domain transfer confusion
Greetings:
I'm in the process of transferring domains, and am a little confused (DNS transfer, registrar transfer - not knowing what each transfer really entails. I just signed up with StartLogic, and so far am happy with the service and what you get for your money. However, my question comes up because of an email I got from my previous? host, as follows:
Jon -
I pointed the domain to your new site... the transfer has NOT gone through. If I close the account, the domain will be deleted and you could lose it.
[name removed] (at StartLogic) doesn't appear to understand the situation. He isn't asking the right questions either. Call me when you get time and I will help you move it. Based on their current technical support, I would retain control and move it to Network Solutions. I'll explain when we talk…
Does any of what he says make sense? I don't know what he means by my site "pointing to" StartLogic, but is it true that my site could be deleted if I closed my account with him while just "pointing to" StartLogic? Of course, he wants me to call him, and would answer my questions, but I'm not convinced he is not going to take advantage of my lack of understanding. And that's why I'm asking here. Though this topic is not directly webmaster related, I thought I'd find some people here that are knowledgeable on this topic.
I appreciate any light you can shed.
Sincerely,
Jon Shannon
Sierra Nomad Photography
Yosemite Hiking Guide DVD & Trail Maps
Greg K posted this at 04:56 — 27th June 2006.
He has: 2,145 posts
Joined: Nov 2003
With more information, might be easier to help you. What account did you have with your previous host? (hosting, domain name registration, combo?) what were the terms of service? If you do a whois on the domian name, whose name does it appear under as owner? Some cheaper hosting place will get you a domain, but they retain control of the domain (ie, they technically own it) and can do what they want.
Can you give the domain you are wanting to transfer?
-Greg
timjpriebe posted this at 12:58 — 27th June 2006.
He has: 2,667 posts
Joined: Dec 2004
A domain name is kind of like a phone number. The phone number points to your house, but that's it. You could move and keep the same phone number, or you could change phone numbers within your house. That's how the relationship between a domain name and web host works, too.
It sounds like your previous host took care of your domain name and your web hosting. It also sounds like they are advising you to not use your new web hosting company for your domain name. You can use one company for a domain name and a seperate company for your web hosting. The domain name just has to point to the web host's computers.
I'm not really sure what your old host is referring to when he says your domain could be deleted. I would ask for some clarification on that point.
Tim
http://www.tandswebdesign.com
Sierra Nomad posted this at 13:20 — 27th June 2006.
He has: 50 posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Greg & Tim:
Thank you for your replies. The comparison to phone numbers helped. I'm not positive about the answers to your questions, Greg, but I believe that I own the domain name. Doing a "whois" search on my domain (YosemiteTrailsDVD.com) I find that I am listed as the registrant and administrative contact.
Web hosting and registrar were by different companies.
I'll email my previous host and ask him what he means by my domain being deleted.
Thanks again, and best regards,
Jon Shannon
Sierra Nomad Photography
Yosemite Hiking Guide DVD & Trail Maps
Greg K posted this at 18:58 — 27th June 2006.
He has: 2,145 posts
Joined: Nov 2003
Just my preferences here, until you are sure of a hosting company, always keep the domain name registration with a separate company. Myself, my hosting company (pair.com) has their own domain company ([url]www.pairnic.com)[/url], but I am free to move the domains where ever I want. But then again, I am sure of them as I have been using them for 9 years now.
You should be free to move your domain wherever you want though. Doing a look at the domain though, I see that you are not listed as the billing contact?? So this makes me wonder if they concider the domain as part of a hosting package, so they figure f you cancle hosting, you are cancelling payment of the domain and that is why they say it will be deleted?
Hard to say.
-Greg
Sierra Nomad posted this at 22:39 — 27th June 2006.
He has: 50 posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Greg:
Now that I know A LITTLE more about it, that's probably the way I would prefer to go. But due to a friends advice (who apparantly doesn't know much more than me about this) I thought it would be more reliable to have both with the same company. Anyway, I've already made the request and authorized the transfer. Hate being wishy-washy, but maybe I should take a look at the transfer of reg contract.
Anyway, this is the reply I got back from my previous host regarding why my domain may be deleted if I close accounts with him:
It’s not locked, so maybe it will transfer away correctly… I just want to make sure. The deleting of the domain is caused by a programming error by someone I fired some time ago. He was SUPPOSED to simply remove the auto-new flag… but he set the remove from account flag instead. We’re trying to get that fixed… but it is very complex.
What's your gut tell you? Am I in for a big headache in switching registrants?
Jon Shannon
Sierra Nomad Photography
Yosemite Hiking Guide DVD & Trail Maps
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