Hosting & Registration - Getting your site live

In order to get your site live, it needs to be 'hosted'. This is where it's files are loaded onto a computer that is available to the internet. In theory this could be done on a home computer but then this would have to be left on 24/7 and would be open to viruses and hacking so is better left to the experts!

In order to do this, if you already have a domain name registered that you want to use, we will need to transfer it. This process is different for .co.uk and .com, .net,. info etc but I will guide you through the process and do as much of this as I can for you.

If you have not already got a a domain name, then you can look at available names here. '.co.uk' domain names are free with the hosting cost but you can pay the difference for a '.com' or other domain.

* Beware !! A new client recently transferred his domain, but the company who registered it for him had put it in their name instead of his and charged him £100 to have it moved! Please ask for advice before sorting a transfer or registering a domain.

I charge £100 for your first 2 years hosting which includes a .co.uk domain registration or transfer, site statistics, up to 5 e-mail addresses (with auto forwarding to your personal address, online email client OR you can set up using Outlook or other e-mail client).

The current renewal cost at the end of the 2 year period is £125 and also extends the free site updates service.

.com and other domain types incur an additional £15 charge and .info £35 extra.

Domain Transfers

Transfering a domain shouldn't be too much of a problem and is very often something I can do for you.

For '.co.uk' domain, the process is as follows..

• My hosting company prepare to accept your domain.
• The 'IPS Tag' for your domain is changed to 'NAMESCO' - I can very often do this for you.
• I set up appropriate hosting, e-mails and script permissions on your account.
• Normally the transfer will be effective within a few hours.

For '.com' and other domain types, the process is slightly more complicated but I can still do most of this for you.

• The contact information for the domain is checked and changed if necessary to make sure your e-mail address is set up as the admin contact.
• A note should be taken of the transfer authorisation number. If I have access to your control panel I can normally do this for you.
• The domain needs to 'released'. If I have access to your control panel I can normally do this for you.
• My host company send a transfer request to the admin contact (which would be set up as you in step 1).
• You respond to the e-mail by clicking on the link and completing the online form (the authorisation code from step 2 is needed here)
• The domain becomes available and I set up the hosting inc. e-mails, script permissions etc.
• Normally the transfer will be effective within 24 hours.

DOMAIN REGISTRATIONS - IMPORTANT

For your piece of mind, I register all sites to the client and not to myself. This means that as the owner, should you want to, you have the right to change the hosting.

This is particularly relevant for the large number of instructors who have been left with sites they can not update or move as their domain was registered to the designer who is no longer available.