About Domains, Registrars, etc.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is how viewers get to your web site. It can end with .com, .net, etc.

Do we own our domain names?

If you pay Lakenetwork, LLC to register a domain for you, you own the name insofar as the terms of Internic apply.

What is the benefit of registering a domain name with Lakenetwork?

If you register with Lakenetwork, we will remind you when your domain is up for renewal. With all of your needs, it is easy for you to forget about this.

We will invoice you for renewing the domain and will do this on your behalf. We will make up to three attempts to contact you, a month prior to the expiration of your domain name. If you do not return our calls, we assume you mean for the domain registration to lapse.

What is a domain name registrar?

A registrar is a company which you can use to directly register domain names. For instance, networksolutions.com is a registrar.

Can I register a domain name myself, or do I have to use you?

You may register your own domain name. But the advantage of using Lakenetwork is that we do remind you when your domain is up for renewal.

Registering a domain is simple, but if you haven't done it before, you might have a lot of confusion. Thus, we offer this service as a convenience for our customers.

What type of name should I choose for my web site?

There are many factors that go into this decision:

How can I see if a domain is available?

Go to networksolutions.com on the Web. From its home page, you may query any domain name.

If I enter my domain name in my browser, I don't get to my web site. Why?

There are several reasons this could happen.

What information do I need in order to register a domain?

You will need to assign an administrative, technical and billing contact. You will need the address, e-mail and phone number for each contact.

You also need to specify your name servers. If we register a domain for you, we will set these for you.

What should I set my name server records to?

If you host with Lakenetwork, please use these name servers: ns1.meganameservers.com, ns2.meganameservers.com and ns3.meganameservers.com.

What are name server records?

Name server records are associated with your domain name. The records specify where your web site is actually hosted.

How long does a name server change take?

Usually you will see the web site on the new host within 24 hours. But it can take up to 72 hours for a name server change to propagate on servers on the internet.

Why do I need to change name servers?

If you need to change hosting of your web site to a different server, you will need to change the name server records associated with your domain.

What are the components of a domain name?

A domain name consists of two or more words separated by a period. The last word (the far right) is called a "top-level domain". Here are some common top-level domains and their use:

.COM
Used for commercial entities. It is the most popular top-level domain. Anyone can register a .com domain.

.NET
Originally used for networking organizations such as Internet Service Providers and backbone providers. Today, anyone can register a .net domain.

.ORG
Designed for miscellaneous organizations, including non-profit groups. Today, anyone can register a .org domain.

.EDU
Four-year, accredited colleges and universities.

Country Codes
Other top-level domains include those for countries (.CA for Canada, .UK for the United Kingdom, .HK for Hong Kong, etc.), which are based on the International Standards Organization's 3166 standard for country abbreviations.

To the left of the top-level domain is what is called the "second-level domain." In bluegenesis.com, "bluegenesis" represents a second-level domain within the top-level domain of .com.