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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:
- To exchange goods, services, or property of any kind
- In the ordinary course of trade or business
- 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 .
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