Most network adapters within servers and computers are assigned a unique address known as an IP address. An IPv4 ip address is a address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can have a value between zero and 255, so your dedicated server or home computer address format would look somewhat like this 172.16.3.44. You can find out what your ip address is by typing ipconfig at the command prompt (Start, Run, ipconfig) on a Windows Server and by typing ifconfig on a Linux Server. You can use the same command on your home Windows or Linux system to determine your static dedicated ip.
When you browse for websites on the internet your browser communicates with web servers via their IP address. Methods have been devised to assign human readable names or hostnames to ip addresses. On a local windows or linux computer this translation can be accommodated in what's called a host file. On most windows systems the hosts file is located in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\ directory; on Linux or Unix servers the hosts file is commonly stored in the /etc directory.
Have you ever been to 1313 S Harbor Blvd in Anaheim California? Do you know what is at that address? If I had said "Have you ever been to Disney Land?" chances are that you would have immediately known what I was talking about. 131 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, California 92802 is the equivalent of an IP address, and Disney Land is the equivalent of a hostname. Website hosting is the equivalent of the land where Disney Land sits. So if you register a website address and get the name, you must also rent or purchase internet real estate or server space for your website to reside on. Likewise if you obtain website hosting but don't register a website address, no one will know how to get to your website.
A hostfile will contain lines that look like this: 192.168.20.34 www.npsis.com which basically says that the ip address 192.168.20.34 corresponds to the hosname or webserver www.npsis.com. Hostfiles are used for name translation for a small number of computers.
Internet Service Providers typically use DNS (Domain Name System) to translate hostnames to IP addresses on the internet. When you type www.npsis.com or your own website address, your computer contacts a DNS server to determine what IP address is assigned to the domain name or website address that you entered. All websites, web servers and email servers need domain names if they are to be accessible online.
It is important when selecting your website address that you pick a name that is easy to remember. The domain name should also reflect what your business does. For example the website address tomsgarage.com gives you a pretty good idea of what tom does for a living and its very easy to remember. You can also reserve multiple related domain names and point them at your website address as well. Have your website design store help you to incorporate several relevant key words into your website design and point all of your relevant website addressees at your website (i.e. wefixtires.com, bestlocaltireshop.com, toms-tires.com).
Website domain names are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. So if you have an idea for the perfect website address, you should reserve it before you're your good idea is taken by somebody else. There are many companies and individuals who potentially popular domain names and resell them for a profit.
If you are dealing with a website design store or a web designer you will want to absolutely make sure that you own the domain name and not them. When you purchase a domain name yourself you better protect yourself from predators looking to take advantage of you.
About the Author:
You can enhance your business today. We hope that the organizational help article was revealing; we welcome you to visit us and get more detailed internet marketing, website design and website hosting advice and solutions for your business!
No comments:
Post a Comment