What Does It Do?

The Domain Name System maps human-friendly domain names (like you.com) to real internet "IP" addresses (like 64.39.22.10). It therefore enables us to use more memorable names for sites - that is, you.com is probably easier to remember for most people than a sequence of numbers.

How Do I Get A Domain Name?

To make a domain name active, you first need to register the domain name through a domain name registrar. Different registrars are able to registrar different types of domain names. For example, many registrars are able to register domain names ending in .com, .net, or .org. For some other top-level domain names, there is only one registrar - for example, .com.au domain names can only be registered through Internet Names WorldWide. To register a domain name you usually have to complete a form on the relevant registrar's site, and then pay a fee to secure the name for a period of time (usually 1-2 years).

Name Servers

Name servers are the backbone of the DNS system. They store information about the locations of sites. Different name servers hold the details of different sites. Each site has at least one name server which keeps information about the site's internet location (IP address).

After you have registered your domain name you need to tell your registrar where to find the IP address (internet location) of the site. That information is held on your web hosts name servers. You therefore need to tell your registrar which name servers hold the location of your site. Most registrars provide online forms which you can use to inform the registrar of your new name servers. Procedures and timeframes vary from registrar to registrar, but usually after providing your site's name server details to your registrar then your registrar will point the domain name at your site within about 24-48 hours.

DNS Changes

Due to the distributed nature of the DNS it usually takes 24-48 hours for any changes to propagate themselves around the web and to become visible from all locations.

Further Information

If you are interested in learning more about the DNS you may like to visit How Domain Name Servers Work at HowStuffWorks.com.

Domain names ending in .com, .net or .org

If you would like to register a .com/.net/.org domain name then you can do that through our registration service at http://register.kangaweb.com. If you qualify for our Free Domain Name Registration offer then your New account ready email would have contained a password which you can use to get your free registration - find the password and then proceed to the Registration Site to register your domain.

Other domain names

If you would like to register a different sort of domain name, such as a .ws, .jp, .au etc domain name then you will need to find the appropriate registrar and visit their site to find out how to register your domain name. ICANN keep a list of top-level domain name registrars here

How do I transfer my domain name

In general terms, to transfer your domain name you need to provide your domain name registrar with your new name server information. Most registrars provide a form for you to accomplish this.

Sites Hosted By Us

Please check your New account ready notice - it contains a section titled Domain Name Registration/Transfer. This section contains instructions on how to transfer your site. The instructions have been tailored to your circumstances.

Domain Names Registered Through Us

If you registered your domain name through http://register.linuxengine.net then you can use the facilities at that site to transfer your domain. You need to login to the management facility at the Registration Site using the username and password you made up when you registered the domain. If you do not remember your username and password please email us and we can have it sent to the administrative email address for your domain. Please ensure that your administrative email address is always current - it is the only address to which we can send the username and password so if your administrative email address becomes out-of-date then it may prevent you from making changes to your domain name registration record (including transfers).

My domain name still hasn't been transferred to your servers. What is going on?

It Takes A Few Days. Even after your registrar has completed the transfer of your domain it usually takes approximately 24-48 hours before the domain name transfer becomes visible from everywhere around the web. To see whether the transfer is visible from your location, point your browser at your site and press Shift-Refresh to make sure you get the latest copy of the page. If your new home page, or our simple Under Construction page appears then your domain name transfer is complete - please note though that it can still take the full 24-48 hour period before the DNS settles so that you consistently see your new site when you point your browser at your domain name.

Problem Persists?

The transfer of your domain is handled by your domain name registrar so the best course of action is usually to contact them as they have full access to their systems and will be in the best position to advise you on what needs to be done to transfer your domain. If you are unable to get their assistance and require advice please feel free to email our customer service team.

What username and password do I use with your registration service?

When you visit http://register.linuxengine.net to register a domain name you will be asked to make up a username and password which you can use to manage the domain. If you want to make changes to the domain name record at a later date, you will need to visit http://register.linuxengine.net and click on Manage Your Domain and then when prompted enter the username and password you made up when you registered the domain.

I've lost my registration service username and password. What is it?

Your registration service username and password can be used to manage your domain (e.g. change contact details). The username and password are the ones you made up when you first registered the domain at http://register.linuxengine.net.

If you have forgotten or lost the username and password please email us and we can arrange for the details to be emailed to the current administrative contact's email address. If the administrative email address is out of date then please email us for advice.

You have spent hours and hours working on your site and finally it is all done and ready to go - the only thing that you need now is traffic. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Just in case you are finding it a little difficult to figure out where to start in promoting your site, we have gotten together some of the better resources from all over the web and listed them all here to help you out. Hopefully, through using these sites, you will be able to find out everything you need to know about promoting your site (and a whole lot more!) Good luck!

Below is a list of helpful sites that you can use to learn all about promoting your web site online:

Search Engine Watch

A useful site that tells you everything you ever needed to now about search engines - information on getting your site listed, how search engines actually work, which engines are the most popular and so forth.

WebMonkey

This site is part of the Lycos network and contains a whole pile of very informative articles on all aspects of web site promotion. It appears to be targeted at bigger sites, but the information and the basic concepts that are brought up, are relevant to all sites, big and small.

Wilsonweb's Web Marketing Info Center

Wilsonweb's Web Marketing Info Center is by far the most comprehensive web marketing resource we are yet to come across. Here you will find links to thousands of useful and articulate articles, covering a HUGE range of web marketing issues.

27 Ways To Promote Your Site

The ultimate checklist. This page is also a part of the Wilson Web Marketing Center, but we have included it here as, if you are like most people and time is a luxury, this page will give you a comprehensive and quick look at the essentials of web site promotion.

Secrets of Searching the Web & Promoting Your Website

A very straight forward, honest and informative guide to the why, where, how and what of search engines.

Web-sitepromotion.com

Web-sitepromotion.com is a useful website promotion and online marketing resource. There is a distinct focus on your overall marketing approach, alongside with general information on promotion and marketing.

Apromotionguide.com

Apromotionguide.com is a really informative promotional site that focuses mainly on search engines and directories. This site is well maintained and articles are updated regularly.

Ideas4Now.com

"Higher Visibility through Intelligent Promotion" This company is selling promotional packages and software. They also offer free search engine submission of your site.

Adbility.com

Adbility.com is THE online resource for everything there is to know about advertising online. It was originally created by Mark Welch, an authority on online advertising.

Submit Your Site

To submit your site to more than fifty search engines and thousands of free-for-all link pages simply login to the Control Panel, then click on Submit Site and then click on Submit Your Site and follow the instructions. Basically all you need to do is fill out a short form and submit it. Please take careful note of the warning messages about which email address to list on the form, otherwise your mailboxes could be flooded with advertising messages, rendering the mailboxes pretty much useless. Instructions are provided in the Control Panel so that you can avoid this happening to you.

Check Your Search Engine Rankings

To check your site's ranking on some of the most popular search engines login to the Control Panel, then click on Submit Site and then click on Search Engine Rankings and follow the instructions. Please note that the rankings will be based on the keywords you provide on the form (in the Control Panel) - your site may rank higher or lower on different keywords.

It can take weeks and even months for the different engines to list your site. Some engines may even choose not to list your site. Please allow at least six weeks and then if you still cannot find your site please either visit the engine to find out why your site might not have been listed (most engines have help files etc) or resubmit your site.

To get started with your web site development project click here or call Portland WebSmith at 207-332-8066 or email ian@portlandwebsmith.com