Help on domain registration stuff

[b4u]

Hi,

I need some info about domain registrations and how it works. I asked something about the matter some time ago, but I got a bit confused now, and I'm thinking very seriously about registrating a domain for a business.

What I have: I have a company name (mycompany), and I have a network with 1 Win2000Server and 4 Win2000Pro workstations. One of the workstations have an ADSL USB modem.

What I'm planning to do: buy an ADSL router with modem incorporated, connect it to the network switch. Instant internet to everyone. Then, I'll ask my ISP to setup a static IP address, let's immagine it'll get to be 210.180.40.50.

So now, I can put a web server on my server, and I can access it with http://210.180.40.50/mycompanyWeb (if my web application is named mycompanyWeb).

The ISP gives me some 5 email addresses, ending in @myisp.com which is okay, but not great.

What I want to do, install an email software on the server, so I can receive emails like "general@mycompany.com" or "webmaster@mycompany.com".

For that, I assume I'll have to register a domain, or else I could only email to "general@210.180.40.50" or so I think.

So my questions:

[1] When I register "mycompany.com", what will I receive? How will I point it to my server? I want my web server to respond to http://www.mycompany.com, what do I have to do?

[2] Am I thinking correctly if I install for example Exchange Server (or some other email server software you'll point me to look into), I'll be able to create the number of emails I want/need, and they all respond to "@mycompany.com"? What do I need to think more about? It seems too simple to work at first try.

[3] What about registrars? I'm actually planning on getting a .pt (instead of a .com), but I have to pay some cash to the official institution that's responsible for authorizing the names ... I can ask them to register and they ask me for some 30?, but asking on another registar will cost me 50? (they'll have to pay the 30? to the institution, but will make a profit at the end ... 20? total) ... they give me some "administration" possibilities, and probably that's what will cost me the extra money ... but do I need it? What can I do on administrating a domain?


Please I really need some help on this ... I don't understand much about domain name registration, although I know something about DNS servers.

I need to learn about it, but I'm just getting confused with everything I already read and searched on the web.

Thank you. More questions may arise, after reading some answers ... so thanks in advance.

 

[b4u]

* bump of luck *

 

[InlineFive]

There aren't much administration options for domains. The only big thing you can do it have the domain point to the server that the domain is hosted on. You should have a static IP address on your DSL line to make this effective. If you don't, you'll probably have to consider external hosting solutions.

-Por

 

[Wizkid]

Just got with the official, cheap domain registrar. Get a static IP from your ISP and set the DNS for your domain to the IP.

Run DNS on the server and forward ports 53 (tcp&udp), 25(tcp), 110(tcp... for pop3) and 80 (tcp) from your router to your server's internal ip (192.168.0.x) and you should be set.

 

[Griffinhart]

I use EasyDNS (http://www.easydns.com)

The Plus service will let you:
1. Forward e-mail to any e-mail address. ie. Mail sent to name@companyname.com will be forwarded to name@ispname.com
2. Use a Dynamic IP address and still host services. You install a small app on a machine in your network. It will automatically update your current IP address with easyDNS if it changes.
3. Forward HTTP addresses to other locations and ports.
4. Let you make changes to your settings via a nice web interface any time you need to.

I've been using them for several years and have been extremely happy with them.

It will cover anything you need for $40 a year plus your domain registration fee.

Features:
Web-based control panel.
Control over SOA, MX, A records, and C names.
Support for Dynamic DNS.
Support for SPF TXT records.
Support for round robin DNS.
Backup mail service included.
Standard Web Forwarding Included.
Stealth Website Redirection Included.
Email forwarding Included.
Catch-All Email Forwarding Included.

Like I mentioned. I've been very happy with them for several years. I have also recommended them to several friends that now use them and are very satisfied.

They also have very good customer service. The very few times I've had to contact them they were helpful and all my issues have been resolved.

 

[JackMDS]

Do your self a favor and do not get a Modem/Router combo. In most cases the Router part is Not as good and flexible like a stand alone Cable/DSL Router.

As for Home/SOHO Self Hosting this might help.

Link to: Connecting through the Internet to Home/SOHO Computer/Network/Server.

:sun:

 

[b4u]

Hi,

Thanks for the answers, and that JackMDS, that link seems to be a good quick guide on setting things up ... I'll definetly have a lok on it.


Another thing:

I recently heard about a software called m0n0wall ... that's an OS adaptation based on Linux FreeBSD, that would install great on an old PC, like a pentium or so, and would act as firewall, router, dhcp server, vpn, bla bla bla ... a bunch of other neat features.

I tried it and it looked awesome, it can boot on a CD and save the config on a single xml file on a floppy, for example. After about 5 minutes effords setting up the software, I had an internet connection shared ... and ShieldsUp found nothing opened.

It looks great, and someone told me it (the guy that presented me the software) that it allows to do something a router normally don't do, something like accessing the internal web server with the url like it was an external site ... it would go LAN-WAN and back to LAN.

So 2 questions here:

[1] Any good opinions about m0n0wall that would put it over any regular router around? (Normal routers, not $1million dollar router systems )

[2] Can anyone tell me more about that "problem" of accessing a server using public (url) address from within the LAN? Is there any problem of this kind, or am I looking for a problem that doesn't exist?


Thanks

 

[b4u]

Hi again,

This one serves as a bump, but specially as a "one more question" message:

I've been reading some online stuff about mail servers, so I can setup one on "mycompany". I would register "mycompany.com" domain, and so I could have "someone@mycompany.com" kind of emails.

This way, I could have as much emails as I need, and always independent of ISP's, so I can change for a better service in the future, without telling all the company's clients that the email(s) will change.

Then I read something about the domain registrar administration should allow my to forward email, or setup an MX record ... can anyone tell me if this is true, if I have to search for a registrar that can give me this admin option, and why should I need it?

Thanks

 

[b4u]

* bump of luck *

 

[JackMDS]

Just one note.

If you planning to host the email on a site that is on your home Network and you are using a DNS service, you might lose mail that is sent to you in the Window of time that your Dynamic IP is changed and your DNS server did not updated it self.

Hosting at home is Fun, but if you do not have Static External IP address it is not a good idea to Host content that is time sensitive.

:sun:

 

[b4u]

I'm aware of Dynamic DNS services, but since this is a company's email, website and ftp server, I'll go for a static IP service from my ISP.

And what about the MX record? Do I have to search for a ergistrar that allows administration of the domain and allows me to forward email? Is that the MX record? How does it work?