But when I initiate the transfer, I get the message:
"Please type in a domain name without a subdomain."
So how can I even use my new domain?!
Thanks in advance!
is a subdomain of uk.com
i'm not sure though, ... i know someone that has one of these example.uk.com domains i'll find out what they did...
But when I initiate the transfer, I get the message:"Please type in a domain name without a subdomain."
Where are you trying to do this?
Should be at your registrar. Or I guess "pseudo-registrar" in this case.
I think you may be trying to do this in the wrong place, as normally you wouldn't need to type in the domain name of the domain you are changing the DNS server(s) for. You'd typically choose the domain from the list of domains you control after logging-in to your registrar's website. You'd then typically choose a menu option to "change DNS servers".
With my previous domains, I would initial a domain transfer, and then change the DNS servers for the domain.
But when I initiate a domain transfer with my current registrar for my uk.com domain, it comes up with that message.
I can change the DNS servers of my uk.com domain, but how do I get my hosting package to link to it?
[edited by: Webwork at 12:20 am (utc) on Mar. 14, 2006]
[edit reason] Please keep references to hosting generic [/edit]
With my previous domains, I would initial a domain transfer with 1&1, and then change the DNS servers for the domain.
Ah, well THAT's the problem!
You haven't just been changing your DNS servers... you've been changing your registrar (to 1&1), and then changing your DNS servers (or perhaps 1&1 does this automatically when you switch to using them as a registrar.)
It's absolutely unnecessary to change your registrar in order to use a different DNS server. With perhaps some rare exceptions, all registrars and registries permit you to change the DNS server information on the registration. I can't think of any advantage to changing registrars. (Unless you just like one particular registrar which you had not used in the past, and are in the process of consolidating previously-registered domains.)
The reason you can't do it the way you have been in this case is because, presumably, your "registration" isn't really with a registrar. You've simply leased a sub-domain from the registrant of .uk.com. There's nothing to transfer.
As an aside, I would really discourage you from using your hosting company as your domain registrar. Keep them seperate, as well as your DNS provider. Less opportunity for your domain to be "held hostage" in the case of some dispute (billing, TOS, etc.)
All I want to do is use my web hosting for my new .uk.com domain.
You are right, in saying that <the host> would automatically setup the DNS for me. To be honest I'm not 100% sure what DNS is!
So how, and is it possible to have it so that my new .uk.com domain uses my webspace that I have with my host?
[edited by: Webwork at 12:21 am (utc) on Mar. 14, 2006]
[edit reason] Please, no further host mentions. Thank you. [/edit]
Think of DNS as a global phone directory for Internet sites. It allows users to reach a server by name, rather than having to use a number.
There are basically 3 kinds of DNS servers:
- the root servers - 13 servers dispersed around the globe that are the ultimate authority for the entire domain name system. The root servers "delegate" portions of the domain name space (subdomains) to many (probably hundreds of thousands) of "authorative name servers".
- authorative name server - when you register a domain, you have to designate two or more authorative name servers. This is the "authorative source" of address information for a given domain.
- recursive caching name servers - these are DNS servers typically run by ISPs, etc. When you set up your operating system's network connection (Windows, Linux, etc.) you give it one or more DNS servers to use. These servers, in turn, rely on the root servers and authorative name servers to convert domain names into IP addresses. They cache results for some period of time, which reduces the load on the root and authorative name servers.
While this is probably way more information than you needed to know, it's helpful to have a basic understanding how the whole system works and fits together.
In order to set up your domain name to point to your web server, there are two generic steps you need to take:
1. Point your domain registration to two or more authorative name servers. For example, you designate ns1.example-dns-provider.com and ns2.example-dns-provider.com as your authorative name servers.
2. Set up those authorative name servers with "DNS records" for your domain. For example, you set up www.example.com to go to your web server at IP address 1.2.3.4 and mail.example.com to go to your mail server at IP address 4.3.2.1.
Typically, a domain registrar will provide you with the ability to use their authorative DNS servers as a free service. But not always. (In fact, I think in the case of your registrar, they do NOT provide this service.)
But, in any case, you have the option of using somebody else's authorative DNS servers. For example, you could contract with a third-party DNS service provider, or your web hosting company may provide this service either at no additional cost or for a fee. In your case, I believe your hosting provider offers this as a no-cost service.
It seems you are already using your web hosting provider's DNS service for other domains, so that's probably the best way for you to go.
So, first you need to check on your current authorative DNS servers. Since your registrar doesn't provide this service, you HAD to have given them this information when you registered your domain. What did you give them?
If this isn't set to the DNS servers of your current web hosting provider, you will need to change this. You do this through your registrar's control panel which you can log into through their website.
Secondly, you need to set up the DNS records for your domain. You would do this at your web hosting provider's control panel.
I suspect that if you call your web hosting provider's tech support, they can demystify this for you in short order.
Since we can't discuss specific domain names, registrars, or web hosting providers here, feel free to send me a sticky mail if you are still confused. I'd be happy to help you sort out just what you have and what you have to do. First step is to use "whois" to figure out just how things are set up now.
If the DNS is setup right then there is no practicle difference between .uk.com or .com, let alone .uk.com and .co.uk.
.uk.com can be made to work exactly like .com, as .co.uk works exactly like .com.
If fact, www.domain.com is a subdomain of domain.com, but DNS records are generally set up such that they both point to the same nameservers.
Please understand there is no practicle difference between registering a domain (as you usually do) and "leasing a subdomain" as someone put it.
In terms of DNS and nameservers, this is correct.
In terms of registration... no.
Unfortunately, the way this person has been dealing with DNS is to transfer the domain registration to their web hosting provider. By default, the hosting provider then does all the necessary DNS configuration.
Easy - but a good way to avoid having to learn about DNS.
I've been corresponding with the author, and it appears her only choice is going to be to go to a third-party DNS provider. The "Registrar" doesn't provide name servers. And the hosting company appears to provide name servers only for domains that are registered with them as registrar.
