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  1. Frequently Asked Questions
     
  2.  What is a Domain Name?
  3.  How can I find out if the Domain name I want is still available?
  4. Are there any additional costs or hidden costs?
  5. How should I choose between .com, .net and .org ?
  6. Are there restrictions on the use of .com, .net or .org ?
  7. What kind of names can I register and what characters are allowed?
  8. The name I want is already taken. What should I do?
  9. Can I register a Domain Name if I don't have a website?
  10. Can I change information about my Domain after I have registered  it?
  11. What is "Parking"?
  12. How do I "park" my Domain Name?
  13. How do I "unpark" my domain name?
  14. What is a URL?
  15. What is URL forwarding?
  16. How do I put up a website using my new Domain Name?
  17. What about the DNS and IP Addresses?
  18. What are Name Servers?
  19. What is a Registrant?
  20. What is a Registrar?
  21. Once my Domain name is registered, can anyone else take it?
  22. What are DNS servers?
  23. How long is my Domain name valid?
  24. Now that I have my Domain name, what can I do with it?
  25. What do I need to do to put a web page up at my Domain name?
  26. Do I have to pay at the time of application?
  27. I still have more questions. What should I do?

1. What is a Domain Name?

An "Internet Domain Name" or "Web Address" is your unique identity address on the Internet. A domain name takes the form of a string of characters, followed by a period or "dot" and then by another string of characters, usually com, net or org. The last set of characters is referred to as the Top Level Domain, or "TLD". Your domain name is referred to technically as a Second Level Domain, or "SLD". Some commonly known domain names are yahoo.com and ebay.com.

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2. How can I find out if the Domain name I want is still available?

1stDomain.net provides a Domain name search engine that can instantly tell you whether or not the name is available.

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3. Are there any additional costs or hidden costs?

No. The registration fee covers everything needed to register your domain name. No additional payments are required to 1stDomain.net or to any other companies or agencies.

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4. How should I choose between .com, .net and .org for my Domain Name?

Often a domain name is registered with all three variations of the Top Level Domain (TLD) extensions. This ensures that you will have a unique name and no others will be able to register it. The .com and .net extensions are preferred for business. Traditionally .org domain names have been used by non-profit organizations.

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5. Are there restrictions on the use of .com, .net or .org extensions?

No. There are no restrictions on the use of these Top Level Domain extensions. You may use any or all that you wish for the domain names you register.

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6. What kinds of names can I register and what characters are allowed?

You can only register Second Level Domain Names (SLDs), for example:
Your-Name.com , not lower levels like Your-Offer.Your-Name.com, .net .org.
Lower levels in the Domain Name Hierarchy might be installed later, directly on your server (ie. ).
The same applies for the prefix www.
The following technical rules apply for the new gTLDs:
Names must be 63 characters or less.
Names must consist of at least two characters.
Names may start with a letter or digit, end with a letter or digit, and have as interior characters only letters, digits, and hyphens ("-").
Underscores ("_") or spaces are not allowed.
Names must not consist entirely of digits.
ASCII case insensitive
1. A_word_of_63_characters.com is legal
2. -----.net is legal
3. -----.org is legal
Also, please be aware of the rights of existing trademarks.
 

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7. The name I want is already taken. What should I do?

If the name you would like is already being used by someone else, think of a variation on that name. Try using our Domain Wizard, but, if you still can't find a name, try adding the word "the" or "my" in front of the domain name. Be creative and use a combination of two words instead of a single word.

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8. Can I register a Domain Name if I don't have a website?

Yes. You can register a Domain Name at any time, whether or not you intend to use that name right away. For registration you will need a valid e-mail address. If you register a domain name and wish to hold on to it without using it, you may use our "Free Parking" service. This will allow your domain name to be registered properly until you decide to use it.

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9. Can I change information about my Domain Name after I have registered it?

Yes. Click on the "Modify" button to manage and modify the domains you registered. You can change your registrant information, your contact information and your name server information.

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10. What is "Parking"?

If you want to register a Domain Name before you have an active website, you must "park" your domain in order for it to be recognized by the Internet. 1stDomain.net automatically "parks" all domain names you register on our site at no additional charge. We park your domain names using our name servers.

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11. How do I "park" my Domain Name?

We park your Domain Names automatically when they are registered - no special request is necessary. There is no additional charge for this service.

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12. How do I "unpark" my domain name?

When your web site is ready, you may "unpark" your domains by clicking on the "modify" button and setting up your new name servers.

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13. What is a URL?

URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. The URL is a unique string of characters that correspond to a unique location on the Internet. The URL may be a Domain Name, a homepage of a website or any other page in a specific website.

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14. What is URL forwarding?

URL forwarding directs users who type in a Domain Name to a website that has a different Domain Name. Let's say you have a current website with the name "newbusiness.com" and you register the new Domain Name, "secondbusiness.com". You can arrange through URL forwarding to have visitors to "secondbusiness.com" automatically sent to your existing website. This allows you to have multiple web addresses pointing to your site.

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15. How do I put up a website using my new Domain Name?

You must use the services of a hosting company to "host" your site. The hosting company's computer makes your website and the pages you created for the site available to others on the Internet. After you select your hosting company, they will tell you how you need to modify your domain name servers and their associated IP addresses. After you get this information, click the "modify" button on our main page. You will then be able to update your name server information.

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16. What about the DNS and IP Addresses?

The DNS or Domain Name System is the system of computers and databases that map a specific domain name to its associated IP (Internet Protocol) Address. Each IP Address is unique and identifies a specific computer on the Internet. An IP Address consists of four groups of numbers with 3 digits in each group. The DNS ensures that data which is sent to a specific address arrives at that address and no other. In order to send data to a web address on the Internet, it must have associated with it a unique IP Address. The DNS provides the association between a domain name and its IP Address.

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17. What are Name Servers?

Name servers are an integral part of the DNS. Name servers are computers that specify the IP Address a particular domain name uses. Typically these computers contain information about many domain names and the IP addresses associated with each one. Name Servers allow users to refer to Internet Addresses by their domain names instead of by their IP addresses, which are strings of numbers. A domain name is a lot easier to remember than a bunch of numbers.

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18. What is a Registrant?

The Registrant is the person or entity who registers a domain name. This person or entity holds the right to use that specific domain name for a specified period of time, provided certain conditions are met and the registration fees are paid. This person or entity is the "legal entity" bound by the terms of the Registration Agreement. The Registrant is in technical terms the "SLD holder". This stands for the holder of a Second Level Domain. SLD is the technical term for domain name.

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19. What is a Registrar?

A Registrar is an organization that registers domain names on behalf of a Registrant. 1stDomain.net is a Registrar. Registrars must receive accreditation from ICANN and be technically certified by the Registry before they can register domain names in the Registry.

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20. Once my Domain name is registered, can anyone else take it?

The Domain is registered in your name. So long as it has active DNS entries, all the required fees are paid and it's not in breach of any law, nobody else can either use it or take it without your consent.

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21. What are DNS servers?

DNS servers are the computers on which your Domain names will reside. Most registries require two such servers on which to store and keep Domain names active. 1stDomain.net provides the necessary information for this service on your behalf.

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22. How long is my Domain name valid?

Most Domain names are registered for an initial period of two years and then renewable each year after that. See our registration page for more information

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23. Now that I have my Domain name, what can I do with it?

There are several services that can be used with your Domain name:
Email Aliases - unique Email addresses "@YourDomainName" (eg. ). Set up each employee or family member with their own Email address.

Web Redirecting - If you already have a web site, start using your Domain name without the additional cost of hosting. When a user enters your new Domain name into their browser, they'll be redirected to your existing Web Site
.
Web Hosting - ccHawaii.net offers several levels of web hosting to suit your needs.

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24. What do I need to do to put a web page up at my Domain name?

When you're ready to publish your WebSite, go to our Hosting section at ccHawaii.net

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25. Do I have to pay at the time of application?
Yes, all fees are due in advance. The Nic database only processes pre-paid registration applications. In case of a rejected application, pre-paid registration fees will be refunded in full.

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26. I still have more questions. What should I do?
Please contact us by pressing the "Contact Us" button on our site. Fill out the contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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