Domain Hosting
  Plan Features
  Plan Prices
  Additional Services
  Host Reseller
  Package Prices
  Profit Calculation
  Domain Services
  Package Prices
  Price Comparison
  About Us
  Our Network
  Contact Us
  Home
  FAQ >>>
  Glossary
  Terms of Use
  Members
  Login
  Sign-Up

 


FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
 

DOMAIN NAMES
  • What is a domain name?
  • Why do I need to register a domain name?
  • How will I be able to tell if my desired domain name is already taken?
  • How do I choose a good domain name?
  • What are the valid characters for a domain name?
  • Why are some domain names "On Hold"?
  • Why can't I register for a domain that has already expired?

    DNS AND DOMAIN PARKING
  • What is DNS?
  • What is domain parking?

    POST REGISTRATION
  • I have registered a domain name, now what?
  • Once I have a domain name secured, for how long may I keep it?
  • How do I change the DNS or Contact Information for my domain name?
  • Why doesn't my domain show up in a WHOIS search?
  • I already have a web site at http://www.yourisp.com/~yourid. Can I point my domain to it?

    DOMAIN RESTRICTIONS
  • What are the restrictions for registering domain names?

    DOMAIN TRANSFERS
  • How much does it cost to transfer my domain?
  • How long do transfers take?
  • Why was my transfer request declined?
  • What happens if my transfer is declined?

     
    What is a domain name?

    A domain name can serve many purposes on the Internet, but generally it allows people to find your homepage on the Internet and to send you email. Each domain name is assigned to a numerical IP (Internet Protocol) address by a hosting provider. Since most people tend to remember names better than numbers, the Internet (through the use of DNS servers) translates the domain name into its corresponding IP address.

     

    Why do I need to register a domain name?

    Most Internet providers offer you a directory for a web page, and usually an email address under their domain name. Most of the time, they look like this:

    yourid@yourisp.com, and…

    http://www.yourispcompany.com/~yourid

    In addition to having to explain the little squiggle mark (~ which is actually called a tilde) and explaining this long address to your less net-savvy customers, it can be very hard to fit an address like this on a business card. Plus it is less professional than having your own domain name, and not brandable at all. Registering a domain name for your business or organization is essential to your marketing efforts. A domain name gives your business a unique identity on the Internet.
     

    How will I be able to tell if my desired domain name is already taken?

    Before registering a domain name, you will have to perform an availability search to see if your desired domain name is in fact available. If the domain search request returns without a match, you will be able to register that domain name.

    How do I choose a good domain name?

    Choose a name that reflects the intent and purpose of your web site or business. Try to keep it short and snappy, and say it out loud, as if you were telling someone at a party to visit your web page. Some domain names may look good on paper, but are confusing when you try to direct someone to it over the phone. Keep in mind the image that it conjures. Your domain name will be one of the ways people recognize or evaluate their choices of sites for their interests when they are searching via Yahoo or other search engines. When facing a large number of choices, the snappiest domain sometimes grabs the most attention.

    What are the valid characters for a domain name?

    The only valid characters for a domain name are letters, numbers and a hyphen "-". Other special characters like the underscore "_" or an exclamation mark "!" are NOT permitted.

    Example: your name.com (incorrect - no spaces allowed)
    Example: your-name.com (is correct)

    A domain name can be up to 67 characters long -- including the 4 characters used to identify the Top Level Domain (.NET, .COM, or .ORG).

    Why are some domain names "On Hold"?

    When searching the WHOIS database, a domain name may sometimes show a status of "On Hold" if a.) payment for the domain is not current, b.) the domain name is involved in a trademark dispute, or c.) the domain is pending server activation.

    Why can't I register for a domain that has already expired?

    In some cases, domain names may be kept by the Registrars even after they have expired because a.) payment for the domain is not current, b.) the domain name is involved in a trademark dispute, or c.) the domain is pending server activation. As long as the Registrar holds a domain, you cannot register it. It will be necessary to contact the Registrar for more information about the domain.


    What is DNS?

    DNS stands for Domain Name System. DNS is basically a piece of translation software. This System translates a domain name such as Yahoo.com into IP address, allowing people to easily find the addresses of websites or other services.

    The DNS record consists data similar to the following example:
    Primary Nameserver: NS.SUN.COM
    Primary IP address: 192.9.9.3

    What is domain parking?

    Registrars require Primary and Secondary Name Servers and IP Numbers for every domain registered (DNS). Every domain name has to be linked to this information for it to be valid (i.e., each domain name needs to have an address attached to it). At the time of registration some people do not yet have Name Server information (which is generally provided by a Web Host), therefore our Registrar offers 'domain parking' (free of charge) on their servers. It is a convenient way to hold or 'Park' domain name(s) for an extended amount of time if you are not ready to use them.


    I have registered a domain name, now what?

    After you register your domain, you will probably want to find a web hosting company or Internet Service Provider to host a website for you, and/or to set up email. Some good areas to start are your local ISP, or choose one of the many free web-hosting sites available. Some people wish to only reserve their domain name for future use. In this case, you need not find an ISP or hosting company.

    If you already have a website hosted by an ISP, you can easily set your domain to point to your ISP's DNS so that your existing website will appear when visitors go to your new domain name. If you already have a FREE website somewhere, chances are that your provider will not allow you to point the DNS settings to their server. In this case, you can subscribe to our URL Forwarding service for an annual rate of $8.50 (Tk.500) per domain. This service, also known as Domain Forwarding or IP Forwarding, basically allows you to redirect visitors at your domain name (www.yourdomain.com) to another web page address without having to setup a new web-hosting account for your domain name.

    Once I have a domain name secured, for how long may I keep it?

    If there are no trademark disputes, your secured domain name will be yours for as long as you maintain the annual registration fees.

    How do I change the DNS or Contact Information for my domain name?

    You may change the DNS information for your domain name by accessing the Member Login at our mother site (http://www.hostbd.net). If you have forgotten your password, just click on the Send Password link below the login screen and your password will be emailed to you immediately.

    Why doesn't my domain show up in a WHOIS search?

    If your domain is not showing up in the whois search and your domain was registered over 48 hours ago, you are probably still using the out of date Network Solutions WHOIS Server for whois queries. This server only lists those domains applied through Network Solutions. Please find a more complete web based whois server at www.nsiregistry.com or modify your UNIX based whois query to do a whois -h whois.registrars.com domainname.com or whois domainname.com@whois.registrars.com to get the complete listing. Also remember that the WHOIS information for a domain can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide, so it may not be visible until then.

    I already have a web site at http://www.yourisp.com/~yourid. Can I point my domain to it?

    Of course! This is called URL Forwarding. We charge an annual fee of $8.50 (Tk.500) for URL Forwarding, also known as Domain Forwarding or IP Forwarding. This service allows you to redirect traffic for your domain name (www.yourdomain.com) to another web page address without having to setup a new web-hosting account. You will be able to sign up for URL Forwarding through our Web Domain Manager, which you will have access to after you register your domain.


    What are the restrictions for registering domain names?
    Universal Domain Registration Restrictions

    All TLD domain names must have a minimum of three characters and can have a maximum of 63 characters (letters, numbers or combination) excluding the top-level domain (.info, .biz, .name).

    The only symbol character domain names can include is a hyphen (-), although the domain name cannot start or end with one nor have consecutive hyphens.

    Common symbols such as asterisks (*), underscores (_) and exclamation points (!) are not permitted. This applies for all domain extensions.

    .INFO

    * See universal domain registration restrictions.

    .BIZ

    Format for Dot-Biz Domain Names
    * See universal domain registration restrictions.

    Legitimate Dot-Biz Domain Names
    Registrations must be used, or have the intent of being used primarily for bona fide business or commercial purposes.

    For purposes of the .biz Registration Restrictions, "bona fide business or commercial use" shall mean the bona fide use or bona fide intent to use the domain or any content, software, materials, graphics or other information to permit internet users to access one or more host computers through the DNS for the following reasons:

    1. To exchange goods, services, or property of any kind
       
    2. In the ordinary course of trade or business
       
    3. To facilitate either or both of the above.

    Registering a domain name solely for the purpose of selling, trading or leasing the domain name for compensation, OR the unsolicited offering to sell, trade or lease the domain for compensation shall not constitute as "bona fide business or commercial use".

    .NAME

    Format for Dot-Name Registrations
    The format for Dot-Name registrations must include 3 levels (components) whereas the first level is the extension (.name).

    <level-3>.<level-2>.<level-1>

    (ex. <firstname>.<lastname>.name or <lastname>.<firstname>.name)

    Minimum number of characters for each level:

    Third level - 1 character
    Second level - 3 characters
    First level - 4 characters (name)


    Prohibited Labels

    Prohibited third level labels:
    The following words or strings cannot be used for third level labels:

    Dir, directory, email, genealogy, http, mail, mx, mx(followed by a number from 0-100), ns, ns(followed by a number from 0-100), wap, www and www(followed by a number from 0-100).

    However, third level labels can include any of the words and strings stated above.

    (ex. Dirk.smith.name)


    Prohibited second level labels:
    Second level labels CANNOT be entirely numerical and/or a combination of numbers and hyphens.

    (ex. dirk.1234.name OR dirk.12-34.name)


    Legitimate Dot-Name Domain Names

    Def - 'Personal Name':

    • Legal name or name by which the person is commonly known.

    • Pseudonyms or stage names are permitted for registration.

    Dot-Name domains are intended for the registration of a 'Personal Name' and for individual use.

    The 'Personal Name' of a fictional character is also eligible for registration if that person or entity has a trademark or service mark rights in that character's 'Personal Name'.

    Additional characters maybe added to the beginning or the end of their personal name so as to differentiate it from others with the same name.

    (ex. dirk123.smith.name or dirk.123smith.name)

    For more detailed information, please see the links below:


    How much does it cost to transfer my domain?

    Transfers are charged US$14.5 (Tk.850) and is inclusive of a one year renewal fee. This means that any remaining time you have left on your current registration will be transfered and a year will be added to your current registration term.

    How long do transfers take?

    It takes up to 15 business days for transfers to complete as authorization is required from both your Registrar and yourself. Once a domain transfer is requested, your current registrar will be notified and they will send an email requesting transfer authorization to the Administrative Contact on your current domain record. If the authorize request is responded to promptly, the transfer process could take as little as 3 days to complete.

    Why was my transfer request declined?

    Transfers are declined if you do not authorize the email sent to your domain's Administrative Contact. If, for whatever reason, you do not have access to the email address listed as the Administrative Contact on your domain, you will have to contact your current registrar directly to authorize the release of your domain.

    What happens if my transfer is declined?

    If, for whatever reason, we are unable to transfer your domain after 30 days, you may request for a full refund by emailing us your domain name plus the sign-up from number to support@hostbd.net .



     

  • © 2002 Copyright hostBD.net All Rights Reserved.