Domain Name Frequently Asked Questions

Here we have listed a number of common questions people ask us about our Hostnex domain registration services. Hopefully, this FAQ section will answer your questions. If you don't find the answer to your question below, please Contact us.

How do I register a domain name?
If you would like to register your domain name, just go to our whois page page and enter the domain name you wish to register. If the domain name is available for registration, you may proceed for payment to register it. You will receive a welcome email from us with all the information you need to get started within 10 minutes. Your domain name will take about 24-48 hours to 'propagate' throughout the internet and be usable.

I already own a domain name, how do I get started with hosting?

All you have to do is go to our order online page. You will receive your welcome email with all the information you need to get started within 10 minutes of signing up. It's that easy!

To transfer the DNS, just follow these easy dns transfer steps. And if you have any problems at all with your domain DNS transfer, please contact our technical support staff who will be happy to help you.

How do I transfer my domain name dns so it points to Hostnex Servers?
If you registered your domain name with OnlineNic, Godaddy, DirectI then fill out our online order form and we will initiate your domain transfer. If you registered your domain with another registrar, we will help you transfer your domain name at no charge

Click how to transfer domain for more information.

How long after I sign up will my domain name be usable?
It usually takes about 24-48 hours for a domain name to 'propogate' or be usable throughout the internet. This applies to new domain registrations and to domain transfers.

What is domain propagation?
When a visitor types your domain name into their Web browser, their request is referred to a nameserver that indicates the physical location (the IP address) of your domain on the Internet. When your site location changes to a new IP address, or when a new domain name is added, nameservers around the world must be notified of the change. This process is referred to as propagation. Propagation normally requires 24-48 hours. During this period, if you are transferring your domain, some nameservers will refer to the old location of your site and some to the new location. Therefore, a visitor accessing your site may be directed to either the old or new location. That's why it is best to cancel your old provider only after the internet has propagated and all requests to view your site are going to our servers.

Does Hostnex supports third level domains (myname.yourdomain.com)?
Yes. You can have third level domains. The only restriction is that you have the main domain name (ie yourdomain.com) with us and the sub domain has to be in the form of: something.yourdomain.com.

How much should I have to pay to register a domain name?
At one time, companies were able to get away with charging reservation fees plus a "mandatory" $70 InterNIC fee. Recently, it was decided that other companies should be able to compete to sell domain names. This has lowered prices dramatically. To see how much, check out domain registration prices page.

What Does Hostnex Charge for Domain Registration?
Please visit the domain registration page for up to date pricing information.

Can I register a domain with Hostnex but have the domain point to alternate name servers?
Yes. Just register your domain name. After registration, you will receive your account login from where you will be able to change the nameservers anytime.

Why shouldn't I host my Web site with a company that offers free domain registration?
Some hosting companies offer FREE domain registration while you host your Web site with their company. Then, if you decide to move your Web site to another host, you cannot take your domain name with you because the hosting company is the real owner of the domain name. We do not offer free domain registration because we want our customers to always have the option to go to another hosting company and to take their domain name with them.

I changed my mind about the domain name that I registered. Is it too late to change it?
Once you register a domain name, you cannot "un-register" it. If you find that the domain name you chose no longer suits your business or personal needs, you should register another domain name. The domain name you originally registered will continue to be registered to you until the end of the registration period. Registration and re-registration fees are non-refundable.

Where do I go to check the availability of a domain name?
To check the availability of a domain name go here.

How do I park another domain name on my existing account?
Just go to help desk in your control panel and ask to have the new domain name parked under your current account. Be sure and tell us your Account Domain Name, the new Domain Name that you would like to have registered, and how many years you would like to have your domain name registered for. Your new domain name will point to your existing Web site in 24 hours.

What is domain parking?
Parked domain names are domain names that point to an existing Web site. You can park as many domain names under your account as you want. For example, if you have an on-line clothing store you may wish to have the domain names clothes.com, clothes.net, and clothes.tv all point to your Web site. This is an excellent way to increase your visibility and bring more visitors to your site! Plus, all email addressed to a parked domain will come to the default email address on your main account. Parked domains do not have their own IP address, or their own control panel.

Can I register a domain name if I am not ready to sign up for hosting yet?
We can register your domain name and you can set up a hosting account later. And, we will point your domain name to our servers so that when you sign up for hosting, your new domain name will be ready to use. (No transfer will be necessary.) Register a domain name up to 67 characters total for 1-10 years.

What extension should I use for my domain name?
There are many different extensions available right now. If you are a business, we recommend a .com suffix. It is the first extension that most people try when searching for a site. Also, since it is one of the oldest extensions, .com shows that your business has been around for a while and has a well established presence on the web.

What about trademarked names?
Avoid trademarked names. There are two really good reasons for this. First, it’s not very nice. We have all heard the stories about the zany guy who thought ahead and bought "some-huge-multi-million-dollar-company.com" and sold it to the company for enough money to retire on. But, remember that those companies have spent lots of time and money creating their brand, and it would really suck if the tables were turned. The second reason to avoid trademarked names is that companies are no longer opening their pocketbooks to get their names back. They are calling their lawyers. Also, pending legislation will soon make it very difficult to register someone else’s trademarked name.

Should I register my domain name now or later?
Domain names are being snatched up faster than candy at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. You must register soon unless you want to get stuck with "the-domain-name-that-no-one-wanted.net". You do not have to have a web master or an e-commerce department or a web design consultant or... Heck, you don’t even need a web page. Just go to our domain registration page and register your domain name before you loose the opportunity to get the name you really want.

Should I register more than one domain name?
Sometimes, it isn’t a bad idea to register several similar domain names. If you have "yourname.com", register "yourname.net" so no one else takes it. You can register your full company and a shorter, easier to remember version. Some people even register common misspellings of their company’s name. It's a good idea to get these mispelled domain names before your competitor does! Just park the domain names under your exisitng Hostnex account and it will point right to your existing Web site. You can park as many domain names as you want to under your existing account.

What characters can I use in my domain name?
Just a reminder. Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and hyphens ("-"). Spaces and other symbols are not allowed. Cannot begin or end with a hyphen. Domain names are not case sensitive. Domains ending in .com, .net, and .org domain names cannot exceed 63 characters total. Other domain names cannot exceed 22 characters, not including the extension.

What does it mean to transfer your domain?
When you transfer your domain you are just pointing it to our servers. This means when when someone types your domain name in their browser it will go to your Web site on our servers. In order to transfer your domain you must go to the registrar where you purchased your domain name and have them update your records. We will gladly help you handle your domain transfer.

What are Hostnex's name servers?

Primary Server Hostname
ns1.hostnexdns.com

Secondary Server Hostname
ns2.hostnexdns.com

What is a Sub Domain Account?
A sub-domain account is an account that can be setup to be re-directed to a sub-directory under your main account. For example info.yourdomain.com is considered a sub domain. The only requirement is is that your main domain name (yourdomain.com) be hosted on our servers.