their customer support. Their target market can also affect their price. Our domain names are typically $8.75 per year. We have seen some companies charge $35 per year or more.
Some registrars entice people with low rates for their basic services and then charge high rates for services that other companies offer for free. |
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| How does Planet Eagle register domain names? |
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We are affiliated with GoDaddy, which is one of the larger domain registrars. We chose to work with them because of their good rates, their good service, and their good reputation. We have not been disappointed. |
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| What is domain forwarding? |
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Domain forwarding lets you forward requests for a domain name to a Web page on another Web server or to another domain entirely. Some registrars charge extra for this service. We do not. So, why forward a domain name?
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Your company has changed names. You can forward "hits" for the new company name to the old Website until a new Website comes on line.
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Henry Cubbins is an independent marketing associate. His company gives him the personalized Website MyHealthFood.Com/HenryCubbins. Henry could forward the name HenrysHealth.Com to the company-provided Website.
Many registrars provide forwarding that locks in the desired name, hiding the actual site name and file path. This may be called "masking" or "gripping" or a similar term. In some cases an "alias" is established that shows the actual file path but with the name of the desired Website. |
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| What is Web hosting? |
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A Web server stores your Web pages and makes them available to people who visit your Website. Most of us do not have the technical skills, the facilities, or the money required to build a server and connect it to the Internet so we must rely on the services of a hosting company.
Web hosting can cost a few dollars a month or thousands of dollars a month, depending on the services you need. Sites for small businesses that do not need a shopping cart the cost can be under $25 a month. PlanetEagle offers a number of competitively priced hosting services. |
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| How do you host e-mail? |
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Many hosting companies offer e-mail accounts with their hosting plans, either as part of the plan or at a small extra cost. The amount of mail space and the number of mail boxes depends upon the company providing it and the plans they offer.
The Website and the e-mail address for a domain name do not have to be hosted with the same company. It is possible, although not always simple or desirable, to split the two between two different providers.
The e-mail for a domain can be forwarded to another address. You could register the domain HarryCubbins.Com and forward the mail to a free mailbox at Yahoo! or Hotmail. With many domain registrars there is no charge for the forwarding. |
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