| |
Domain Name Questions & Answers
Our most frequently asked questions and answers regarding domains can be found below
Domain Name Questions
- What is the domain name system?
- What does it mean to "register" a domain name?
- How do I register a domain name?
- Will my name and contact information be publicly available?
- How long does a registration last? Can it be renewed?
- How much does a domain-name registration name cost?
- Can I change registrars after registering a domain name?
- I have seen advertisements for domain-name registration by companies not in the accredited registrar directory. Are these legitimate?
- What is ICANN?
- If I have customer service questions or problems related to my domain name registration, who should I contact?
- What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net and .org names?
- What makes a good domain name?
- What characters are allowed?
- Should I get a lot of domain names?
- What is Whois?
- Can the contact information for my domain name be hidden from Whois?
- What is a valid domain name?
- How long does it take before my domain becomes active?
- How do I know if a domain name is available or taken?
- What happens when I transfer my domain?
- Are domain name registration fees refundable?
- If I make a typo when I register my domain name, can I get a refund?
- How was I supposed to know that my domain violates somebody else?s rights?
- How do I change my DNS/NameServers?
- Do I have to wait until the stated expiration date before renewing my domain name?
- How do I find out the expiration dates of any of my domains?
- What do I do with my other domains, the ones I purchased through a different Registrar?
- Are there any transfer fees? What is my cost?
- How do I obtain my authorization code? (EPP Code)
- Can I register a domain name without having e-mail or a website?
- If I register my name through Hostcow, who will be the registrant of the domain?
- What are Hostcow's Terms and Conditions for new domain registrations?
- How can I pay for my web hosting account or domain name?
- Do I get an invoice?
- Can I buy Domain Names from Hostcow?
Q |
1 |
What is the domain name system? |
A |
|
The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol"). IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 204.156.153.1, you can type www.hostcow.co.za. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember. |
Q |
2 |
What does it mean to "register" a domain name? |
A |
|
When you register a domain name, you are inserting an entry into a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet. |
Q |
3 |
How do I register a domain name? |
A |
|
Hostcow can provide you with that service, we register the domain on behalf of the client that make use of our hosting services. We will allow our clients to do the registrations themselves and just point their NS records or A records to our server for hosting their website.
Hostcow will give one free co.za domain name when you optin and decide to host with us. That domain name will be paid by us every year, you will always be the owner of the domain even though we pay for it. Should you need to transfer that domain - you will take full responsibility for all billing, technical and admin functions on the domain.
The registrar you choose will ask you to provide 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 send you e-mail or to find your web site. You will also be required to except the TOS set out by that specific registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained. |
Q |
4 |
Will my name and contact information be publicly available? |
A |
|
Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site. It is however possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as they agree to accept responsibility. |
Q |
5 |
How long does a registration last? Can it be renewed? |
A |
|
Each registrar has the flexibility to offer initial and renewal registrations in one-year increments, with a total registration period limit of ten years.
We will contact customers via email about 30 days before the domain is due for renewal. You can then decide whether to renew the domain name or not. Your first domain is free and you will receive a Payment confirmation that the domain was paid. We always ask customers to ensure that their email address is valid, working and up-to-date, to ensure they get all messages that was send to them.. |
Q |
6 |
How much does a domain-name registration name cost? |
A |
|
Each registrar sets the price it charges for registering names, and prices vary significantly among different registrars. Our domain name registration pricing chart can be viewed at Domain Name Registratioin Pricing |
Q |
7 |
Can I change registrars after registering a domain name? |
A |
|
Yes, you may change the registrar sponsoring your domain name (60 days after intial registration.) For details on the transfer process, contact the registrar you would like to assume sponsorship of the registration.
International Domain Names may require the EPP Key/Code - if you transfer domains from Hostcow to another provider please feel free to request the key by contacting our friendly support staff: Submit a Ticket |
Q |
8 |
I have seen advertisements for domain-name registration by companies not in the accredited registrar directory. Are these legitimate? |
A |
|
Only registrars accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) are authorized to register .aero, .biz, .com, .coop, .info, .museum, .name, .net, .org, or .pro names. Some of these accredited registrars offer their services through resellers, which may provide assistance in completing the registration process. Your registration contract, however, will be with the accredited registrar and that registrar will maintain your contact information. Hostcow make use of such a provider to register these domains on your behalf. |
A |
|
ICANN is the new non-profit corporation that is assuming responsibility from the U.S. Government for coordinating certain Internet technical functions, including the management of Internet domain name system. More information about ICANN can be found at http://www.icann.org. |
Q |
10 |
If I have customer service questions or problems related to my domain name registration, who should I contact? |
A |
|
You should contact the registrar if your registered the domain name with them directly, If you registered the domain with Hostcow we will be more than happy to assist you. Submit a Ticket |
Q |
11 |
What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net and .org names? |
A |
|
The .com, .info, .name, .net, and .org TLDs are open and unrestricted. Traditionally, however, names in .net have been used by organizations involved in Internet infrastructure activities and .org is frequently used by noncommercial organizations. .biz is reserved for use by businesses. For more information on .biz restrictions, please contact your registrar or visit the .biz registry operator at <www.nic.biz>. .name is dedicated exclusively to individuals' personal names. South African Domain Names co.za Legal FAQ can be found at Uniform. |
Q |
12 |
What makes a good domain name? |
A |
|
A good domain name should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and preferably short. The name of your company is always a good choice. If your desired domain name is already taken, you can search to see if the .net or .org variation is available. You can also use hyphens to create unique domain names. |
Q |
13 |
What characters are allowed? |
A |
|
Domain names of .com, .net, and .org must meet these requirements: They cannot exceed 67 characters, including the characters in the suffix (63 characters plus the four character .xyz). Only letters, numbers, or hyphens are permitted. A domain name may not begin or end with a hyphen. These requirements are not set by Hostcow. They are part of the regulatory standards that .com, .net, and .org domain names must follow.
You cannot register any of the following: $, @,<,>, ~, #, !, %, &, *, ?, £, +, / ,\ ,",. |
Q |
14 |
Should I get a lot of domain names? |
A |
|
You can register and own an unlimited number of domain names. In addition to .com, many people register the .net and .org variations of their primary domain name. |
A |
|
Whois is a program that allows you to look up information about a domain name. The following information is listed in Whois:
- The name and address of the Registrant
- Administrative, Technical, and Billing Contact information
- Name server information
- The domain name's creation, last modified, and expiration dates
WHOIS is a searchable database maintained by registries and registrars that contains information about domain name registrations.
|
Q |
16 |
Can the contact information for my domain name be hidden from Whois? |
A |
|
Send a request ticket to support@hostcow.co.za to turn the whois information off, co.za domain names are free - we do charge a privacy fee on other domain name registrations. Contact us for more information.
The benefit of this service is that you should receive a decreased amount of junk e-mail, postal mail, and unwanted phone calls.
Please note that customers are still required to provide us with accurate contact information even if they choose to use the Whois Privacy feature.
|
Q |
17 |
What is a valid domain name? |
A |
|
The only valid characters for a domain name are letters (a-z), numbers (0-9) and hyphens (-). A domain name can be up to 67 characters long -- including the characters used to identify the Top Level Domain.
Acceptable domain names that we can register:
- sample.com
- sample.net
- sample.org
- averyveryverylongname.net
Unacceptable domain names that we cannot register:
- www.sample.org
- http://sample.com
- illegal_a b characters.net (the underscore and the space are not acceptable)
|
Q |
18 |
How long does it take before my domain becomes active? |
A |
|
Usually a domain name is active within 24 hours. |
Q |
19 |
How do I know if a domain name is available or taken? |
A |
|
There are many domains that are already registered, but do not have a web site. Just because a web site doesn't exist doesn't mean the domain name is already taken. Use our domain name search tool to find an available domain. |
Q |
20 |
What happens when I transfer my domain? |
A |
|
Transfers are a multi-step process. After you complete your order, the following happens:
You'll recieve an e-mail confirmation to the current administrative contact of the domain.
- When you approve the confirmation, the transfer request is sent to the current registrar.
- If the current registrar has no valid reason to deny the transfer, they approve it.
- When Empowering Media receives the approval, the registrar transfer is initiated.
- When the transfer is complete, the name servers will stay the same.
- We will notify you that the transfer is complete.
|
Q |
21 |
Are domain name registration fees refundable? |
A |
|
Unfortunately, domain name registration fees are not refundable. |
Q |
22 |
If I make a typo when I register my domain name, can I get a refund? |
A |
|
Before registering any domain name, please verify that the domain name is correct. All orders are final. Registration fees are not refundable. |
Q |
23 |
How was I supposed to know that my domain violates somebody else?s rights? |
A |
|
It is the domain name registrant?s responsibility to make sure that the domain does not infringe or violate someone else?s rights. According to the Policy, by applying to register or renew a domain name, you are saying that (a) the statements that you made in your Registration Agreement are complete and accurate; (b) to your knowledge, the registration of the domain name will not infringe upon or otherwise violate the rights of any third party; (c) you are not registering the domain name for an unlawful purpose; and (d) you will not knowingly use the domain name in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.
Of course, you aren?t expected to look up trademark registrations around the world or research legal issues like common law trademark rights. That?s why the Policy requires the trademark owner (the complainant) to prove bad faith and why the Policy offers domain name holders the opportunity to demonstrate that they have rights or legitimate interests in the domain name. As mentioned above, the Policy was primarily intended to deter abusive domain name registration practices, not punish ordinary domain name holders who register a family name for the purpose of putting family news and pictures online or to prevent people with a legitimate business from registering a name they are commonly known by and then offering bona fide goods and services online. |
Q |
24 |
How do I change my DNS/NameServers? |
A |
|
Send a email to support@hostcow.co.za and request DNS Changes to be made on your Domain Name. Hostcow will confirm the status of the domain and update the records with the registrar accordingly. Fees may apply
This change can take up to 48 hours to propagate across the Internet and show up on all "WhoIs" searches.
**If you have existing web services on the domain, you will want to make sure that your NEW hosting company has your services set up prior to making DNS change. This will prevent any downtime during the transition to your new hosting company. |
Q |
25 |
Do I have to wait until the stated expiration date before renewing my domain name? |
A |
|
You don't have to wait for your domain name registration to expire before renewing it. In fact, it is a good idea to extend the term well before the expiration date - why worry about letting the expiration date pass by because you were too busy and it slipped your mind? The term you choose for renewal will be added to your existing term no matter when you renew. Domains can only be registered for a maximum of 10 years. |
Q |
26 |
How do I find out the expiration dates of any of my domains? |
A |
|
You can check the expiration of your domain by accessing your online account/client area. Please go to the below address and follow the provided instructions:
1. Login to your Client Area with your Username and Password.
2. Click on View Domains
3. It will show the registration date for the domain and the renewal date.
4. You may also Enable or Disable the Auto Renew function from your client area.
You can also check your expiration date by doing a WhoIs search for your domain at: |
Q |
27 |
What do I do with my other domains, the ones I purchased through a different Registrar? |
A |
|
We recommend that you bring all your domains under one Registrar, one who uses efficient online management tools. We hope you use our services - Hostcow make use of Enom to register/transfer new International Domain Names and Uniform for local co.za domains.
Our Customer Service Department will be more than happy to assist you in the transfer of your domains. Contact them at: support@hostcow.co.za |
Q |
28 |
Are there any transfer fees? What is my cost? |
A |
|
When you transfer your domain to Hostcow Web Hosting, we charge transfer fees on some of the domain TLD's - Point your browser to our Domain Pricing Chart |
Q |
29 |
How do I obtain my authorization code? (EPP Code) |
A |
|
The code required is only for international domain names and do not apply to co.za Domain Name Transfers.
If you are looking to transfer your domain away from Hostcow, you are probably going to need your authorization code (some companies call it an EPP Key/Code, or a Transfer Code).
Please feel free to request the Key/Code form us - support@hostcow.co.za |
Q |
30 |
Can I register a domain name without having e-mail or a website? |
A |
|
Yes, you can. If you're not quite ready to start building a Web site, you can just register and hold the domain name to ensure that you can use it in the future. Since domain names are being purchased at a rate of 1,800,000 per day, it is vital that you secure your name while it is still available. Once you register your name, you can park the name with Hostcow for free until you are ready to activate it. Once the domain is registered, Hostcow will activate a page to inform your visitors that the site is “Under Construction” on request. |
Q |
31 |
If I register my name through Hostcow, who will be the registrant of the domain? |
A |
|
When the domain is registered through Hostcow, the account holder’s name will be placed as the registrant. The account holder will become the title holder of the domain. Be cautious as many unscrupulous companies will register the domain under their own company and use it to hold you hostage if you wish to switch to a different service provider. |
Q |
32 |
What are Hostcow's Terms and Conditions for new domain registrations? |
A |
|
Once you click on the on the “Order Now ” button on the order page, you understand and agree to the following:
The Domain Name you are applying for is not official until you receive confirmation from us that the domain was registered. It is possible that someone may reserve your name prior to the time yours is accepted at the Registry, in which case we will work with you to select an alternative Domain Name.
Hostcow will reserve your domain name with the official Registry and "park" that domain name on our servers until you are ready to activate your account. Once we received the invoiced amount your account will be active. Once the accounts active the new domain name can be used for e-mail and web pointing purposes - this requires that your domain name be "hosted" on a Domain Name Server (DNS) and pointed to your e-mailbox and web site location. For information on our minimal annual hosting fees, contact Customer Service.
Please review your registration application and check for any MISSPELLINGS in the name you type in because that will be the name you will own.
You understand that even though the domain name you choose is accepted by the Registry, it is subject to possible claims of copyright infringement by someone holding a prior federally registered trademark or copyright to that name. Hostcow makes no representations as to the legality of the name we register on your behalf.
One co.za domain name to new clients only. Example: http://www.yourdomain.co.za
The terms & conditions for our free domain name offer are plain and simple. We will register the domain name for 1 year free on your behalf (Only available for New Customers during sign up). If you decide to leave you are free to take the domain at no charge.
The FREE co.za Domain offer will not be available to Domain Parking clients. Please note that you will still qualify for one free co.za domain as soon as you upgrade to one of our Shared Hosting Packages at HostCow.co.za |
^ back to top
Billing Questions
Q |
33 |
How can I pay for my web hosting account or domain name? |
A |
|
For web hosting accounts our preferred payment method is by Debit Order (NETCASH) http://www.netcash.co.za. We also accept MasterCard, Visa, Paypal, 2CheckOut and EFT's.
For domain name registrations we accept allof the above mentioned payment options.
We regret that we do not accept cheques, postal orders or cash.
*CASH DEPOSITS - For each cash deposit made - there will be an additional charge of R20 per Cash Deposit if under R100, if the amount is above R100 there will be an additional 2% added on the total amount. |
Q |
34 |
Do I get an invoice? |
A |
|
Yes, every time you buy a product from us we will email you an invoice. Invoices are also available to view and print at any time in your control panel. |
^ back to top
Reseller Questions
Q |
35 |
Can I buy Domain Names from Hostcow? |
A |
|
Yes, you may buy Domain Names from Hostcow, once we received the payment confirmation for the Domain we will register the Domain under your reseller account. We can also assist you with all your Domain Transfer requests - view Domain Name Registration Pricing Chart. |
| |
Domain Name Registrations in South Africa |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
REGISTER DOMAIN NAME 
