|
1. |
"whois" indicates that a domain name is "on hold".
What does that mean?
If a domain name is "on hold", this means that the name is not currently in the
DNS database. This in turn means that it is not possible to connect to a website whose
domain name is "on hold". There are two main reasons why a given domain name may
be put "on hold". Either the domain name has not been paid for, or somebody has
raised a dispute over the legal ownership of that name. InterNIC's current policy is to
put domain names on hold if there is any doubt over the legal validity of the name, and
then let the organizations concerned fight it out. If you find that your domain name has
been put on hold, check that it is paid for. If so, then maybe someone has filed a
complaint about your name -- InterNIC is not required to let you know of such an
occurrence. Check with them for more information. |
|
 |
|
2. |
Why are so many domain names being registered?
Because the supply of domain names is allegedly running out. However, see the answer
to the next question, as well as my rebuttal to this idea. |
|
|
|
3. |
I heard that domain names are running out. Why?
This represents a popular misconception that is not helped by the media. The statement
"domain names are running out" really means "GOOD domain names are running
out." There are zillions of possible domain names, but nobody is interested in naming
their site www.foie443sddjj.com!Part of the problem seems to lie in a failure of
imagination. I recently drew up a list of 600 unused .com domains and over 5,000 unused
.net and .org domains. The list took a total of about 5 hours to compile. With the right
tools, finding available domain names is a very straightforward process. |
|
|
|
4. |
How can the supply of domain names be running out when they can contain
up to 22 alphanumeric characters, plus the "." and the suffix?
We need to distinguish domain names and good domain names. The supply of domain names
is close to infinite. For purists, there are
1075911801979990000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 possible domain names. However,
since domain names are unique, the number of good domain names is much much less than
this. For example, there can only be one "internet.com" and so that name has
scarcity value. There is no point in registering a domain name like
"2-ds1ccds3internet.com" for a company, or as an investment. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. |
Can I register a domain name even if I don't have a website?
No problem. Most domain registrars offer a free "holding service" for domain
names whereby they make all the arrangements you need to ensure that the domain name is
reserved for you. At a future date you can "point" the domain name at a website
by submitting a simple template to InterNIC and making the necessary arrangements with the
company hosting your website. |
|
|
|
6. |
I heard that the right domain name can help my position in the search
engines. Is this true, and if so, how can I take advantage of it?
It is partially true. A domain name will help your position on 2 out of 8 major search
engines and directories. Read all the details in this feature. To
take advantage of this, make sure your domain name contains one or more keywords that you
would like associated with your site. Incidentally, directory names can also help. |
|
|
|
7. |
Can you send me information about the XYZ Gold Rush?
I get these messages every month or so, and it is rather depressing. It shows that the
sender has not bothered to read even the most basic information on this site. This site
has NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING to do with any real-world gold rush, about prospecting for
gold, investing in gold, things coloured gold, the goose that laid the golden egg etc. I
chose the name "Internet Gold-Rush" because the current scramble for domain
names is very reminiscent of the California gold rush and similar incidents. That's all.
Thank you. |
|
|
|
8. |
How many domain names have been registered to date?
Hard to say exactly, but over 1,200,000. This is up from less than 500,000 a year ago. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9. |
What happens to a domain name before it is registered for the first
time?
Domain names do not exist until the first time they are registered. Domain names are
concepts. |
|
|
10. |
You mean I'm paying $100 for something that doesn't exist?
Yes. In the same way, you have to pay to register trademarks, which are often new
words that never existed before. What you are really doing is paying $100 to bring the
domain name into existence. Domain name registration is a nice business to be in! |
|
|
|
11. |
How can I change my domain name registration information?
If you just want to change details such as the technical or administrative contact,
you can simply fill out a form on the InterNIC site and the change will be made in a few
days. This change is free. If you want to change the owner of a domain name, the new owner
will have to pay $100 to InterNIC to make the change. You cannot change the domain name
itself; you will have to register a new name instead. |
|
|
|
12. |
What can I do with whois?
You can use whois to find out details of a domain name, or to find a domain name based
on details about it. For example, you can find out the details of this site by entering
"igoldrush.com" in the whois query box. You can find out what domain names I own
by entering "Edwin Hayward" in the query box. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13. |
I can't find my domain name on the Web. Where is it?
When you register a domain name for the first time, it only exists in the InterNIC
computer database. You can use the whois program to check that the database contains your
domain name. You have to go through a separate process to associate the domain name with
an actual web site. If you register via an intermediary company, you may find that they
have set up an "empty" page at www.youraddress.com. |
|
|
|
14. |
How can I use my domain name for my web site?
You will probably need to use something called "virtual domain hosting."
This is a service provided by many Web hosting services, whereby your domain name is
mapped to an IP address inside their server. Without getting technical, this process
allows your domain name to be used as if you were running your site on a dedicated server.For
instance, when your page was hosted on a server, it might have been located at an address
like:-
http://www.providercompany.com/~myname/rootdir/otherlo ngdirname/main.htm
A virtual domain host will enable your site to appear like this:-
http://www.mynewdomain.com/
Follow this link for a list of companies offering virtual
domain hosting services. |
|
|
|
15. |
What is a top level domain?
A top level domain, also known as a top domain, is the rightmost portion of a domain
name. For example, this site is at www.igoldrush.com, and ".com" is the top
domain.You can think of top domains like countries. All domains must have a top domain,
just like all people must live in a country. Furthermore, there are a limited number of
top domains [countries] available to live in. At the moment, the international top domains
include
".com" [commercial sites]
".net" and ".org" [until recently the preserve of service providers
and non-profit organisations; the rules have become much looser recently]
".edu" [educational sites]
".mil" [military sites]
".gov" [government sites]
There are top domains for most countries too, such as ".us", ".jp",
".uk" etc. Most are administered separately from the international top domains
listed earlier.
|
|
|
|
16. |
How long does it take to register a domain name with InterNIC?
The exact registration time varies, depending on the demand. Some registrars have
signed special priority agreements. In practice, it can take anything between 5 minutes
and 10 days, so don't dispair if your registration is not processed instantly! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17. |
How much will a domain name cost?
$100 for the first two years, then $50 a year after that, in the case of .com, .net
and .org names. Country domain name costs vary. |
|
|
|
18. |
How long do I have to wait for InterNIC to bill me?
Again, as with the question of processing applications, this depends on their
workload. I suggest that if you do not hear anything from them within four weeks of your
domain being registered, you should send them a short email note querying the current
status of your bill. |
|
|
|
19. |
What happens if I don't pay for my domain name?
You will lose the rights to your domain name. The domain name will be put on hold for
60 days, indicating that it cannot be accessed in the normal way, but it is still reserved
in your name. After 60 days it goes back into the "pot" of unclaimed domain
names and can be bought by someone else. |
|
|
|
20. |
Would InterNIC notice if I don't pay? After all, they are very busy...
YES. In summer 1995, several tens of thousands of people lost the rights to their domain
names because they did not pay their InterNIC fees in time. With the whole process
computerised, it is very difficult to slip through the Internic net. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21. |
Isn't InterNIC making rather a lot of money? Are they a monopoly?
In short: yes and almost, respectively. This issue has been discussed practically to
death on the 'Net. |
|
|
|
22. |
Why is InterNIC so busy?
Hey, people are going crazy registering domain names. Several tens of thousand are
being snapped up every month. That means that by the time you finish reading this
paragraph, another domain name will be gone. |
|
|
|
23. |
How dare people make money selling domain names? They
should be public property and... mumble grumble...
Why should people make money selling ANYTHING? I agree that it might not be considered
very "nice" to register domain names and resell them for 100s of times the
purchase price, but if a market exists, why not?I
strongly disagree with sites that whine and complain about people ripping off names,
cornering the market etc. We have a word for this sort of behaviour: capitalism.
Like any market, the domain name market is beginning to regulate itself and the worst
excesses are already history. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduction