Web Hosting Basics for New Webmasters
Launching a website or blog for the first time can feel nerve racking, especially when it comes time to finding the appropriate web host provider. Many web hosting merchants expect prospective webmasters to automatically understand the technical jargon associated with launching a website. Unfortunately, this creates a world of confusion for laymen who could not define the purpose of a domain name, URL, or name server to save their lives. Even more experienced webmasters get lost in finding the right web hosting service that works for them. Therefore, it only makes sense to educate oneself on web hosting basics before diving into the obscure world of DNS configuration and administration.
Follow these links to learn about the basics of web hosting:
What is a Domain Name?
- Understanding How Domain Names Work: The University of Texas at Austin explains the function of domain names, which is to distinguish individual computers on a network.
- What’s in a (Domain) Name? An educational webpage that describes the importance of a domain name, especially in terms of e-commerce marketing.
- What is a Domain Name?: A series of frequently asked questions surrounding the subject of domain names.
- A Beginner’s Guide to Domain Names (PDF): The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) provides a comprehensive document covering everything there is to know about domain names.
- Fact Sheets: Domain Names and the Internet: The International Trademark Association defines the different types of domain names that can be found on the Internet.
- Select a Domain Name: A government-sponsored how-to tutorial providing information on selecting the right domain name for a specific website.
What is a URL?
- What is a URL?: The University of Indiana describes the purpose of an Uniform Resource Locator (URL), the network identification associated with any resource found on the World Wide Web.
- URLs 101: What is a URL?: The University of Illinois describes a URL and its format used to direct a web browser to a specific website on the Internet.
- Tech-Ease: What is a URL?: An educational webpage that describes commonly found URLs, or web addresses, found on the Internet.
- What is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and What is Its Form?: A government-sponsored webpage describes the form of a URL, including the service, hostname:port, path, and filename.
- Understanding a URL (Web Address): Every webpage has a unique address (URL) that identifies its location on the Internet.
- Basic URL Structure: An educational webpage that describes the basic structure of a URL, and its purpose for directing traffic to a specific website.
- What Is a URL?: Java defines a URL, its components, and main uses when building, hosting, and maintaining a website.
What is a Name Server?
- Nameserver Basics: What is an Authoritative Server? What is a Recursive Server?: A knowledgebase that describes the differences and functionality of authoritative and recursive name servers.
- How Domain Name Servers Work: HowStuffWorks explains how domain name servers work and their overall role for connecting visitors to webpages on the Internet.
- What is DNS?: The Domain Name System (DNS) has a name server component that translates the human memorable names into a numerical Internet Protocol (IP) address.
- Introduction to DNS (PDF): Rutgers University provides extensive information on the Domain Name System (DNS), including information on DNS servers, name resolution, resource records and zones, zone transfers, dynamic updates, and DNS standards.
- The DNS (PDF): A document that explains the Domain Name System (DNS) in depth, including name hierarchy, server hierarchy, name resolution, and other information surrounding name servers.
- Set Up a DNS Name Server: Webmonkey shares steps on how to set up a DNS server.
What is a Web Host?
- Lesson 1: Website Hosting Services: A lesson that explains how websites actually get onto the World Wide Web for everyone to see.
- Web Hosting FAQ: Avoiding Pitfalls In Cyberspace: A series of frequently asked questions about web hosting services, and ways to avoid pitfalls when searching for one.
- Web Host Checklist (PDF): Use this checklist when searching for the right web hosting provider.
Changing Name Servers
- OIT Domain Name Service (DNS): An extensive explanation of Domain Name Service (DNS), a network used to translate between hostnames and IP addresses.
- How to DNS: A brief introduction to working with the Domain Name Service (DNS).
- What is a Name Server? What is DNS?: The University of Chicago’s Knowledgebase explains the fundamentals of name servers and DNS.
- What is a “Domain Name Server” or DNS?: A formal example of DNS in use at a university.
- Domain Name Server (DNS) Configuration and Administration: A webpage that explains how to configure DNS using BIND in Linux.
- Technical Requirements for Authoritative Name Servers: The Internet Assigned Names Authority details the requirements for authoritative name servers.
Web Hosting Basics
- Website Basics (PDF): A step-by-step tutorial on creating a website, including information on how to acquire a domain name, securing a web server, securing software to build a website, designing a website, and tracking website progression.
- Website Creation Basics: Hosting Your Website on A Server: A website that explains how to build a website and host it on a server.
- Web Hosting and Internet Services: Web Hosting Basics: An outline covering web hosting basics for those
- What to Look for When Choosing a Web Hosting Provider (PDF): A professor shares ten important things to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.