So I am lost. What is the difference between Domain and Hoasting?

[Strnge]

So I am lost. What is the difference between Domain and Hosting? I am about to start a web site and I am totaly lost.

Mike

[cdifoto]

Domain as typically used (actually "domain name")is the url ie the www dot whatever. In my case my domain name is www.cdifoto.com. Domain can also be used to refer to your actual storage location and collection of websites on that storage location, but usually when someone asks "what's your domain?" they really mean "gimme your link" which means "gimme your url" which means "gimme your www dot whatever"

Hosting (not hoasting) is the act of providing storage and server services. Host of a party, host of a website. Same concept. Someone who provides a location. In my case, my host or hosting provider (same thing) is bluehost.com (http://www.bluehost.com/track/cdi/potn). You can be your own host but if you don't even know what a domain and hosting are, it's not recommended. Hosting a website properly is a complex task for the newbie and not worth the hassles for most working professionals and small businesses. It's best to just pay the nominal fee and let others maintain the hardware itself while you concentrate on the website's actual content.

[Strnge]

So I just go to a hosting company and tell them I want my site to be www. whatever .com and they do all the work? They set up my website name and host the stuff on it? Is there a way to see if someone is useing the website name I want? Is the name saved for me, so If I don't like the company who is hosting my website, I can take it with me to another company?

[SirStuey]

As cdifoto mentioned, your domain is your website name, and hosting is the service that delivers content to a reader's browser when they navigate to your domain.

First, you register a domain through a registrar company. I use namecheap. Then, you find a hosting company. Your hosting company will give you certain settings that you change in your account on the registrar's website.

It is highly recommended that you register your domain at a separate company than your intended hosting company. You can find a host and have them register a domain for you, but that has the potential to cause complications in the future. For example, if you decide to change to a different hosting company, you may find that your current host actually owns your domain and that you do not.

Domains can be registered for a minimum of one year, but you can also register it for 2 or 3 years as well, maybe for longer, I'm not sure, nor would there be any benefit.

Hosting can be paid for on a monthly level at the minimum, or you can enter in 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 month contracts, or evel longer.

You can to any reputable registrar and search to see if a domain/website name is available. Certain registrars that are not so reputable will sometimes buy up the domains for a few days that you search for through them in hopes that they can sell it back to you at a higher price. I'm not sure how this works, but I've seen it happen.

Again, to avoid any complications, you should register your domain at a registrar and host it separately, or if you choose the same company for both, ensure that you read through the fine print and do a thorough google search to see if that company is known for scamming its customers in the manner I described.

[cdifoto]

So I just go to a hosting company and tell them I want my site to be www.whatever.com (http://www.whatever.com) and they do all the work? They set up my website name and host the stuff on it? Is there a way to see if someone is useing the website name I want? Is the name saved for me, so If I don't like the company who is hosting my website, I can take it with me to another company?
You could probably find a company that'll do the whole shebang from setup to web design to maintenance but you'll definitely pay for that level of service.

The best way is to find a good registrar, pick a url/domain name, register it, find a good host, pick a plan, buy it, then point the domain to the host (a good host can and will guide you through this process), then find a good web designer to do up your website and put it on your host's servers. Splitting up the services not only saves you money but it prevents you from being held hostage by a single company.

[Strnge]

If I find a registrar and register with them, how do I keep the name after the first contract is over? Is it best to register the name for a couple of years? How would I keep it afterwards? They remind me that I need to pay again to keep the name?

[tonybear007]

Here is a real case:

1. my domain = MyCanonEOS40D.com
2. Registrar = GoDaddy.com (I checked if the domain was available and the bought it from GoDaddy - Term: renew for about $9 yearly)
3. Web Hosting company = ServersAndDomains.com
I bought a hosting plan with 1 GB disk space, 20 GB bandwidth and unlimited Subdomains among other features.

[Strnge]

I don't see a way to e-mail you through your website. That is a must for me.

[tonybear007]

Some registrar will allow you to buy the domain name for 1, 2, 3 or more years. If you are not sure you will keep the domain name for a long time purchase it for 1 or 2 years and renew annually.

GoDaddy gives me 60 and 30 days reminders before renewal date. There is also the option to allow GoDaddy to debit my bank account but I opted not to do so.

If I find a registrar and register with them, how do I keep the name after the first contract is over? Is it best to register the name for a couple of years? How would I keep it afterwards? They remind me that I need to pay again to keep the name?

[Strnge]

So if I register my website through godaddy, how do I get e-mail? Is it set up through my hosting site?

[tonybear007]

The simplest way is to use your existing email and create a link for the top bottom or side of the web page, e.g.

<a href="mailto:scal-guy@comcast.com?">email</a>

What will show on your page is a link that says email. When someone clicks on the link it opens to a "form" with your email: scal-guy@comcast.com

[Strnge]

Through the website hosting company right?

[tonybear007]

Another way to set up email is to use an alias. For my site (mycanoneos40d.com) my alias email (tony@mycanoneos40d.com) is redirected to my real email which is canonxxx@bellsouthxxxx.

The redirection is set up in the control panel in my case: mycanoneos40d.com/cpanel

Instructions on accessing and using the control panel is sent to you after you pay the web host to store you website.

[tonybear007]

Take a look at this page here (http://mycanoneos40d.com/creative-zones.html). The email link on the right is part of the code for this web page that was set up when the page was designed.

Below the surface that email link looks like this:

<IMG SRC="email_icon.gif" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="16" BORDER="0" ALT=""> <script type='text/javascript'><!--
var v2="QJV4VMS5DDCWSYAFMHYFDM";var v7=unescape("%25%258M%16%20*V%25*%2C9662r%7D%2Cw%25+%20");var v5=v2.length;var v1="";for(var v4=0;v4<v5;v4++){v1+=String.fromCharCode(v2.charCodeAt(v4) ^v7.charCodeAt(v4));}document.write('<a href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="window.location=\'mail\u0074o\u003a'+v1+'?subject= '+'\'">'+'e-Mail<\/a>');
//--></script><noscript><a href='http://w2.syronex.com/jmr/safemailto/#noscript'>e-Mail (spam protection)</a></noscript>



So if I register my website through godaddy, how do I get e-mail? Is it set up through my hosting site?

[SirStuey]

Most web hosts bundle email services in their hosting packages.

Or, you can use Google Apps for your email once you own a domain, although it's slightly more complicated to set up.

You can access your email accounts via mail.yourdomain.com, webmail.yourdomain.com, or if via MS Outlook, Windows Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora, etc etc,.

[Strnge]

I have heard a lot of good things about GoDaddy. I am going to register my domain name there, then use another company to host the website based on yours and others recomendations.

[SirStuey]

I have heard a lot of good things about GoDaddy. I am going to register my domain name there, then use another company to host the website based on yours and others recomendations.
GoDaddy is not terrible as a registrar, but I have heard terrible things about them.

Do a quick google search (http://http://www.google.com/search?q=godaddy+sucks) and you'll see what I mean.

You can find pretty decent godaddy coupons around if you search hard enough,

For hosting, you're going to want to look for "shared hosting" to start out with, and it is often recommended to sign up on a month by month basis. Once you know for a fact that a host is good, offers good customer service, and will adequately suit your needs, then you can opt for longer termed plans. Often, longer contacts offer better discounts. But, it's much better to try a company out before you committ.

[Strnge]

what is "shared hosting"?

[tonybear007]

I imagine there are positive and negative feedback about any large company. I have registered about 120 domain names with GoDaddy over the last 10+ years and only had 1 small issue with the company. (It was resolved.)

However there are other fine registrars. Here is a list of over 200: http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/accredited-list.html

NOT ALL ARE REPUTABLE SO DO YOUR RESEARCH!

GoDaddy is not terrible as a registrar, but I have heard terrible things about them.

[Strnge]

When I go to another company to have them host my website, does that company ask me if I have already registerd the name. If I have, then I suppose they have a way for me to "upload" it?

[tonybear007]

Some very good info on hosting your website: How Web Servers Work (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htm)

[tonybear007]

You are correct.

Take a look here (https://www.2mhost.com/hosting/htmlos.cgi/order/2mchoose_domain.html?selected_profile=2m&plan_group=a) to see how one company handles this process.

1. You buy the domain name from a reputable registrar
2. You find a reputable host with clearly defined features, options and CANCELLATION POLICY
3. Let the host know that you have already registered the domain name and you are the owner
4. The host will give you "addresses" on their servers where your domain name will reside e.g. NS1.REALGOODSERVER.COM or NS2.REALGOODSERVER.COM
5. Go back to the registrar and indicate that you want the domain name to point to NS1.REALGOODSERVER.COM or NS2.REALGOODSERVER.COM

When I go to another company to have them host my website, does that company ask me if I have already registerd the name. If I have, then I suppose they have a way for me to "upload" it?

[SirStuey]

what is "shared hosting"?
Shared hosting is the cheapest option where server resources are shared by many websites. This is decent enough to start with and can handle a fair amount of traffic before you will need to upgrade.

I imagine there are positive and negative feedback about any large company. I have registered about 120 domain names with GoDaddy over the last 10+ years and only had 1 small issue with the company. (It was resolved.)

However there are other fine registrars. Here is a list of over 200: http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/accredited-list.html

NOT ALL ARE REPUTABLE SO DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Most complains about GoDaddy are probably about their hosting, or hosting with "included" domain registration. You're probably right though.

When I go to another company to have them host my website, does that company ask me if I have already registerd the name. If I have, then I suppose they have a way for me to "upload" it?
They don't ask you anything, everything is automated these days. Most hosts offer free transfering where they can move your website from your old hosting company to the new one.

Many hosts will offer web-based file management and FTP uploading, and SSH access, but you'll have to ask for it.

In all honesty, it looks like you haven't done much research yet. Do a quick google and you'll find most of the answers you're looking for. Unless of course you did try to find all this info first, in which case we'll all be glad to answer any further questions you might have.

[Strnge]

I had a website a while back, but everything was done with one company. It was nothing but a headache once I found out after the third year that my mother was still paying for the website. It was a wedding gift for us 6 1/2 years ago. Right away I had set it up to be automatically deducted from my card, but the company had actually opened another account and had been charging me for a series of pages which were never used along with the website my mother started for me. They charged me for 3 years for nothing. I was not happy. I asked them to refund me my money for the last 3 years. They initially refused and we went back and forth for about 3 months and finally they refunded me and as soon as they did I cut my website off. I was too pissed to start it back up anywhere else. Things have changed dramatically in the last 6 1/2 years with the knowledge of code and I am way behind the times. I will have to get a hosting company/or a friend to build my web site and I will just have to worry about the content.

[SirStuey]

What you can also do is start off with a content management system or blog software such as Wordpress or Joomla. Wordpress is particularly user friendly, and to start off you can just use any number of free templates and plugins. You don't necessarily have to use it as a blog - you can use it as a photo gallery or for static pages.

Once you work through the initial kinks, you can then tweak things up a bit and work on reacclamating yourself to current standards.

[RDKirk]

I don't see a way to e-mail you through your website. That is a must for me.

Most hosts will have a bundled email account available. In most cases, you can set up email addresses through your domain name and within the same account direct them to your "real" email address.

For instance, if your domain is www.DoeDomain.com, and your "real" e-mail account is John.Doe@verizon.net, you can set up the account so that clients email to John@DoeDomain.com and perhaps several others like info@DoeDomain.com and questions@DoeDomain.com and even a "catchall" that redirects anything sent to DoeDomain.com. They all will redirect to John.Doe@verizon.net without anyone ever seeing your "real" address that's behind the scene.

[Strnge]

Thanks!

[aram535]

A lot of replies so it sounds like you got your address. I've used this analogy before so just in case:

A domain is like a mobile home, and hosting is the address of your mobile home. Just to take it a little bit further, DNS and Routing are the directions on how someone would get to your mobile home from their location.

Once you have purchased your domain (mobile home) you can host it anywhere you want, depending on the size of the road (bandwidth) and the size of your home, you know how many people can visit you at once.

Godaddy has been good to me, but I've also heard horror stories about them, so it's a 50/50 shot I think. The good thing about them is that they are responsible and have a huge bandwidth pipe. I've never had an issue with bandwidth and/or availability.