Submissions (Questions AND Answers) requested here, as always!
Next update to NameFAQ's will be in December ... thanks for keeping it up-to-date and timely folks.
Question: I misspelled my domain name when I was registering, is there any way for me to change it to the correct spelling?
Answer: No, you cannot change the domain name once it is registered. However, you may register the correct spelling as well. You will not have to buy another hosting package, just the domain. You may wish to contact your host for more information on this.
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Question: What is a "parked domain"?
Answer: When you have a parked domain, it means you own the actual domain, but you do not have a DNS (Domain Name System) to host the site.
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Question: Can I use capital letters in my domain name?
Answer: Well, yes and no. When registering, all domains are lowercase. However, many people find that using capital letters makes it look more professional. Most web browsers will automatically change capital letters to lowercase, so you can use them when creating links.
Being a little pedantic on this, but... I believe character total includes the "." and the ext to = 67 char. Therefore in the case of .com, .net, and other 3 char exts, the correct number preceding the "." = 63. However w/ .us and other cc 2 letter ext the correct # = 64 and conversely, w/ .info, it would = 62.
How can you check how popular a misspelled domain is ? A hugely popular domain over two million links with one letter wrong is it valuable ?? Overture didnt help, where can you check unique searches or typein mistake searches. Thanks. Mike C
I'm really surprised no one responded to this one, as it's something all of you domain speculators should be jumping on, and doing so loudly.
Dynamic DNS allows broadband internet users to identify their domain name with a dynamic IP. Since most ISPs allocate dynamic IPs to home users, these subscribers are otherwise inhibited from establishing their own domains. With DDNS, users can register their domain and associated with a server on their own network (say, a WinXP box running IIS) in spite of the fact that their IP will change periodically.
Originally we used to roll our own DDNS services using bind and nsupdate, but today anyone can subscribe to a DDNS service provider. And the best bit is--it's usually FREE! The DDNS provider then updates the A records, MX records, and CNAME records to your new IP every time it changes, snap!
Because 9000 people living in the nine coral atolls that comprise the tiny nation of Tuvalu entered the new millenium by deciding to sell off the entirety of its allocated domains under .tv to a California-based company called Idealab, who founded their startup, dotTV to profit from the exploitation of .tv domains.
Tuvalu retains a 20% share in dotTV, which contributes significantly to their GDP in addition to their other chief exports: stamps, copra, fish products, and phone sex.
I understand the principle, but never really liked the idea of constantly changing DNS records. There are too many ISPs and firewalls that cache DNS, which I suspect will lead to your site being unavailable an uncomfortable % of the time. With cheap and free hosting available by the truckload, why bother with DDNS?
Not at all. This "DNS Cache" to which you refer is how DNS fundamentally works, and is the manner in which DNS records are updated. The more, the merrier, in this scenario.
Most of the free or nearly-free web hosting comes with strings attached--adverts and annoying popups. By becoming your own webhost and using DDNS to bind your domain to your dynamic IP, you avoid all of that. Additionally, you gain the advantage of binding your domain to more than just a website if you so choose. All without the hassle of adverts and the unprofessional spam overhead it adds.
