Starting a webpage

#1 Whoever you register your domain name with, make sure they register it in your name. You want to make sure you own the domain name, and not the company that registered it for you.

Most people will get a domain and hosting from the same company, however you do not need to do so, its just usually easier. Whoever hosts your domain name will deal with billing you for renewal yearly or every other year depending on the domain. They will also normally provide nameservers for your domain which can be used to point your domain to the correct ip of whichever computer hosts your webpage.

If your not really up on ip's, dns servers and domain transfers, its probably easier to just get a hosting package and domain name from the same company. Just check the following before you commit:

1) If they are registering the domani name, ensure they register it in your name if the whois info contains their name and not yours, then you don't own the domain name which could cause problems down the line.
2) Make sure they offer a free transfer out service. If you decide to move your webhosting/domain to another company you don't want to be stuck with having to pay a silly amount of money to have the domain stag transferd.

Every hosting company I've used so far has provided free transfer of domains to another company and all have registered in my name.

I'm currently using unitedhosting.co.uk for my webhosting.

#2 Ok. That helps a lot. Thank you

#3 What about something like this?
www.alterhosting.com/prices/personal_mail/

Does that look like a good deal? Is it too expensive or too limiting in some way ?

#4 Chris,

Don't know if you're still shopping, but the choice you provided in the link is basically an email package with one web page using their design. Good price for web hosting, email, and domain reg if all you wanted was a one-page web site.

I don't believe you want to be that restricted.

One we've been using is www.ipowerweb.com. Not the cheapest, and they haven't quite gotten to figure out the anonymous FTP section of our site, but they do provide most of the flexibility we were looking for.

Just and FYI.

Cheers,

JavaHog

#5 More to chew on -

for web hosting,
i did a bit of research and am about to go with dreamhost.com,

for just registering domains,
i've used joker.com for years and am very happy with them.

also,
if it's a pretty simple/small site,
maybe you have a friend who can host it for you.

#6 A good article on how DNS works is on one of my favorite info sites: computer.howstuffworks.com/dns.htm


Hope you have luck finding a host, I think I'm going to have to find one here soon. My web host seems to have fallen off the face of the earth...

#7 If you're still looking for a host - My web hosting company provides design, domains, and hosting. You can check out my profile for more information. There's a free domain included in the hosting package.

It's more flexible than a lot of the plans I've seen elsewhere, which is why I wanted to start my own company.

If you have a static IP you can get a domain name and point the name to your own server without too much of a problem. My domains are $10 if you don't get hosting, so if you're just looking for a domain I'd recommend godaddy. I wouldn't recommend them for hosting though - do some research and you'll see why.

#8 I always use directNIC.com for buying the domain, then shop around for the cheapest web host. If the webhost doesn't have a dns server, i configure the domain to redirect, if it does have dns server i can use I configure the domain to use the hosts dns. Never pay more then 70$ a year and I have 3 domains.

#9 Some other stuff you should always ask is how much storage space is in the package,,,,, should be 100 to 300 megs ect.

Whats the bandwidth they allow in the package ,,,, most are 3-5 gigs a month, most comps charge extra when you exceed the ammount...

how many pop mail boxs you get in the package,, should be 5-50 depending on it.....

plus they will have hidden charages for streaming, sql data bases, ect

avg good packages run around $20- 50 bucks a month for the site hosting.....


P.S they have discounts on billing if you pay year upfront. quarterly ect......

#10 For hosting I always have used Lunar Pages. I find them excellent value for money, have everything you should likely need, and can do your domain registration for you too ($15 a year i think). I host 4 sites with them just now, and have never had any problems over the 3 years I have used them. Support is also very fast if you ever need help with setting anything up.

And no I am not on commission :P

#11 Ya, Lunar Pages looks like a pretty good deal. I think I will go with them. But first I have to build a webpage. :)

Thanks for all the help guys. Much appreciated

#12 Hey, as someone who just happened by this thread, thanks for all the great info you all!!

(btw that howstuffworks.com link is really cool)