Do you use your current web hosting company because you are happy with them, or because it's too much hassle to change to another one?

Internet forums and mail lists are full of sad tales where people suffer major disruptions to their internet traffic and email messages because of problems with their hosting company.

I will tell you how to set up your domain name so that you can move your web site or mailbox quickly and easily.

You will also learn how to save money if you have multiple domains or email aliases.

The secret? It's all to do with name servers.

OK, What's A Name Server?

It's just a computer. But an important one. A name server is a vital part of the Domain Name Service (DNS). When someone types your domain name into a web browser, the name server tells the browser where to find your web site.

How Do I Become The Lord Of My Domain?

All you have to do is register your domain's name servers with a specialist DNS provider. This will take the name server function away from your web host, and put it into independent hands where YOU can control it.

You can find DNS providers on search engines, but here are some suggestions to get you started.

• http://www.mydomains.com
  free company I have used for over 12 months
  
  
• http://www.easydns.com
  fee based DNS services - around $40 per year
  
  
• http://www.jumpdomain.com
  cheap domain registry services with free DNS

(Note: I receive no benefits from these companies)

After you have changed your name servers to one of these companies, changing your web hosting company is dead simple.

1. Open an account with a new hosting company and upload your web site.
   
   
2. Log into your name server control panel, and replace the old host address with the new host address.

That's it.

Benefits Of Using A DNS Provider

• Change your web host and POP mail provider whenever you like, without any intervention on their part.Your Host won't be able to prevent a name server change.
  
  
• Connect multiple domain names to one or more locations on your host site. (You may be paying your current hosting company big $$$ to do this)
  
  
• Email aliases for your domain.
  
  
• Catch-all address for your domain.
  
  
• Stealth Redirection, and other services.

Be Aware Of These Points:

If you have a large internet business with millions of hits a day, you may want to use a paid DNS service which guarantees its performance. The free one works fine for me.

It has been suggested to me that changing the name server or host for a domain name will cause your web site to drop off search engines. I don't believe that this is the case. If you can convince otherwise, I'll post more details here.

Some General Advice:

• Take action NOW while everything is working OK. There's no need to change your ISP, or move your web site now.
  
  
• All of the above mentioned DNS specialists have easy sign up procedures, and support services.
  
  
• Record the login name and password for your DNS provider and keep it in a secure place.
  
  
• Keep a current, backup copy of your entire web site.
  
  
• Check the Ownership of your domain. If you are not registered as the Admin contact, follow your registrar's procedures to be made the Admin contact ASAP.

Summary

Internet problems have a habit of striking with no warning, and when they do you will be glad that you made these preparations.

Or sorry that you didn't.

There now, don't you feel a whole lot better?

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Copyright © 2000 by Eric Graudins. If you want more information on this topic, see the full version of this article at http://www.kersbrook.com