This article describes how the domain name system works, and how to obtain your
own domain name.
Introduction
Domain names could be called the ZIP codes of the Internet. Just as
a ZIP code is necessary to get a piece of mail to the right
neighborhood before it can be delivered to your house, a domain name is
what directs an email message or a request for a Web page most of the
way to its final destination.
Sensible Addresses
Every email address or Website address (also known as a URL or URI)
is really just a label that's been applied to a location on a computer
network.
To continue the ZIP code analogy, imagine if we sent letters using true geographic locations. While an address of 30° 32" N 91° 9" W might be an accurate representation of where your cousin Jane lives, Baton Rouge is a more helpful representation.
In computer terms, latitude and longitude are not "human readable" -
they're simply not practical for people to use. Likewise, it wouldn't
be practical to describe an email address based on the network address
of the mail server and its account information. It might be pretty
tough to remember that Jane's email address is: 152.33.342.144/35/3/204942.
Top-level domains sort network addresses into convenient groupings
that humans can work with and understand. Network addresses for
commercial enterprises reside on the ".com" top-level domain, while
".edu" is reserved for colleges and universities, ".gov" is for US
government agencies, ".mil" is for US military organizations, ".net" is
for providers of network services, and ".org" is for non-profit
organizations.
Newly-created top-level domains such as ".biz", ".tv" and so on have
been introduced, but with limited success. Also note that every country
has its own two-digit country code domain. Thus, an address ending in
".uk" resides in the United Kingdom, while ".nz" is for New Zealand.
Delivering the Message
In our ZIP code scenario, the letter still needs to get to the right
mailbox. So you make sure to include the state, town or city and street
address above the ZIP code on your letter to cousin Jane.
The same is true on the Internet. The names are different, but the
goal is the same - to get your message to the right recipient, be it a
web server or cousin Jane's email in-box.
Let's say Jane works at Carnegie Mellon University. Her email
address is cousin_jane@cmu.edu, and her personal home page is located
at: www.cmu.edu/cousin_jane/index.html (note that this is a made-up
address).
Since Carnegie Mellon is an educational institution, it carries the
".edu" top-level domain. It then has it's own second-level name, which
is "cmu." Thus, "cmu.edu" is what is commonly referred to as a domain name.
So a domain name is like a ZIP code. It gets the message to the
right neighborhood. From there, the specific information (like
"cousin_jane@" or "123 Front Street") gets the message the rest of the
way to its destination.
The Value of a Domain Name
Domain names are handy specifically because they are "human
readable". It's far easier to remember "cmu.edu" than "139.12." A good
brand name also ties in well with your other marketing efforts by
reinforcing the name of your project.
To harken back yet again to our ZIP code example, imagine that
you're a housing developer, and you are building a new road. You know
you'll be placing new homes on the road, but you're not sure exactly
how many you'll have, or exactly where on the road each will be located.
Nevertheless, you can still put up street signs and register the
name of the road with the county planning department. Now, as you add
houses, each will have it's own neatly-ordered address. Why say, "Uh,
the big brown two-story on the street that forks off of Grant Avenue,"
when you can say, "115 Ridgway Drive."
So it is with domain names. You can purchase one for your
organization now, even though you only have two volunteers. Five years
from now you may have 50 volunteers, and all of them will be able to
use the same domain name.
Obtaining a Domain Name
You can purchase a domain name whether you already have a website or
not. You can also keep your website at the same hosting company you
already are using.
Keep in mind that a domain name is an address, but it's not a
website. By buying a domain name, you're buying the street sign, not
the houses on the street.
Buying a domain name does not guarantee that you have the legal
right to use it. This is generally a common sense issue. If you
purchase the domain "sprint.com" (not that it's available), expect to
receive a nasty legal notice from the telecommunications conglomerate
of the same name.
Domain names are not held indefinitely. You actually have to renew
them every year. There are two and three-year plans, but you still have
to renew them as well. Thankfully you can usually acquire a domain name
for under $25 per year.
You don't have to be a techie to purchase a domain name. If you have
questions about the process, contact your current ISP (Internet Service
Provider - the company that provides your Internet access) and have
them help you.
There are now a multitude of companies providing domain name
registry services (that is, they'll sell you domain names). Not all
registrars are created equal, so be sure to use the resources listed
below to be certain the registrar you're doing business with has a
solid reputation. |
