Hosting and Domain Name Registration (DNR)

Once you have a website designed, you need something to call it and a place to keep it.

My fee includes sitting beside you while you arrange these things through a third party. The third party will require your credit card at that time.

You will not need a host until after the site is ready to go. Usually it takes under a day for them to process your order, but allow a week just in case.

We highly recommend you use the host we are familiar with, . We have used them since 2003 and are familiar with the way they do things.

All the rest of this page is in case you want to do more on your own.

Explanation

www.example.com is a domain name, which is then registered so other computers know where to find it.

The computer that holds your site and connects it to the internet is the host or server. Most companies hire someone else to host their site. It requires a computer that is always on, a very good internet connection, and advanced knowledge. Hosting accounts come with all sorts of programs and tools, such as email readers, mailing lists, forums and photo galleries, which we can help you set up.

Most hosts will register your domain name for you, but you can also use an existing name. You must have a place to put your website before you can register a domain name. You can move your domain to a different host at any time, although there is usually a fee of about $50. (See warning below about who will own the domain name.)

You should look at the total cost of the package. Some companies offer a discount on one part and make it up on the other. $150 for two years is reasonable if you're comfortable with online registration. Local companies charge more, but can often be visited in person.

When you get an account, the host will put a very basic, automated page up for you. "This page belongs to www.MyDomain.ca and is hosted by Host."

Hosts always include an email package. You will be able to create email addresses such as me@example.com.

Warnings

Going with the big, well-known hosting companies may not be the best idea. They charge more (for do-it-yourself tools you won't use) and often have more restrictions on what you can do.

Be sure that you will own the domain name, not your host. If your host owns it, you are stuck with them and cannot move it, even if they go bankrupt.

Be careful when it comes time to renew your domain name. The registrar will remind you in plenty of time. However, the expiry date is public knowledge, so other registrars may offer to renew it for you, at a higher price or even doing it in their own name. Just like with online banking, if you get a letter claiming to be from them, do not use the links in the letter. Look up their URL or phone number yourself.

Ask your designer before you purchase a hosting account. Many of the large ones do not have the tools we need. They offer fancy site-design packages instead. Most of the smaller hosts cater to designers.

Our requirements are typical. We can easily check the host's website for you to see if they are met.

• PHP 5 or later, with at least the following extensions installed: mbstring, pcre, libxml, session
• Some sort of webserver that can run PHP scripts.
• Write permissions for the webserver user account in the PmWiki tree. (Required for editing only.)
• No file type extension restrictions on your host (usually from free web hosting providers)
• FTP access

Hints

Make your first password a good one, and keep a note of all passwords you use, even if you change them later. My host assigned the very first password I gave them to my default email account, hosting account, email configuration, domain name registrar, and maybe more. I keep a separate page in your file for passwords, and manually encrypt them.

Use an unrelated email for all domain and host correspondence. If your domain or host is down, you won't be able to get email from them. It should be one you check frequently and is unlikely to change. (If it does change, you will have to tell several organizations.)

Do not use your preferred email address for your first login ID. This ID is used for the default mail account. It collects spam very quickly because all email sent to non-existant people at your domain go there. Also, do not use something common like Admin. Spammers love to send mail to Admins.