Domain FAQ

Q: What's a domain?

A: A domain is a name given to one or more computers in order to find them on the Internet. The most familiar domains end with .com, for example: microsoft.com. Domains are registered for a period of two to ten years.

Q: What domain name should I choose for my company/school/non-profit/self?

A: Use the following table as a guide

Type of organization	Domain	Available
School offering a four year degree	.edu	No
A non-profit organization	.org	Yes
Telecommunications business	.net	Yes
All other businesses	.com	Yes
Local organizations	.us	Yes

Personal web sites usually use .com, .org or .net as available.

Q: What domains can you register?

A: Any that end in .com, .org, or .net, (and a few other TLDs that we don't recommend).

Q: What's a TLD?

A: The last part of a domain name is the top-level domain or TLD.

Q: Can I register a domain before my web site is ready?

A: Yes, and you should before someone else registers the domain you want. If you register the domain through us, we'll park it for you for free.

Q: What is domain parking?

A: When you register a domain, you have to supply details of two or more "name servers," which programs will use to find your web site on the Internet. If your web site is not ready, most hosting services will set up their name servers to point to a default site.

Q: Is a domain the same thing as a web site?

A: No, a domain can include multiple computers. We normally set up simple hosting accounts to have several "virtual" computers in the domain to handle web hosting and mail delivery.

Q: How will I know when my registration expires?

A: The registrar will send you an e-mail at the e-mail address you used when you registered. Be sure to let us know if you change your e-mail address and you registered a domain through us.

Q: Should I rush out and register a "WebSite" (.ws) domain?

A: We don't recommend it. The last part of the domain name is the top-level domain or TLD. The generic TLDs all have three letters. If a TLD has two letters, it's an ISO-3166 country code. For example .tv is Tuvalu, .ws is Western Samoa, and .cc is the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Using a domain name ending in .ws either indicates your business is in Western Samoa, or it indicates that you fell for the ".Website" scam. At least, some potential customers will believe that, even if you thought you were supporting the economy of Western Samoa.

Q: Are you an Internic-approved registrar?

A: No, we resell the services of an approved registrar.

Q: Who do you register domains through?

A: We're currently using BulkRegister.

Q: How do I update my domain record?

A: If you registered the domain through us, you need to send us an e-mail detailing the changes. Your domain record at BulkRegister can only be changed through our private account. Our registration agreement with BulkRegister requires us to complete your request within 3 working days.

Q: How long before changes to take effect?

A: It can take 24-48 hours before the Internet's domain database gets updated.

Q: How do I move my hosting account to your service?

A: Modify your domain record so it uses our name servers:

ns.elirion.net
208.155.67.97
ns2.elirion.net
216.234.161.206

Q: How many years can I register a domain for?

A: From two to ten.

Q: Your registration charge is less than I'm currently paying. Can I transfer my domain to your service?

A: If your domain was registered with most popular registrars, we can transfer it to BulkRegister.

Q: How do I transfer a domain?

A: You need to change the administrative or technical contact for your domain to the "handle" we use at your current registrar. After that change takes effect, we can initiate an automatic transfer.

Q: How much do transfers cost?

A: Approximately the same as a year of registration.

Q: How long does it take to transfer a domain?

A: It can take up to a week for all the checks to be completed.

Q: Why is it so difficult to transfer a domain?

A: There are some checks to prevent domain transfers without the owner's permission.

Q: I just got a renewal e-mail from my registrar! Can I transfer my domain?

A: We can try, but some registrars will refuse transfers within 45 days of the renewal date.

Q: What restrictions are there on domain registrations?

A: You have to accept some agreements about dispute handling if another party claims your domain.

Q: I have a BulkRegister account. Can I edit my domain record?

A: If you registered the domain through us, it can only be edited through our private account. Check the BulkRegister KnowledgeBase for details on how to transfer the domain to your account.