Comprehensive Domain Registration Help

General Information

What is a domain name?
What is a top-level domain?
What is a second-level domain?
What is the domain name system?
What does it mean to register a domain name?
What is a name server?

Domain Name Extensions

Which top-level domains are available?
What do .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .ws, and .us represent?
What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .net, .org, and .ws names?
Who qualifies for a .us domain?
Which extensions are not available, and why?

Registering a Domain Name

How do I register a new domain name?
How do I check if a domain name is available?
What can I do if the requested domain is unavailable?
What do I enter as contact information for my domain name?
How do I renew my domain-name registration?
Can I cancel a domain-name registration?
I just purchased a domain name. How long until I can use it?

Transferring a Domain Name

How do I transfer a domain name from another registrar?
What do I do if I don't know the name servers of the domain I am transferring?
How can I transfer my domain name for more than one year?
My domain name is about to expire, can I still transfer it?

Parking and Unparking a Domain Name

What does it mean to park a domain name?
How do I unpark my domain name?

Forwarding a Domain Name

What does it mean to forward a domain name?
What does it mean to forward with masking?

Hosting a Domain Name

What does it mean to host a domain?

Managing a Domain Name Account

How do I manage my domain-name account?
How do I find my domain name's expiration date?
Can I purchase a domain without having a hosting provider yet?
What if I forgot my password?
How do I forward or redirect a domain name to my current Web site?
How do I enter the name servers of the hosting account I have with another provider?

The Whois Function

Will my name and account information be publicly available?
How do I find out who owns a domain name?

Miscellaneous

What can I do if I have misspelled my domain name?
What is the uniform dispute resolution policy?
What if someone has my trademark registered?

General Information

What is a domain name?

A domain name is a Web address. The domain name is mapped to an IP address (which represents a physical point on the Internet). Thus a domain name locates an organization or other entity on the Internet. When someone types a domain name into a Web browser, the requested Web page will open. For example, the domain name www.yourdomain.com locates an Internet address for "yourdomain.com."
A domain name consists of a top-level and a second-level domain. The "com" part of the domain name generally reflects the type or purpose of the organization or entity and is called the top-level domain (TLD) name. The part of the domain name located to the left of the dot (" . ") — "yourdomain" in this case — is called the second-level domain (SLD) name. The second-level domain name — being the "readable" part of the address — refers to the organization or entity behind the Internet address.
Second-level domain names must be unique on the Internet and registered with an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers- (ICANN-)accredited registrar.

What is a top-level domain (TLD)?

A top-level domain is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (" . "). The most common TLDs are .com, .net and .org. Several new top-level domains have been added to the menu recently, including, .biz, .info, .name, and .ws. The top-level domains have certain guidelines attached, but are for the most part available to any registrant, anywhere in the world. Exceptions are the restricted TLDs (rTLDs) — which include .aero, .biz, .edu, .mil, .museum, .name, and .pro — that require the registrant to represent a certain type of entity, or to belong to a certain community. The .name TLD is available strictly for individuals, while .edu is reserved for educational entities, such as universities or high schools. Where appropriate, a top-level domain name can be of geographic significance and hence only available to registrants in the locale defined by the TLD. These are called country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) and include such top-level domains as .bz (Belize),.ca (Canada), .dk (Denmark), .ec (Ecuador), ie (Republic of Ireland), .uk (United Kingdom), .us (United States), and .zw (Zimbabwe).

What is a second-level domain (SLD)?

Located immediately to the left of the dot (" . "), the second-level domain is the "readable" part of the domain name. The second-level domain is entirely defined by the registrant, and often refers to the organization or entity associated with the IP address. For example: In www.cnn.com "cnn" (Cable News Network) is a second-level domain.
Second-level domains can be divided into further domain levels. For example: www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com. These sub domains sometimes represent different computer servers within departments.
More than one second-level domain name can be used for the same IP address.

What is the domain name system (DNS)?

The domain name system (DNS) enables each machine connected on the Internet to be recognized by a domain name. Every computer on the Internet has a unique IP (Internet protocol) address which consists of a string of numbers. Since the IP addresses can be difficult to remember, the DNS allows a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the IP address. So instead of typing the IP address' arcane string of numbers you can type, for example, "www.espn.com."

What does it mean to register a domain name?

The Internet domain name system (DNS) consists of a directory, organized hierarchically, of all the domain names and their corresponding computers registered to particular companies and persons using the Internet. When you register a domain name, it will be associated with the computer on the Internet you designate during the period the registration is in effect.
Note that the above description applies to domains that are registered and hosted. If the registrant elects to, a domain can instead be registered and parked. A parked domain name does not need a DNS affiliation.

What is a name server?

A name server is a computer that contains a list of domain names and the associated IP addresses. When a domain name is typed in a Web browser's address bar, the name server associates that with the IP address, and the correct Web site — barring any unforeseen difficulties — opens in the Web browser window.

Domain Name Extensions

Which domain extensions (top-level domains) are available?

The following top-level domains are available:

• .com
• .net
• .org
• .biz
• .info
• .ws
• .us

What do .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .ws, and .us represent?

• .com — ("commercial") The most common extension for domain names. Often represents companies or for-profit organizations. Most personal Web sites also use this extension.
• .net — Generally represents Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
• .org — Usually represents non-profit organizations or groups.
• .biz — ("business") Reserved for use by businesses.
• .info — Made for both businesses and individuals. Usage is unrestricted, but a .info TLD indicates that the Web site primarily is informative.
• .ws — (Web site) An all-around, universally available top-level domain.
• .us — Country-code top-level domain available for registrants in the United States.

What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .net, .org, and .ws names?

The .com, .info, .net, .org, and .ws TLDs are globally available and unrestricted. Traditionally, however, names in .net have been used by organizations involved in Internet infrastructure activities — typically ISPs (Internet Service Providers) — while .org is frequently used by noncommercial organizations. .biz is available to businesses only. Albeit unrestricted, usage of the .info TLD implies that the site content is of a primarily informative nature.

Who qualifies for a .us domain?

To qualify for a .us domain name you must meet one of the following Nexus Requirements. The U.S. Nexus Requirement is intended to ensure that only those individuals or organizations that have a substantive connection to the United States are permitted to register for .us domain names.
To be in compliance with the U.S. Nexus Requirement, all registrants for the .us domain must be either:

• A natural person (i) who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories, or (ii) whose primary place of domicile is in the United States of America or any of its possessions,

or

• An entity or organization that is (i) incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories or (ii) organized or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia or any of its possessions or territories,

or

• An entity or organization (including a federal, state, or local government of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof) that has a bona fide presence in the United States.

Which extensions are not available, and why?

The sponsored top-level domains .aero, .coop, .museum, and .pro. require the registrant to be member of or affiliated with specific communities, and are therefore not accessible to the general public. The .aero TLD, for example, requires the registrant to prove membership of the aviation community. Similarly, .gov and .mil are reserved for the U.S. Government, and U.S. Military, respectively, while .edu is restricted to educational entities.
Country-code TLDs outside the United States are also excluded.

Registering a domain name

How do I register a new domain name?

Please follow the below steps to register a domain name.

Check Availability
Type the desired domain name in the search box and select the preferred extension from the drop-down list; then click "Check Availability" to see if the requested name is available for you to register. If the requested domain is available you may continue signing up the domain by clicking "Continue." You will be presented with all available variations of the desired domain name (i.e. .biz, .com, .info, .net, org, .ws extensions). You can select any of the displayed variations.
If the domain is not available you will instead be presented with any available alternate versions of the domain name. Typically, this means that you'll be offered the same second-level domain name, but with a different top-level domain. If you don't like any of the suggestions, you can pick another domain name and check its availability.

Log In
If this is the first time you have signed up for a domain name, you must first create an account. To do so, define your user name and password, and submit a valid email address so that the registrar can communicate with you. If you are a returning user, enter your user name and password, and click "Continue."

Select Length of Registration
Select the desired duration of your domain-name registration. In most cases, you can register a domain name for 1-10 years. When you sign up for a domain, you do not own that domain outright. You are in essence renting the use of the domain name for a certain period of time.

Enter Contact Information
Enter your contact information. This information is used for administrative purposes and must be kept current. You can have up to four different contacts for your domain name:

• Registrant — The person that registers a domain name.
• Administrative — The person responsible for any administrative issues pertaining to the account. Any administrative changes to the domain must be approved by the administrative contact. The registrar will use this contact for any non-technical questions regarding the domain name.
• Billing — The person responsible for all billing information relating to the domain name. The billing contact will also receive invoices, charges and billing questions.
• Technical — The person responsible for providing technical data, including name-server information. The registrar will contact this person with any questions of a technical nature.

You must complete the Registrant part of the contact information form. Completing the Administrative, Billing and Technical fields is optional. If you wish to, you can instead elect to apply the registrant information to the technical, administrative and billing contacts as well. Multiple contacts are often used for companies where more than one person is in charge of the Web site.

Enter DNS Data For Hosting Account
Select one of the following options for the desired domain name(s):

• Park domain
• Create “Domain for Sale” page
• Use one-page Web site
• Forward domain
• Forward with masking
• Host domain
• Enter name server information from other ISP

If selecting the latter, your Web site host can provide the name server information you need.

Confirm Registration Details
Confirm and verify your order details, and read and accept the registration agreement.

Shopping Cart
Review your selections, submit the customer and credit card information and click "Check Out." If you wish to add to or alter the contents of your shopping cart, you may do so by selecting "Update Cart" or "Shop More."
When you have completed the transaction, you will see a confirmation page that displays your customer number and order number and provides some general guidelines for account management. You will receive an email notification confirming your order.

How do I check if a domain name is available?

To find out if a domain name is available, enter the desired second-level domain in the domain name search box; then select the preferred extension (top-level domain) from the drop-down list. Click "Check Availability" to instantly find out if the requested domain is available. If it is, you may proceed to the next steps in the registration procedure.

What can I do if the requested domain is unavailable?

If the domain name you requested is already taken you will be presented with any available alternatives (i.e. same second-level domain, but with a different extension). For example, you may be able to select a .info or .ws top-level domain, rather than the requested .com. Thus you would be registering www.whatever.info, instead of www.whatever.com. If none of the suggested alternatives are to your liking, you can start over again and search for a different domain for your future Web site.
An alternative solution is to use DynaGen Advanced Search, which will generate a list of variations of a desired domain name. You may pick any of the available listings.

What do I enter as the contact information for my domain name?

Enter your name, address, phone number, email address, company affiliation, etc. Be sure to include accurate and updated information. The registrar relies on this contact information if it needs to reach you with issues concerning your domain name.
You must complete the Registrant part of the contact information form. If you wish to, you can elect to apply the registrant information to the technical, administrative and billing contacts as well.

How do I renew my domain name registration?

Follow the below steps to renew a domain name that is currently registered with this registrar.

• Select "Manage My Account" from the menu.
• Click "Domain Names" and log in with your user name and password. A list of your registered domains will be displayed.
• From the list, select the domain name you wish to renew. You can also search for domain names by using the domain search function. Another option is Quick Search, which enables you to search for a domain name by selecting a registration or expiration time frame (e.g. “Past 7 Days” or “Next 30 Days).
• Click “Renew Domains.”
• Select the desired renewal period from the drop-down list.
• Click "Submit."
• Finally, visit the shopping cart to review your order and submit your billing information.

Can I cancel a domain-name registration?

Yes, you can perform this function from the "Manage My Account" section of this site. To do so, click "Domain Names," log in, and select from the list the domain you wish to cancel. Next, click "Cancel Domains" and confirm the cancellation by clicking "Yes, Cancel Domain(s) Now" button.
Note that canceling a domain-name registration is a permanent action and you cannot undo this action. You may reregister this domain later for a new registration fee.

I just purchased a domain name. How long until I can use it?

A certain amount of time will elapse before a domain is fully registered and thus active on the Internet. Generally, allow 24-48 hours between purchase and activation. In the interim, you will not be able to publish or view your site, receive email messages or make use of your domain name. Similarly, if you make any changes to your domain name, such as modifying the DNS or name servers attached to your domain name, it will take up to 48 hours before the changes are implemented.

Transferring a Domain Name

How do I transfer a domain name from another registrar?

Please follow the below steps to transfer a domain name from an existing account:

Select Menu Item
Select "Transfer Domains" from the program menu.

Type Domain Name Type in the domain name you will be transferring and the registrar from which the domain should be transferred; then click "Transfer Domains." Please note that only domain names with .com, .org, .net, and .info top-level domains can be transferred.

Log In
If this is the first time you have signed up for a domain name, you must first create an account. To do so, define your user name and password, and submit a valid email address so that the registrar can communicate with you. If you are a returning user, enter your user name and password, and click "Continue."

Enter Contact Information
This information is used for administrative purposes and must be kept current. You can have up to four different contacts for your domain name:

• Registrant — The person that registers a domain name.
• Administrative — The person responsible for any administrative issues pertaining to the account. Any administrative changes to the domain must be approved by the administrative contact. The registrar will use this contact for any non-technical questions regarding the domain name.
• Billing — The person responsible for all billing information relating to the domain name. The billing contact will also receive invoices, charges and billing questions.
• Technical — The person responsible for providing technical data, including name-server information. The registrar will contact this person with any questions of a technical nature.
• You must complete the Registrant part of the contact information form. Completing the Administrative, Billing and Technical fields is optional. If you wish to, you can instead elect to apply the registrant information to the technical, administrative and billing contacts as well. Multiple contacts are often used for companies where more than one person is in charge of the Web site.

Enter Name Server Information
Enter the name server information for the domain you are transferring. You may complete the domain-name transfer, even if you do not know the existing name servers of the domain you wish to transfer. To do so, select "Keep existing name servers," and we will retrieve the required name-server information from the current registrar. Select the desired duration of your domain-name registration. In most cases, you can register a domain name for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 years. When you sign up for a domain, you do not own that domain outright. You are in essence renting the use of the domain name for a certain period of time.

Confirm Registration Details
Review and verify your order details, and read and accept the registration agreement.

Shopping Cart
Review your selections, submit the customer and credit card information and click "Check Out." If you wish to add to or alter the contents of your shopping cart, you may do so by selecting "Update Cart" or "Shop More." When you have completed the transaction, you will see a confirmation page that displays your customer number and order number and provides some general guidelines for account management. You will receive an email notification confirming your order.

What do I do if I don't know the existing name servers of the domain I am transferring?

You may complete the domain-name transfer, even if you do not know the existing name servers of the domain you wish to transfer. To do so, follow the domain-transfer procedure. When prompted to enter the name server information, select "Keep existing name servers," and we will retrieve the required name-server information from the current registrar.

How can I transfer my domain name for more than one year?

When you transfer a domain your registration is automatically extended one year. Once the transfer is completed you can renew your domain name registration for up to 10 years. The transfer takes 5- 7 business days. Once your domain name transfer is completed, please follow these directions to renew the domain-name registration:

• Select "Manage My Account" from the menu.
• Click "Domain Names" and log in with your user name and password. A list of your registered domains will be displayed.
• From the list, select the domain name you wish to renew. You can also search for domain names by using the domain search function. Another option is Quick Search, which enables you to search for a domain name by selecting a registration or expiration time frame (e.g. “Past 7 Days” or “Next 30 Days).
• Click “Renew Domains.”
• Select the desired renewal period from the drop-down list.
• Click "Submit."
• Finally, visit the shopping cart to review your order and submit your billing information.

My domain name is about to expire; can I still transfer it?

That depends on the current registration's expiration date. Close to the expiration date, domain names cannot be transferred between registrars. Specifically, this registrar cannot process transfers within 10 days of a domain's expiration date.

Parking and Unparking a Domain Name

What does it mean to park a domain name?

Essentially, to park a domain name means to reserve your registered domain until you have created the site content, found a hosting provider, or sold the domain to a third party. When you park your site, a temporary Web page will be displayed until you have decided what to do with the domain. Domain name parking is often used by registrants who do not yet have a hosting provider.
Parking options include a one-page Web site that’ll inform the visitor to the site that, for example, this page is “Under Construction,” “Coming Soon,” or “For Sale.” You can also elect to have a customized page displayed. To set up your parked domain, use the One-Page Web Site Setup Wizard in the “Parked Pages” section of the account management department.

How do I unpark (i.e. activate) my domain name

Once you have determined which hosting provider you will use, you must change the name server information so that the site is no longer parked.

To do so:

• Select "Manage My Account" from the program menu.
• Select “Domain Names.”
• Log in using your domain user name and password.
• Select the domain from the list.
• Click "Modify Name Servers."
• Enter the name server information.
• Click "Save Changes."

This change can take up to 48 hours to take effect.

Forwarding a Domain Name

What does it mean to forward a domain name?

Forwarding a domain name enables you to direct incoming traffic from your domain to an already existing Web site. Thus, when someone attempts to access your site, he or she is automatically redirected. Typically, this option is selected by users who are registering a new domain, but are already hosting their files elsewhere. When the domain name is forwarded, the destination address, not your domain name, is displayed in the browser's address bar. This can be avoided by choosing to forward with masking.

What does it mean to forward with masking?

If you decide to forward with masking, visitors are effectively kept from knowing they have been redirected.
Forwarding with masking secures that your domain name remains in a visitor's browser's address bar when the visitor is being redirected. That way, the actual destination address is concealed from the user who only sees the domain name from which he or she is being forwarded. If you are using regular forwarding, the destination address, not your domain name, is displayed when the visitor is redirected. So if, for example, the destination Web page has the address http://members.geocities.com/users/username, that address can be hidden and www.yourdomain.com can be shown instead.

Hosting a Domain

What does it mean to host a domain?

Hosting (also known as Web site hosting and Web hosting) is the business of housing, serving, and maintaining files for one or more Web sites.

Managing a Domain Name Account

How do I manage my domain name account?

To manage your domain name account, select “Manage My Account” from the program menu. The account management menu encompasses the following items:

• Domain Names — Displays a list of registered domain names. Select from the list to modify contact information, modify name servers, renew domain registrations, cancel domain registrations, and change domain ownership.
• Parked Pages — Enables setup of parked pages, including creation of one-page Web site.
• Domain Forwarding — Enables management of forwarded domain names.
• Customer Information — Allows you to review and update your customer profile, including name, address, etc.
• Order History — Displays receipts from your prior purchases.
• Payment Information — Enables you to update the credit card information on file for your account.

You will need your user name, password and/or customer number and email address in order to perform the above actions.

How do I find my domain name's expiration date?

If your domain is registered with another registrar:

• Go to your registrar's Web site and do a ”Whois” lookup on your domain name.
• If you do not remember who your registrar is, you can find the information by doing a ”Whois” lookup here. Just click the “Whois” link at bottom of any page.

If your domain is registered with US:

• Click the "Manage Your Account" link
• Select “Domain Names.”
• Login with your domain name user name and password.
• A complete list of your registered domain names and their expiration dates will be displayed.

Can I purchase a domain without having a hosting provider yet?

You can register and purchase as many domains names as you'd like and choose to have them parked until you have found a hosting provider. To do so, register a domain name and select "Parking." If this option is chosen, a temporary Web page will be displayed while you finish creating your site, sell the domain, etc. The temporary site will inform anyone passing by that this is the future location of your site. The temporary site will be active 24-48 hours after you have completed the purchase.

What if I forgot my password?

If you have forgotten your account password, click “Forgot your login name or password” on the login screen. Enter the domain name. The login information will then be emailed to your domain's administrative contact.

How do I forward or redirect a domain name to my current Web site?

To forward or redirect visitors from your parked domain to an already existing Web site, select domain name forwarding. If you prefer to conceal the destination for the address from the visitor and only display your domain name, you can choose forwarding with masking.

Please follow these directions to set up the domain name forwarding:

• Select "Manage My Account" from the program menu.
• Click "Domain Forwarding."
• Log in using your customer number or email address, and password.
• Select ”Set Up Forwarding.”
• From the drop-down list, select the domain name you are forwarding.
• Enter the URL you want your domain name to point to.
• Click "Save Settings."

It will take approximately 15 minutes before updates are implemented.

How do I enter the name servers of the hosting account I have with another provider?

Follow the directions below to enter the name server information:

• Select "Manage My Account" from the program menu.
• Click “Domain Names.”
• Log in using your user name and password.
• Select the domain name(s) for which you wish to enter the name server information
• Click "Modify Name Servers."
• Enter the name servers.

Continue following the above directions until you have added all name servers. Contact your current hosting provider if you do not have the name-server information.

• Click "Save Changes" when done.

Please note that it will take up 48 hours before the updates are implemented.

The "Whois" Function

Will my name and contact information be Made publicly available?

Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site. It is, however, possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as the third party agrees to accept responsibility — consult your registrar for further details.

How do I find out who owns a domain name?

If you select a domain name that is already taken, a link ("already taken, click here for info") to the "Whois" function will appear. You will then be able to look up the contact details of that domain's owner.

Miscellaneous

What can I do if I have misspelled my domain name?

Your domain-name registration is submitted as soon as you complete the registration process. The registrar is required to pay the registration fee at that time. Therefore, your domain name cannot be changed after you complete the registration.
You will have to register the correct spelling if you want that domain name. This registrar cannot offer any refunds for misspelled domain names.

What is the uniform dispute resolution policy?

ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) defines how disputes over domain-name registrations are resolved in the global top-level domains (.biz, .com, .info, .name, .name, .net, .org, .pro, and .ws, as well as .aero, .coop, and .museum). In accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, you can dispute a claim to a domain name by following the dispute process. The UDRP does not apply to country-code top-level domains, except in a few cases where the local administrator has decided to adopt it. Please see the dispute policy for more information.

What if someone has my trademark registered?

If you can prove that the trademark in question is yours, you may be able to bring a dispute against the registrant. For more information on how to bring a dispute against another party, please see the dispute policy.