Buying domain name - what name server name to give?

[Rodge2]

I am really ignorant about this so please could someone help me with it? I am trying to buy a domain name for my brother-in-law's small business (I'm doing it for him because he has poor eyesight).

First area of confusion I have is, where does the incoming mail go to and how does he access it? Does the new name require a separate ISP arrangement, or can he just have it directed to his screen name address based on his current ISP arrangement?

Second confusion is - I have to provide his IP address and nameserver name. Here I start to become very unstuck. If it is okay to use his current ISP arrangement, I have his IP address, but when I looked up his ISP's nameserver name (aol) on Whois, there are 4. Which do I use? Does it matter. Does his account use specific ones, and if so how do I find out which?

Any help with my garbled understanding of this area would be a lifesaver, as I already have the domain name in my cart! Thanks in advance guys!

[ChuckFickens]

By the sound of it you are buying a domain with no hosting service? You need somewhere to host the domain once you own it and this is the information you are being asked for. Your current ISP may be able to do this for you but they may charge extra and you'd probably have to arrange it with them first to get the settings.

do the people you are buying it from offer an option to host it? as this may be the easiest option, or simply cancel the transaction you are in and go and buy it from somebody that does offer hosting.

I use http://freeola.com/web-hosting/ for basic domain hosting, and they will also sell you the domain at http://www.getdotted.com

There are hundreds of other services available though.

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

When you buy a domain name (and nothing else) all you get is the right to use that domain name for two years and the option to renew that right thereafter.

However owning (or, more strictly, renting) a domain name is of no use unless that name is linked to the server where the website is to be hosted. That's why you need to provide an IP address. It's possible to use the free web space which most ISPs provide for this. If so, it's easiest to set up the website first (with an address such as www.myisp.com/users/r/rodge2 or whatever format the ISP uses). Then you can link the 'proper' domain name (such as www.rodge2.co.uk) to it later. However such an approach means that the 'real' URL (www.myisp.com/users/r/rodge2) will appear in the address bar of a visitor's browser (which looks 'amateurish') unless you pay extra for 'address masking'. Further, it doesn't in itself provide you with an email address based upon the new business URL.

[Buenchico]

It's far simpler to buy a complete package from a firm like 1&1:
http://tinyurl.com/25kehrl
or 123-reg:
http://tinyurl.com/2dc2me9

Doing it that way is completely independent of your ISP. (Which can be particularly useful if you later want to change ISPs). You can choose between just having a business domain name for email (without an actual web site) or a web site together with email.

Once you've got your email in such a way, messages will go to the provider's server. They can be accessed (and outgoing messages sent) by simply creating a new account in your PC's email client (such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird). That's an easy process, which just involves entering the details your provider will give you.

Chris

[Gromit]

For a small business, you should buy a cpanel which will get you all the services you will need. You can run the website, and have a linked email address(es) from there. If you have already bought a domain name, you need to park it on your hosting server and then 'point' your files to it.

I use Zen Internet.

http://www.zen.co.uk/.../hosting-and-domains/

[Rodge2]

Thanks guys. You explained it really well for me. I looked at the site I was buying it from and there was an option for hosting, free, and only a £5 set up fee. So I thought we'd start with that and move up to something more advanced if needed. Thanks again.

[dianamltn]

As for the nameservers, it depends on which hosting does he use. For example, the nameservers for Bluehost are
ns1. bluehost.com
ns2.bluehost.com
There is no need to put the ip there

[santhan]

1. You can buy a domain name from the registrars like http://www.thewebpole.com/ where you can buy a domain name, host and SEO etc.
2. The incoming mails will be stored in your mail box where your registered site has been running.
3. Your brother in law can access by entering his log in credits on his site such as where we do it on gmail, yahoo etc.
4. ISP stands for internet service provider. No need of changing ISP for your newly launched site
5. No need to get confused for IP address. You can get your IP address by entering a site named http://www.ip-details.com/
6. from the four server name you can chose anyone from them.
Try these and let me know your experience