What can I do with my domain?
A domain name is your identity on the Internet. When you register your domain name with Hostway, you have several options. Since the domain name is registered under your name, you are making sure that no one else will take your identity. You can sit on it as long as you keep renewing your domain name registration with Hostway.
With your domain name registration service, you receive the following tools:
- Free parking page
- Domain forwarding
- Access to SiteControl, Hostway's advanced control panel to manage your account
|
What services are included with my domain registration service with Hostway?
With your domain name registration service, you receive the following tools, free of charge:
Free parking page
This is set up automatically when your domain name is activated. You do not need to take any actions to receive the free parking page. After 48 hours of your domain name being registered, you should type your domain name in your browser while connected to the Internet; you should be able to pull up your parking page. Without a parking page, visitors will receive a “site not found” error message.
Domain forwarding
Let's say that you already have a Web site at http://www.abc.com. You then decide to register xyz.com at Hostway to take advantage of our great offer. Then you can forward all Web traffic that comes to xyz.com to abc.com. This is what is meant by domain forwarding. Think of it as your call forwarding service for your domain name. You can configure your domain by logging into SiteControl .
Access to SiteControl
You can manage your domain name and account with SiteControl, Hostway's Web-based control panel. It's easy to use and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can:
- Change nameservers associated with your domain name
- Update your contact information
- Check your billing status in real time
- Make payments online
- Access other setup functions for your domain name
|
How do I FTP or upload my Web site to my account?
In order to upload your Web site to your account, you need to order a Web hosting plan with Hostway. If you only have domain name registration service with Hostway, you would not be able to upload your Web site. Hostway has a solid reputation as one of the top-notch providers of Web hosting service to customers small and large. Our plans start as low as $8.95/month. If you wish to upgrade to a Web hosting plan, please browse our Web hosting and Ecommerce hosting sections. Once you've selected the plan that is right for you, please log into SiteControl to request an upgrade.
|
Can I upgrade to Web hosting and other services offered by Hostway?
You bet! To start, you can upgrade to our email plans to start using your domain name in your email address. For example, instead of using yourname@aol.com to send and receive emails, you can use yourname@yourdomain.com. This has the advantage of making you look a lot more professional.
You can decide to upgrade to a fully-featured Web hosting account when you are ready to launch your Web site. Hostway offers Web hosting plans to satisfy needs of customers both small and large.
If you decide to upgrade to either Web hosting or email plans, you can do so in SiteControl, Hostway's advanced control panel. You can log into SiteControl here.
|
Do I get phone support if I only have domain name registration with Hostway?
To make sure that we are delivering the lowest possible price on our domain name registrations, phone support is not available for domain name only customers. However, you can email our support team 24x7 and receive a reply within one hour. Also, by going through this FAQ, you may be able to find answers to your questions right away.
You can also try our extensive knowledge base at help.hostway.com. There is a search box you can use to find the answers you are looking for.
24x7 toll free phone support is available with our Web hosting plans (Value Plus and Gold Plans excluded).
|
How can I change my nameservers?
If you plan to use Hostway's Web hosting service, there is no need to change your nameservers. However, if you plan to use a third party hosting service, your hosting provider may ask you to change your nameservers or DNS information associated with your domain name. To do so, you would follow the instructions laid out here.
|
How do I add email accounts to my domain name?
Email accounts enable you to send and receive email using your domain name instead of your ISP's name. For example, instead of using myname@aol.com you can use myname@mydomainname.com. To add email to your domain name, you need to upgrade to an Email or Web hosting plan. You can upgrade using SiteControl's Order Service section.
|
What is a registrar? Who is ICANN?
A registrar is a company that has been licensed by ICANN to register domain names for the public. Hostway currently works with AAAQ and DomainPeople, ICANN accredited registrars, to process domain name registrations. Just like many products and services available for purchase on the Net, you can shop for the best domain name registration service from different registrars. You will find that Hostway delivers one of the best values in the domain name registration space.
ICANN stands for The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It is a nonprofit organization made up of various stakeholders in the Internet space and governs the domain name registration space.
|
Why do my domain names show different plan information within SiteControl?
If you click the down arrow in the drop down menu that appears in the top left corner of SiteControl, you should be able see several entries. The first one is for your domain name registration. The second is for your Web hosting account.
|
What is the Whois record?
The Whois record shows who owns a particular domain name and how to contact the owner. It is a part of public record as mandated by ICANN, the governing body that regulates the domain name registration space. You can look up the Whois record on .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz domain names by visiting hostway.com and using the domain name look up tool.
|
Who are AAAQ and Domain People?
AAAQ and Domain People are the domain name registrars that Hostway has partnered with to process your domain name registration. On the Whois information for your domain name, you will see AAAQ or Domain People as your domain name registrar.
|
 |
How do I transfer my domain name registration to Hostway?
For the time being, you would have to be a current customer of Hostway to transfer your domain name registration to us. You can become a customer by registering a new domain name or by ordering any of our Web hosting plans.
Once you are activated as a customer, you can log into SiteControl. Click the "Domain Name" link. And click the "Transfer a Domain Name to Hostway" link.
|
How long will it take for my transfer to be processed?
Transferring your domain name registration to another registrar can take 5 to 14 days. Once you've submitted your request through SiteControl, Hostway sends an email message to the Administrative Contact listed on the Whois record requesting authorization for the registrar transfer. The Administrative Contact has 14 days to respond to the email message. Once the Administrative Contact authorizes the registrar change, it takes 5 to 7 days to process the request. If the Administrative Contact doesn't authorize the request or doesn't respond within the allotted time, your transfer process will be aborted.
|
How can I check the status of my transfer?
It can take up to 14 days for a transfer request to go through. If it has been more than 14 days, please email our support team for the status.
|
What is the password required for domain name registration transfer within SiteControl?
How do I get the password? In order for Hostway to initiate the domain name registration transfer process on your behalf, we need the password that you are assigned by your current registrar. Without it, the request to start the transfer process will be rejected by your registrar. You can obtain the password by contacting your current registrar.
|
What happens to my domain name during a domain name registration transfer?
Until the domain name registration process is complete, nothing will happen to your domain name registration. As long as you stay current with your billing with your current registrar, there will be no service interruption. However, if your domain name expires after you have requested the transfer, it will cease to function properly unless you renew your service with your current registrar.
|
Can I transfer my domain name registration if it has expired?
No, you have to bring your domain name registration billing up to date with your current registrar before you can transfer your domain name registration to Hostway.
You can wait until your domain name becomes available to register again (usually 70 days after the domain name has expired). However, with this method, you are risking losing your domain name.
|
What is a redemption period?
If a domain is not renewed, the registry will delete it 30 to 45 days after the expiration date. Some registries provide a domain redemption service at a premium cost, after a domain is deleted, that will re-activate your domain. In order to redeem a domain name with Hostway, you will be charged a redemption fee of $100 for domains registered with AAAQ and DomainPeople and up to $125 for domains registered with other registrar partners. This fee includes both the redemption service cost and the domain renewal fee.
|
What is "registrar hold?"
When you registered your domain name, you may have requested a 'hold' on your domain name. In this case, we cannot initiate the transfer of the domain name registration on your behalf. You would have to initiate the transfer yourself, directly with your current registrar. Please contact your registrar for instructions on removing the hold on your domain name.
|
What is "registrar lock?"
You may have requested a 'lock' on your domain name when you registered it. In this case, because there is no contact information available, you would have to first request 'unlocking' of your domain name with your current registrar before Hostway can proceed with the transfer process. Please contact your current registrar for instructions on unlocking your domain name.
|
