Multiple Domains, Multiple Registrars, Single Host - Management

[anantj]

So I have 3 domains registered, each with a different registrar.
1 was registered about 4 years ago and the other two within the last week.

So I need advice on how to manage them.

1. As in, should I transfer them to my hosting provider? (That will mean I get charged for each of the transfers)

2. Can I leave them with the existing registrars and still have the domains use hosting from my existing hosting provider?

3. The 2nd domain is through [another web host] and I'm quite confused on how to configure one of the subdomains for tumblr (I've added the A record as they specify but most of the Internet is unable to see the domain/site)

4. The 3rd Domain is not accessible anywhere period. The whois shows up fine (When checked with [one whois tool]. [another whois tool] does not show it at all)
I'd like to use it as a custom url shortener (using Bit.ly pro). I set the MX Record as per bit.ly (But yes, I have the DNS pointed to my hosting provider) but it still does not work.

So what am I doing wrong? Can someone help me with this please.

Thanks you :)

[edited by: phranque at 11:33 am (utc) on Jun 12, 2010]
[edit reason] hosting specifics [/edit]

[bill]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld anantj.

Find a registrar that you're comfortable with that has a back end you can understand, and then move the other domains there. If you can't understand a registrar's back end then sometimes it's worth it just to pay to transfer it to another.

The old advice was to keep your hosting and domain registrars separate. If you have a problem with one or the other than you can easily move. I prefer to follow this pattern myself.

[anantj]

Thanks for the reply bill :)

Yes, I agree with your advice. It sounds like a good idea to keep them separate.

Can you help me out with 3 and 4?

[phranque]

welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], anantj!

have you tried running dns reports to get some clues to the configuration problems?
you'll probably need to set more than a MX record for bit.ly to work - that only affects email.

[anantj]

Thanks for your reply phranque. I'm not sure what dns reports are so if you can point me to details on how to generate those reports, I'd be very grateful.

Oops. I typed out MX record by mistake. I actually meant to say I have modified the CName record as instructed by their site.

[bill]

How long ago did you make these DNS changes? It can take up to 72 hours for changes to propagate. Also be wary of looking at information that may be cashed. Some ISPs will cache page information and you may see older information for a while.

[anantj]

I created the domains in the last week. The one referred to in (3) was created on the 9th and the DNS was set on the 9th as well.

For the domain in (4) the DNS was set on the 10th. As you mentioned, I will wait for another couple of days to see if the DNS resolves itself.


Thanks for your help :)

[anantj]

So I figured out what I was doing wrong. I had the nameservers pointed correctly but instead of managing the domains from my hosting provider, I was doing it from the Registrar.

Thanks for your help guys :)