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Domain Names
To learn more about Domain Names, select a question below or browse down the page to view them all.
- What is a domain name?
- What domain name extensions are available to me?
- How do I get my own domain name?
- How do I transfer my already existing domain name?
- How long does domain name registration take?
- How long does domain name transferring take?
- How can I tell if my domain name is active with Tivilon?
- Can I get a domain like "anything.domain.com?"
- Can I setup a pointer domain?
- Can I park a domain on Tivilon's DNS?
What is a domain name?
Practically speaking, your domain name (web address) is the core of your Internet identity,
your online brand. Your customers will remember this name and use it to find your web site,
your products or your services. And since no two parties can ever hold the same domain name (web
address) simultaneously, your internet identity is totally unique.
Technically, a domain name is a virtual name assigned to a location on the Internet. For example, the domain name
www.tivilon.com locates an internet address for "tivilon.com" at internet point
147.208.8.150 (IP address) and a particular host server named "www." The "com" part of the domain name reflects
the purpose of the organization or entity (in this example, "commercial") and is called the top-level
domain name. The "tivilon" part of the domain name defines the organization or entity and together
with the top-level is called the second-level domain name. The second-level domain name maps to
and can be thought of as the "readable" version of the internet address.
A third level can be defined to identify a particular host server at the internet address. In our
example, "www" is the name of the server that handles internet requests. (A second server might be
called "www2"). A third level of domain name is not required. For example, the fully qualified
domain name could have been "tivilon.com" and the server assumed.
Subdomain levels can be used. For example, you could have "www.support.tivilon.com." Together,
"www.tivilon.com" constitutes a fully qualified domain name. The part furthest to the left is most
specific and the part furthest to the right is the least specific (the same way we address
a letter to someone in the mail).
Second-level domain names must be unique on the Internet and registered with one of the
ICANN-accredited registrars for the .com, .net, and .org top-level domains. Where appropriate,
a top-level domain name can be geographic. (Currently, most non-U.S. domain names use a top-level
domain name based on the country the server is in).
On the Web, the domain name is that part of the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that tells a domain
name server using the domain name system (DNS) whether and where to forward a request for a web
page. The domain name is mapped to an IP address (which represents a physical point on the Internet).
More than one domain name can be mapped to the same internet address. This allows multiple individuals,
businesses, and organizations to have separate internet identities while sharing the same internet
server. However, each specific domain name can only be mapped to one location.
What domain name extensions are available to me?
Tivilon encourages its customers to register domains with either
VeriSign Network Solutions or
Dotster. We have used both of them to register domains for us
in the past and both are very easy to use and reliable. They are also easy to make changes to your
contact information or your domain name, down the road.
Network Solutions will allow you to register .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .ws, .tv, .cc, .bz, .vg, .ms,
.gs, and .tc on their web site. Dotster gives you options: .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .ws, .tv, and
.cc. All of these extensions are open to the public. If you have a state (.st.us), educational (.edu), military (.mil),
or governmental (.gov) web site, Tivilon can still host your site, but you will need to file the necessary
paperwork for those non-public domain names. This also applies for non-US top-level domain names. Please contact
the Tivilon Support Team for help locating the appropriate registrar,
if you'd like a top-level domain not available through either Network Solutions or Dotster.
How do I get my own domain name?
Tivilon encourages its customers to register domains with either
VeriSign Network Solutions or
Dotster. Most domains are $35 per year
at Network Solutions (with discounts for paying multiple years in advance) and most domains at
Dotster are $15 per year (with discounts for paying multiple years in advance). Should you want
something other than the typical .com, .net, or .org top-level domain name, please contact the
Tivilon Support Team so we can help point you to the
registrar you need to go with.
Tivilon prefers that you register your domain yourself, so that you own the domain as opposed to
Tivilon owning your domain name. Please put Tivilon into your domain registration record as the Technical
Contact. The Tivilon role account ID with Network Solutions is GQDDMSSQMO.
How do I transfer my already existing domain name?
First, you need to figure out the name of the registrar with which you first
registered your domain. If you do not remember or have a copy of the transaction receipt, you can
go here, put your name in the
field and hit Enter on your keyboard. The public domain name registration information will be returned. At
the bottom of the record, you'll see the Information Source. This is likely your registrar. To
reach their web site, try "registrar's name".com in your web browser. On their web site you can
search for more information on transferring a domain or changing the DNS for your domain.
You'll also need to contact the Tivilon Support Team for
your new DNS information. Please let us know if you need help transferring the domain. While
we may not be able to do this for you, we can at least point you in the right direction.
How long does domain name registration take?
When registering a domain name with either VeriSign Network Solutions or
Dotster, it is normally up and running within three to five business days.
How long does domain name transferring take?
Your domain name will be added to the Tivilon web server upon activation
of your web hosting account. Once you are ready to move your domain from your old host
to Tivilon (typically after you have mirrored content on both sites), let Tivilon know. We
will then add the domain name to our DNS, usually within one business day. After this, you
should start the transfer with the registrar. As long as the transfer (record
modification) with your registrar goes smoothly, your domain will be working within one or two
more business days. If there are any problems with the registrar moving the domain, it can
take much longer.
How can I tell if my domain name is active with Tivilon?
In order to tell if and when your registrar has added or modified your domain,
you can perform a "whois" look up (try
it here). If the whois returns results with all of your new registrant and DNS information, then
it is registered and pointing to Tivilon. (You should see "Hedgehog Hosting" under DNS in the
record).
You can find out the date your record was created as well as the date the record was last modified
just above the DNS.
If the whois results come back "Domain not found in shared registry," then the domain is
not registered yet. Remember that domain name registrations for new domains is about three to
five business days, and domain modifications are in a minimum of three days. Changes in your
domain name record will take that long to show up.
If it has been more than five business days, you will want to inform the
Tivilon Support Team so that we can help you
investigate the source of the problem.
Can I get a domain like "anything.domain.com?"
Yes, you can have as many subdomains as you'd like, as long
as you own the domain.com part and it is hosted on Tivilon's DNS. Please
see the hosting add-ons page for current pricing.
Tivilon will automatically point the subdomain to the root level of your hosting account, unless you
purchase an additional hosting account to host it separately or give us the static IP address
you'd like to point the subdomain to. (The only subdomain you have setup on
activation of your hosting account is "www").
Can I setup a pointer domain?
Yes, Tivilon can setup pointer domains. This allows you to have multiple domain names
all pointing into the root level of your account. Please
see the hosting add-ons page for current pricing. Please
contact the Tivilon Support Team to get a pointer setup. (Normal domain
name registration fees will apply for pointer domains).
Only one of these domains on the account can be the primary domain, and thus the only domain that can receive e-mail
on Tivilon's server. Please let us know which domain you'd like to be the primary. Should you wish
to switch your current primary domain with a pointer, a setup fee as outlined on the
hosting add-ons page will be accessed. If you want to receive e-mail for all your domains,
you will need to select an e-mail hosting company or your internal support department to have a dedicated e-mail
system put in place. Then provide Tivilon with the static IP of your mail server so we can setup subdomains
for each pointer domain to send mail to your server. (You can dedicate an e-mail server with Tivilon. Please
call us at 1-866-TIVILON for pricing information).
Can I park a domain on Tivilon's DNS?
Tivilon does not offer a domain parking service. However, both VeriSign Network Solutions and
Dotster offer this service.
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