Help! Do I have to Host?

Need2bFree · #1 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 04:55 PM

I bought a couple of domains that I don't plan to do anything with just yet.....just wanted to hurry up and register them....since I don't really plan on developing them right now, do I have to add the hosting plan on to my order right now?

Great Elephant · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 05:11 PM

YES YOU DO!!!!!!!!

Just joking.

No you don't have to do anything with them. When you buy a domain with no intensions of using it I think the terminology they use is "Parking your Domain". Your domains are now your property for the period you bought them for.

Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong?

Need2bFree · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 05:15 PM

Okay....parking it....but what if I want to do something with it eventually? Can I "un-park" it? lol....

James · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 05:37 PM

In fact, you don't need to do anything unless you really "park" it. Not to add confusion, but there is parking and parking. If you don't do anything you are parked unofficially as soon as you register and until you host with that party or enter DNS (2-3 name/numbers you enter at your registration site to tell people where your site is hosted) to point browsers to your hosting company.

If, with your registrar, you officially click on an instruction to "park" your site, then the registrar puts up a page saying that you are "under construction" and a site will appear someday (usually with a ad for the company). In that case you might have to click somewhere to "unpark," depending on the site.

If you want to host elsewhere you will just have to be careful at that point that you are not telling them you want to host with them when you just want to unpark and start hosting (elsewhere).

Need2bFree · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 06:04 PM

Thanks both of you....that makes it very clear.

TechieGuy · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 06:10 PM

When I purchased the domain name for my blog, I decided to use the www name instead of just the domain, meaning my blog was accessed via www dot technicallyeasy dot net, and not just technicallyeasy dot net.

When I did visit technicallyeasy dot net I noticed that the domain was automatically parked by my registrar.

ssmorgan · #7 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 06:31 PM

Thanks for pointing that out TG. When I start a website, I usually buy a few related domains. For one of my sites, I have the .com version as the primary site. I just left the .org domain alone (didn't change the nameservers) and I just checked it right now and it is parked by GoDaddy. Hmmm... I didn't know they use it as advertisements for them. I guess it make sense. I think I will go ahead and change the nameservers for all my parked domains then.

Need2bFree · #8 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 06:37 PM

I'm going to use the .com as the primary, but what's this about nameservers? Should I be doing something with the other ones?

ssmorgan · #9 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 06:45 PM

Who is your hosting? Do they allow multiple domains? If it does, I would change all the nameservers for all your domains. Later on, you can have them all re-direct to the primary (.com) page.

EDIT: I just realized that the above may be confusing to you right now. If it is, do not worry about it now, it's not that important.

Need2bFree · #10 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 06:52 PM

It is a little confusing....I'm using website palace.

lisa · #11 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 09:32 PM

Hey Need2BFree, first of all thanks for using my reseller store. Much appreciated. To forward your other domains to your .com name simply login to your account and go to "Domains". Check the domain name you want to forward to your .com name and select "Forward" from the top menu. Then type in the address you want to forward it to.

So if you want your .net version to automatically forward to your .com name when someone types it in, you select the .net name and follow the instructions above. I'm assuming you want to forward these additional names of course.

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