Redirecting vs. Forwarding

Redirecting through a host vs. Forwarding

[Cybrarian]

Hi, I'm a complete newbie when it comes to web domains and hosting. Here's my dilemma. We have bought multiple domain names and we want to be able to have all of them point to our main website. We parked our domains at a major domain name registration service which allows us to forward our domain names to our site for free. Our site though is actually hosted by a local provider and they have suggested that we re-direct our domain names through them for $10/each/year. They say there's a difference but don't/won't tell us what that difference is. If this makes sense to you (enough information) can you tell me if there is a difference. To me it seems that both ways the person will end up at our main webpage. Thanks.

[mcavic]

A free forwarding service should be fine. Assuming that the extra domains don't get a lot of important traffic, whatever works, works.

[activeco]

Whenever you register a domain name you should have full control of it thus including DNS stuff without any extra charges.
One of the simple ways is to point the name to other destination is by "A" (IP address, if you have a dedicated IP at destination site) or by "CNAME" to point to the actual domain name.
It is no big deal, look in the SE for the info.

That said, if you already have working redirection service, there is no need to change it.
Unless they charge you $10 for the domain renewal, you local provider is trying to rip you off.
Change them.

[Quigley]

I run a server that uses cPanel as it's control system and I offer to redirect(addon) domain names for clients for free. I don't see the value in charging a client for something that doesn't cost me anything.

All that you have to do for redirecting is to have the extra domains pointing to the same DNS servers as the original domain.

One advantage of using the redirecting system is that you can have email addresses for both domains upto the limit of the main domain. So if you have 5 email addresses permitted you could have 3 for the main domain and 2 for the domain added on.