Domain Names

Domain Names are the familiar, easy to remember names for computers on the Internet (such as internic.net). They correspond to a series of numbers called Internet Protocol addresses (IP Address) that serve as routing addresses on the Internet. Domain names are used generally as a convenient way of locating information and reaching others on the Internet. In other words, Domain Names are the somename.com, somename.net, somename.org that you use to identify your site to users on the Internet.  When www. is added to the beginning of the Domain Name it is referred to as the Host Name.  The URL is what people type in the browser to get to your site.  It is the Host Name followed by the Domain Name, such as www.crystalclear.net.

There are two parts to Domain Name Services.  One is to "register" the Domain Name and the other is to "host" the Domain Name.

Domain Registration

The Internet domain name system (DNS) consists of a directory, organized hierarchically, of all the domain names and their corresponding computers registered to particular companies and persons using the Internet. 

To register a Domain Name you must contact an "accredited registrar."  You will be asked to provide the registrar with the various contact and technical information that makes up the registration. The registrar will then keep records of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the "registry." This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to find your web site. You will also be required to enter a registration contract with the registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained.  There is a fee for this "registration" that must be paid to the registrar on an annual basis or the Domain Name will be made available to someone else.

Part of the Domain Registration is to provide the Server Name and IP address of the computer where the site will reside.  The registration process does not create a web site, only the pointers to it.  This computer may belong to the registrar or it may belong to another company who will be the actual Domain Host.  Crystal Clear Solutions can transfer your Domain Registration from Network Solutions to us.

Domain Hosting

Domain Hosting is the process of translating the Server Name and IP Address into a web site.  The computer must be running an Internet Server, in our case it is Microsoft® Internet Information Server (IIS).  The Domain Name information is entered into the DNS Server and the site is created.  The Domain Hoster also acts as an agent to the registrar for making changes to the registration information and facilitating the payments of the annual fees.  For instance, if you registered your Domain Name with Network Solutions and hosted the site at Mindspring and you wanted to move it to us, we would contact Network Solutions with the new Server Name and IP Address to transfer the Domain Hosting from Mindspring to Crystal Clear Solutions..  Network Solutions remains the Registrar for the registration.

We offer both Domain Registration and Domain Hosting.