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Domain Help

In this section, we attempt to provide all necessary knowledge and answers to enable you to understand and utilize your domains effectively. We have tried to answer most of the How To's and FAQs that you would look for to configure your domain properly.

What is a Domain Name?

A Domain Name is a textual version of an IP Address, the number that points to a particular website. For example, the number 174.121.23.15 is the IP Address for ctsindia.com. Each domain name on the Internet corresponds to such numbers. The IP address may be dedicated to one domain or it may be a shared IP address, shared by several domains hosted on the same server.

Without domain names, each and every website would have to be recalled by a number like this, similar to the telephone system, but much more difficult to remember. Further, each website would require to have a unique IP address and with several million websites on the Internet today, this would be a daunting task. For this reason, domain names were introduced, and have made navigation on the net much simpler.

What is a TLD?

TLD stands for Top Level Domain. A domain extension is often referred to as TLD. For example for the domain name ctsindia.com, the tld is com. Registration of domain names is available for various tlds such as .com, .net, .in, .co.in, etc. TLDs are further classified as first level, second level, third level tlds/extensions, and so on. The first level tlds are always kept with the apex registrar. For instance, the first level tld .in is kept with ERNET India (Govt. of India). Some registrars may even keep some second level tlds with them. For instance, ERNET always keeps .co.in, .gen.in, .org.in, .net.in with them. The registrars then issue sub domains of the top level tlds that they have reserved with themselves. So, when you register a domain name ctsindia.in, you have actually registered a second level domain. When you register a domain name ctsindia.co.in, you have actually registered a third level domain name. When you create sub domains of ctsindia.co.in, such as www.ctsindia.co.in (for your website), mail.ctsindia.co.in (for your mail server), support.ctsindia.co.in, etc., you have actually created a set of fourth level domains.

Who has the authority to issue Domain Names?

The right to use a domain name is issued by domain name Registrars who are accredited by ICANN - the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN is the apex level authority that oversees the issue of domain names and I.P. addresses on the Internet. In addition to ICANN, each top-level domain (TLD) is maintained and serviced technically by an administrative authority, known as the apex Registry. A registry is responsible for maintaining the database of names registered within the TLD it administers. The registry authorizes several registrars worldwide to collect domain registration orders on its behalf. It receives registration information from each domain name registrar authorized to assign names in the corresponding TLD and publishes the information using a special service, known as the domain whois service.

Registries and registrars usually charge an annual fee for the service of issuing a domain name to a user and providing a default set of name servers. In effect a domain name is sub-leased to the user who is often called the domain owner or more appropriately – the domain registrant or domain holder. Though, legally, the user only gets the right to use the domain name for the period for which he purchased it. Some registrars directly engage into selling domain names to end users. Others, appoint Service Providers to resell on their behalf.