Hosting a domain name means giving it a home on the internet. All domain names must be hosted on a server which looks after any internet transactions to do with the domain.
The main functions of a server are to:
A domain name is a specific web address that you choose and register with an official registrar. An example of a domain name is ours: "spiderplant.net". Different organisations are responsible for different addresses:
Everyone must eventually go through these companies to get their domain name. However, most people take advantage of an agent, who can reap the benefits of bulk purchasing to provide a cheaper deal. spiderplant.net can provide you with such a deal.
We highly recommend that you get a domain name. Without a domain name, your web site address will be connected to ours and will be something like "http://spiderplant.net/your_site". This leaves you with very little control and may create problems for you down the road.
Starting off with your own domain name is the best choice rather than beginning without one. Changing your web site address at a later date can be a costly and time-consuming project. This includes re-promoting your site on-line and off-line, reprinting your business cards/promotional materials, and much more.
Another important point is the fact that a domain name is easier for people to remember! Get your own domain name and avoid future disasters - it is well worth the money.
Yes. It is an international requirement when registering a domain name to provide the details of an active server which is set up to host the domain.
If you want to register a domain name, but don't need to use it yet, you can park the domain on our servers. This protects and reserves the domain name for future use.
No. You will be able to access the domain name with or without the WWW in front. For example, you can access the domain name "mydomain.com" by going to "www.mydomain.com" as well as "mydomain.com". This is a feature provided by the software that is run on our server.
No, you will need local Internet access in order to maintain your website and retrieve information collected by your site. A number of popular ISPs are listed in the links section, however ths list is by no means exhaustive!
In principle, yes. However, much depends on the terms which you agreed to when you first registered your domain. Many companies which offer cheap or free domain name registration will charge you up to £100 to release the name or have it transferred. At spiderplant.net, we do not cut corners like this. When we register a name for you, the name is yours.
Once spiderplant.net announces that your domain name has been registered (or transferred, if applicable), it usually takes about 72-hours before it is active. All internet providers must update their records (DNS tables) to reflect new site locations. This process is called propagation.
We currently charge £50 to register a new domain name.
A server is basically a computer with a permanent, high-capacity, leased-line connection to the internet. It is just a computer, like the one in your office or at home, but with a faster, more permanent connection to the internet than a modem connection. When you purchase a server to host your domain, what you are actually purchasing is space and time on one of these computers. This entity is known as a virtual server.
You could use your own server but there are a number of reasons why it wouldn't be a good idea:
The web server is actually the operating software that runs on a host computer, or operating platform. The web server, as its name indicates, serves web pages on request. When you view a web site in your browser, you are sending a request to a web server, which responds by sending you the page you have requested.
There are two main types of operating platforms:
To the average internet user, whether business or private, the differences between the two systems are minimal. Only in the development of complex and high-volume web sites do the differences become a consideration.
No. Microsoft FrontPage 98 or 2000 are web design packages and the code they output is in the main standard HTML code which will run on any web server. FrontPage also uses a proprietary standard to update a web site. We encourage you to use the industry standard FTP program. Many design packages allow you to upload your files via FTP directly.
Files must be transferred to the web server via File Transport Protocol (FTP). If you have a PPP internet account and need FTP software, you can download a program for either the PC or Mac from our site. Internet providers such as AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy may have a built-in FTP interface. An FTP tutorial is available for first time users. spiderplant.net offers unlimited FTP access.
You have unlimited access via FTP. As such, you can create and maintain your web pages on your own computer and upload files to your web site at your convenience.
In general, if you have more than one domain account at spiderplant.net we can point each domain address to the same HTML files.