How do you define domain name registration ?

Domain name registration is a process of selecting a unique alpha-numeric identification which in turn points to an Internet Protocol address number (IP number). It is controlled by CIRA or ICANN authorized domain registrars and implemented by the domain name system (DNS) to provide a unique identity for an Internet site.

What is a domain name ?

As mentioned in my previous answer; it is a unique alpha-numeric identifier assigned to an Internet domain for purposes of facilitating discovery of that site's server in the world. After a process is completed, a registration company will point your unique alpha-numeric name to an IP number by updating information in the DNS database. That database is controlled by an international collection of 13 strategically placed redundant servers.

How do I register a domain name ?

IMPORTANT: If you are planning on hiring Ataraxis please DO NOT proceed with a registration process because it will be handled on your behalf as part of my all-inclusive design, development, and managed hosting service. Casual visitors trying to get a better understanding of processes may continue reading or jump to the shaded area below to proceed with a registration.

If you want to register one you need to do it through an authorized registrar or one of their affiliates. Registration processes are governed by a central not-for-profit agency but offered publicly by private enterprises. It is a business service offered by any one of thousands of private enterprises as their primary business function or as a secondary service to support and enhance existing related services. Ataraxis does not yet offer a stand-alone domain name registration service because I do not anticipate enough volume of demand. Once volume goes up I can then justify costs associated with becoming a CIRA or ICANN accredited registrar. Service fees vary widely from one source to another and it pays to shop around to find a lowest possible cost.

You may be able to find less expensive registration sources but be sure there are not conditions attached that you cannot live with. Also, it is common to receive offers of free domain name registration from some hosting companies as a value added perk for subscribing to their hosting plans.

How much will it cost to register a domain name ?

The registration business is an open market service and like all else in a free enterprise market you are going to encounter a wide range of variations in registration fees. I have seen retail sources as high as $50 and as low $9.95 for an exact same product. As mentioned in the preceding paragraph; one of the most reputable and inexpensive sources that I am presently aware of is the Domain Name Registration Service of Netfirms. As traffic and exposure here increases I will become an accredited registrar.

What does domain name system (DNS) mean ?

The DNS is a hierarchy of 13 root name servers distributed throughout various worldwide locations. The purpose of the root DNS is to locate and translate a domain name into an IP address to point traffic to an appropriate hosting server to permit visitors to find it. Whenever a business moves from one hosting company to another the DNS changes. Those changes must propagate throughout the DNS for visitors to find you. In some instances those changes may be reflected immediately so there is no down-time. But there are instances where it may take as long as 24 hours for changes to propagate worldwide. In depth understanding of DNS is presented in the DNS root servers article at Wikipedia.

Will my name and personal registration information be publicly available?

All information provided during a registration process typically becomes publicly accessible through various sources such as Whois Lookup at domaintools.com which anybody can access; especially those pesky telemarketers. The good news is that there are now options available (years ago there were not) to ensure Whois privacy of your information. Some registrars have this enabled by default whereas with others you may need to perform this task through your domain control panel upon account activation. If you cannot find the feature simply contact your registrar for assistance. They can do it for you so your personally identifiable information is not available publicly.

After I register a name will it permanently belong to me or my company ?

There is a misconception surrounding name ownership. When it gets registered it is not owned. It simply assigns you rights to continue to be the first person or company in line to continue to have first chance to re-register it. If for whatever reason it is decided not to re-register it on or before an expiry date then registration rights are forfeited. It goes back into a pool of released domain names in Canada where it may be registered by anybody.

How is domain registration controlled and regulated ?

Rather than repeat what I have written elsewhere I will refer you to the information about domain registration control and regulation.

Can I register an Internet name as an individual then transfer it to my company ?

Yes, it can be registered using personal information then transferred to a company afterward. Keep in mind that you will also need to provide payment method details during a registration process, such as a credit card or PayPal. Therefore, in addition to updating ownership information be sure not to forget to also update payment method details to that of your company afterward. Most high profile registration companies have automated renewal software in place to automatically renew registrations on anniversary dates unless you indicate otherwise. I would highly recommend NetFirms.ca or NetFirms.com as a registrar. They are one of the most affordable I have found. Plus you can completely self-manage your account through their control panel upon account creation. There is no obligation to use their hosting service to register through them. In my opinion it is the best way to establish your Internet presence because you do not have to worry about transferring it around if you change hosting providers. It becomes a simple matter of updating your DNS record and IP address through your control panel. It's how I have mine setup. If interested, proceed to NetFirms.ca to register .CA Internet names in Canada, or NetFirms.com to register Internet names for most others.