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Domain Names - Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a domain name?
A domain name is your unique address on the Internet. While computers use numeric IP addresses to communication amongst one another, it is far easier for people to remember and use names to access places on the Internet. No two sites can have the same exact same domain name, so your name is reserved for your exclusive use.
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Is the "www." part of my domain name?
No. The "www." added to the start of most web addresses is used to indicate a request to the computer acting as the webserver within a particular domain name. In fact, any component added (along with a dot) to the start of a domain name refer to either servers or subdomains for that domain name. The "www" stands for "World Wide Web" and is an convention used in the early days the web to specifically identify a request as being directed to the webserver for that domain. Today, web requests both with and without the "www" are typically routed to the webserver, allowing either address to work.
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Which characters can I use in a domain name?
Domain names can contain any combination of letters, numbers and hyphens, although they cannot begin or end with a hyphen. They are not case sensitive and cannot contain spaces or any special characters like underscores ("_") or punctuation.
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How long can my domain name be?
A domain name can contain up to 67 characters, although that includes the characters needed for the Top Level Domain (TLD) extension (e.g. .COM, .NET, .ORG). Thus, for a .COM domain name, 4 characters are needed for the ".COM", allowing for an additional 63 characters for the rest of the domain name. You do not need to account for the "WWW." typically used at the beginning of a web address, as this is not included as a part of the domain name for registration purposes
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Someone registered the name I want. How can I get it?
It can be difficult to get a domain name once someone else has registered it. Each domain name is unique, and no two sites can have exactly the same name. If someone has registered your company's name or your trademarked brand or product there are provisions whereby you may be able to get possession of the name. Under ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) you can file a complaint, which will be resolved by court litigation. If the name was registered in bad faith for the purpose of cybersquatting, the UDRP provides means for a lower-cost, expedited resolution. However, in other situations, where the other party has legitimate rights to use the name, you will likely need to find an alternative name to use, or you can attempt to purchase the name from the holder.
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There's no website for the name I want. Why can't I register it?
Although a name you may be interested in may not have an associated website, that doesn't mean the name hasn't already been registered. Checking the availability of a domain name by entering it into your browser's address bar only indicates that a website for the domain cannot be located or accessed. The domain in question may not have had a website built for it and it may not be "parked" on any particular webserver; the domain name may be in a redemption or deletion period with the Registrar; there could be a problem with the associated webserver; or the domain may not be providing a website at all. There are many reasons why you cannot find a website for a particular domain name, but only a proper whois lookup will indicate if the name is really available for registration.
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How do I register a sub domain such as store.example.com?
You do not need to register such "third level" domain names using a Registrar. Once you have registered your domain name, you then have the right to establish any subdomains under that domain name. The process of setting up these subdomains is typically handled by your hosting provider or the provider handling your domain name services (DNS). When hosting with Novo Ops, we can configure these subdomains for you, or you can manage this yourself using our online site administration system
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How do I renew my domain name?
To manually renew your domain name, access our domain name management system and log in to your account. In Step 1, select the domain(s) you wish to renew, and in Step 2, select "Renew Domains". The domain(s) will be added to your shopping cart. After completing the checkout process, your domain(s) will be renewed. You can also select an auto-renewal option and avoid the need to manually renew your domain(s) every time they are set to expire.
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What happens if I do not renew my domain name?
Approximately 60 days prior to the expiration date for your domain, email reminders will be sent to the email address set for your domain management account. If the domain is not renewed prior to the expiration date it will be maintained in the registration database for a grace period (typically 5 days), during which time it can be renewed at standard renewal prices. During this time period, the registrar will interrupt normal dns services for the domain name and all services such as website hosting and email will not function. After the grace period, the domain name will be deactivated and enter a Redemption Period (typically 30 days), during which the domain can still be reactivated, although an additional redemption fee of $100 or more are charged by the registrars. During the redemption period the name may be available to other parties. When the Redemption Period ends the domain name will enter a 5-day Deletion Period, at the end of which it will be deleted from the Registry and available for anyone to register.
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What does it mean if my domain name is in "Redemption"?
If a domain name is not renewed prior to its expiration date or within a grace period after it expires (typically 5 days), it will enter a Redemption Period. During the Redemption Period normal dns services for the domain will be deactivated by the registrar and all services such as website hosting and email will not function. During this Redemption Period the domain name can be reactivated although an additional redemption fee of $100 or more are charged by the registrars. Also, during this period the domain may be available to other parties. At the end of the Redemption Period the domain will enter a 5-day Deletion Period, at the end of which it will be deleted and available for anyone to register.
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What is an authorization code and how do I get one?
An authorization code is required when you transfer a domain name from another registrar to our registration system. It is used to help prevent unauthorized transfers of domain names. To get this code you must contact your current registrar. You will need this code in order to complete the transfer process. If transferring your domain from our systems to another registrar, you can obtain this code from our domain name management system.
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