Web Hosting Related Questions
Domain Name Related Questions
Microsoft FrontPage
Related Questions
What
is virtual Web hosting?
We specialize in virtual Web hosting, which means that
you can find a home for your Web site on our high
performance Web servers and establish your presence on
the Internet with your own unique domain name. This is a
very intelligent and cost effective alternative to
hosting your own web site internally. Our shared hosting
environment gives you the benefits of high performance
servers, high bandwidth connectivity that can seamlessly
grow with your needs, pre-installed software, guaranteed
reliability and around-the-clock support, all at a small
fraction of the cost of doing it yourself.
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Do you
offer dial-up internet access?
No. Local Internet access will be necessary to
maintain your Web site and retrieve your e-mail. Because
we provide only Web hosting, we do not have to maintain
the hundreds of modems necessary to provide dial-up
service. This allows us to specialize in Web hosting
services, which means that we can provide you or your
business with the most dynamic hosting environment
available anywhere.
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Do you
offer web page design services?
Although we do not directly offer Web design services,
we can put you in contact with qualified companies.
Please contact our sales department for more information.
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Can I
upgrade my account ?
Yes. You can upgrade your account at any time. We will
invoice you for the pro-rated monthly charges and a setup
fee will apply. Please e-mail your request to our sales
department and be sure to include your domain and userID.
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Is
325 MB/month of data transfer going to be enough to
support my web site ?
Our experience has shown that 325 MB/month will be
more than enough bandwidth for the average Web site.
Depending on the quantity and size of your files, this
could support thousands of hits per month. Note that only
a small percentage of our customers have exceeded our
data transfer threshold. Should your needs grow, however,
we have cost effective plans that are designed to grow
with you. For example, most of our customers begin with
our Professional plan. Those whose sites have become
quite popular have either paid $0.10/MB/mo. for
additional data transfer or have upgraded to our
Corporate or Commercial plans, which have much higher
data transfer limits. A very small percentage of our
customers with extremely popular sites have found it cost
effective to upgrade to our Enterprise or High Volume
plans which have high enough data transfer limits to
accommodate nearly all of our customers' needs.
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How do I
transfer files to my Web site ?
Files can be transferred to the Web server via File
Transport Protocol (FTP). If you have a PPP Internet
account and need FTP software, you can download a program
for either the PC or Mac from our site. Internet
providers such as AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy may have a
built-in FTP interface. An FTP tutorial is available for
first-time users.
Microsoft FrontPage users can 'publish' their sites to
our server and should not use FTP.
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Will
I have unlimited access to update my pages ?
You have unlimited access via FTP or FrontPage
24-hours a day. As such, you can create and maintain your
Web pages on your own computer and upload files to your
Web site at your leisure.
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Can I
use my account for commercial purposes ?
Yes, you can use your account for commercial purposes.
The World Wide Web has become a most efficient and
cost-effective means of making information available to
the users of the Internet community. In addition, our
Corporate plan and higher plans provide the features you
would need to set up your own online commerce solutions.
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Can I
resell space within my own account ?
Yes. You can resell space within your account.
However, you will be responsible for its content and data
transfer. It will not be possible to acquire multiple
account passwords for FTP access or set up
sub-directories of your domain to have their own domain
names.
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How long
does it take to set up a new account ?
Most accounts are set up and active within 24 hours!
Once an account is set up an activation notice will be
sent you via e-mail including a userID, password, and FTP
hostname. You can begin uploading files to your new web
site immediately thereafter. Domain account users will be
given a temporary URL to access their site via the Web
prior to the completion of either domain registration or
transfer.
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Domain Name Related Questions
Can I
check domain name availability?
Yes. You can check domain availability directly from
our Web site.
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Will I be
able to access my domain name with or without the 'www.'?
Yes, you will be able to access the domain name with
or without the 'www.' in front. For example, you can
access the domain name "mydomain.com" by going
to "www.mydomain.com" as well as
"mydomain.com".
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Do
you handle domain registration?
Yes. We will contact the InterNIC once your account is
activated to request either a new domain name
registration or a transfer. You do NOT need to submit a
registration or modification template to the InterNIC, as
this will only delay your request.
When an account is activated with a new domain name,
we will automatically send the registration template to
InterNIC. The information sent on the template is pulled
directly from the order form. InterNIC typically
completes the registration within 24 hours, and
propagation typically takes about 72 hours.
Let us know if you do not receive notification that a
domain name has either been registered or transferred
within two weeks. In the meantime, refer all concerns to Registration
Services. You can reach them by calling (703)742-4777
and selecting option number 2, or you may write them at hostmaster@rs.internic.net.
Be sure to reference your NIC ticket number when
contacting either us or the InterNIC.
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What is
a NIC handle?
Every entity registered with InterNIC has a NIC
handle. You can use the same NIC handle as the contact
for several domains. This way, if you make a change to
the NIC handle (i.e., the e-mail address), all domains
using that NIC handle will be updated as well.
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Whom
shall I contact regarding InterNIC billing?
Questions regarding InterNIC Invoicing
and Payment Procedures should be referred to
Registration Services. You can reach them by calling
(703)742-4777 and selecting option number 1, or you may
e-mail them at hostmaster@rs.internic.net.
Customers wishing to make payment by credit card may
call either (888)771-3000 or (402)496-9788 (outside the
U.S.).
The InterNIC has now accepts First Virtual as a
payment option for the registration of domain names.
With the tracking number and domain name, a payment
can be made with or without a VirtualPIN. If you do not
have a VirtualPIN, the process will create one for you.
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Can I
transfer an existing domain name?
Yes. Whether you place an order by telephone or via
our online order form, be sure to specify that you are
requesting a transfer and NOT a new
domain. You should keep the service at your present site
while waiting for your domain name to transfer. We will
provide you with a temporary IP address so you can mirror
your site on our server. All e-mail and Web pages will
still be accessed from your current site. When InterNIC
receives the template, they will generate an
acknowledgment request (Ack/Nak) and send it to the
current administrative contact of the domain. Once the
administrative contact acknowledges the transfer,
InterNIC will update their records.
It is very important that you use the same company
name and address on the template as that which is on file
at InterNIC. If the company name differs from that which
is on file, InterNIC will treat the transfer as a
delete/new and will not allow the transfer to be
completed.
If the contact information for the domain is no longer
current, you will need to prepare a fax on company
letterhead, as follows:
- Include company name, address and phone number in
the header
- Reference the domain name and NIC tracking number
- Request the domain name modification in
accordance with the NIC number to the new Name
Servers
- Have the President or Vice-President of your
company sign the request
- Print the name and title below signature
- Fax this letter to us, ATTN: DOMREG department
with 'InterNIC' as the subject.
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I
have purchased my domain name from another company. How
can I update the information at InterNIC?
In order to transfer a domain name from one
organization to another, InterNIC requires that the
original owner file a "delete/new" template.
This template consists of two domain registration
templates, combined into one e-mail. The first template
deletes the registration of the original domain name, and
the second re-registers the domain name using the new
owner’s information. This request must be initiated
by the original owner, as the owner is the only one
authorized to make such a modification.
See: http://rs.internic.net/domain-info/modflow2.html#transfer_domain
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Where
can I find a copy of the registration template?
A copy of the template, with brief instructions can be
found at ftp://rs.internic.net/templates/domain-template.txt
REMINDER: We can handle InterNIC domain registration
and "transfers" to our Name Servers on your
behalf. Registering a domain without first activating an
account is considered a 'lame delegation'.
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How
long does it take before my domain name is active?
Once the InterNIC announces that your domain name has
been registered (or transferred, if applicable), it
usually takes about 72 hours before it visible to all
users of the Internet. All Internet providers must update
their records (DNS tables) to reflect new site locations.
This process is called propagation.
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What
is the InterNIC fee for domain registration ?
The InterNIC charges $70 to register a new domain
name. This fee covers the first two years, as they
currently bill at a rate of $35 per year. The InterNIC
will send you an invoice via e-mail between three to six
weeks after the domain is registered.
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Microsoft FrontPage Related
Questions
Answers to questions you may have about using
Microsoft's FrontPage on our UNIX Servers.
NOTE:
For specific information on how to use the
FrontPage software, please consult the program's
documentation or Microsoft
Technical Support.
We support Microsoft FrontPage in several ways:
- We configure your site for FrontPage by
installing and maintaining the server
extensions.
- We provide Technical Support related to the functionality
of the extensions.
- We point FrontPage users to resources that will
help you solve problems,
publish your FrontPage webs and learn techniques
for getting the most from your FrontPage
software.
We DO NOT provide direct technical support related to
the use of your FrontPage software. User issues
are referred to Microsoft's
Technical Support Team.
FrontPage extensions are CGI programs that provide the
server side implementation of FrontPage. FrontPage
communicates with the extensions via HTTP using a Remote
Procedure Call (RPC). When the server sees the
"POST" request addressed to the FrontPage
server extensions it simply directs the request to the
appropriate CGI program. The extensions implement
authoring (uploading/downloading documents, ToDo lists),
administration (setting end-user, author, and
administrator privileges), and dynamic content
(browse-time WebBot components).
Without the FrontPage server extensions you will not be
able to take advantage of the WebBots
that are available through FrontPage. Also, without the
extensions you cannot author and administer your web
using the tools provided as part of the FrontPage
Editor/Explorer package.
New Accounts
Check the box on the order form indicating that you
want the FrontPage extensions. New domains that request
the FrontPage extensions when the order is placed will
have the extensions installed within two days of
activation.
Existing Accounts
To have the FrontPage server extensions installed on
your existing site, send an e-mail request to support
with the following information:
- Your domain name
- Your userID
- Your request for FrontPage extensions.
- Confirmation that you have back-up of any Web
pages currently on the site.
(In most cases it is not necessary to delete
files currently on the site to install the
extensions. However, if there are directories or
files with special permissions (.htaccess) these
will have to be removed. You can then
re-establish permissions and password protection
via the FrontPage Explorer.)
On existing sites, the installation will generally be
done within 24 hours.
There is no charge for installing the server
extensions. We will also reinstall corrupted extensions
free of charge*.
*Note: There are certain precautions
that MUST be taken when publishing and maintaining your
site with FrontPage.
There are some issues that potential FrontPage users
should consider:
- Web size
-- This seems to be most critical when a
"searchable event" is present in the
web (Search, Discussion Forum and Table of
Contents). The lengthy process of updating the
indices for these functions can lead to the
connection timing-out (HTTP 500 Error or 'Server
has timed-out').
- Disk Usage -- You may create
and publish as many child webs as your disk
storage space allows. However, for each child web
you publish, FrontPage duplicates certain
information into indices and hidden files. This
adds 'overhead,' increasing the storage space
required for your files. Microsoft's
documentation notes, "FrontPage's optional
full-text search indexes can take up to the same
amount of disk space as your textual
content."
- PRECAUTIONS
There are several precautions which need to be
taken to protect the FrontPage extensions on
your site if it is housed on our UNIX
servers:
a) Do NOT use the Edit Access or File Manager
features found in your Control Panel to set
passwords, limit access, set file permissions or
delete directories or files in a FrontPage web.
This should only be done through the options in
FrontPage Explorer.
b) Do NOT use regular FTP (such as WS_FTP) to
upload files to the server when FrontPage
extensions are installed. This may corrupt the
extensions, disabling the interactive features
available with FrontPage.
NOTE: The exception to this is when loading
custom scripts to the cgi-local directory on your
site. Instructions for uploading custom CGI
scripts is included in the notice you will
receive when the extensions are installed.
WebBots are the mechanism for invoking many of the
interactive features built into FrontPage. These features
are added to your web through the FrontPage Editor |
Insert WebBot component
Some, such as ''Include'' and
''Substitution'' allow elements of the web to be entered
once and included in any or all of the pages by inserting
the Bot component referencing that element (e.g., a logo
or navigation bar). Changes made to the 'master' element
are made automatically to any page containing the
referencing Bot.
Other Bots, such as Search, Table of
Contents and Timestamp, control dynamic browse-time
features. These Bots work behind the scenes to keep the
web up-to-date for visitors.
The Page Counter Bot, which is available
from the FrontPage CD-ROM or Microsoft Web site will not
work on our UNIX servers.
For more information on using the Bots,
see the documentation provided with FrontPage or contact
Microsoft Technical Support.
Since FrontPage was created for developing Web sites
in the Windows environment, some features are only
available when the site is hosted on an NT Server.
- Active Server Pages
- ODBC and MSSQL Database connections (Access,
FoxPro)
- ActiveX
- VBScript
- SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Forms Processing (using
the WebBot Save Results component)*
*FrontPage sites hosted on the UNIX Servers may use
SSL by sending output from forms through cgiemail.
Other Resources
You may also find answers on many user issues at Microsoft's Web site,
from newsgroups and, of course, in books on FrontPage.
