Domain Resources

If you operate a business website, you should understand how domains work and what you need to do to register, delegate name servers and renew them.

Click on a heading below to learn more.

Domain Basics

You register domains in your name through domain registrars. A fee applies to keep a domain registration active, and this is paid in advance for one to ten years.

Each registrar provides a domain login allowing the domain owner to assign name servers, so that requests for web pages or email traffic for a domain can be sent to the correct web server / mail server for the domain.

Distinct from the domain login is the domain password. The domain password allows the domain owner to transfer the domain from one registrar to another. If a domain is transferred out of your account, you might not be able to recover it. Note for some registrars, the domain login account uses the same password as the domain password, but for most there is a domain login account with its own username/password, and a separate domain password for transferring the domain.

If a domain registration expires, the website or mail addresses using that domain will stop working and the domain might be registered by somebody else.

Registering Domains

Register your domain with any domain registrar – here are several registrars we work with:

Or choose from the full list of auDA accredited registrars.

Just register the domain – to use an OM4 website you don’t need any add on services.

You may elect to register several domains – if you are using a domain name for your business and register the .com, you can also register the .net/.org and have those domains set up to automatically forward anyone typing in that domain to your primary domain.

Delegating Name Servers

Article on how to Delegate Name Servers for your domain.

Finding Out Your Domain Login

This article provides detailed information on how to find your Domain Login. You will need this to be able to delegate your name servers if you want to change your website or email hosting.

Renewing Domains

Domains are registered for a period of time. If the registration period expires, you may lose access to the domain and someone else may register it in their name.

Make sure you keep your domain registrar updated with a current email address so email reminders reach you.

DNS Propagation

Once the name servers for your domain are updated, there may be a period of time (up to 48 hours) during which you see the old website or the new website, depending on which ISP is operating the internet connection you are using.

Read more: DNS Propagation

How DNS Works

Once you have a domain, you can set the name servers and control where requests for web and mail services are sent to.

Read more: How DNS Works