Neal_CJO — Sat, 08 Apr 2000 23:53:00 +0000

Actually you are both right.

Let's use my domain for example: (http://christianjobs.com)

In MSIE and NS I can just type christianjobs into the address line and the browser will automatically plug in the www. and the .com

With MSIE (I am not sure if NS does this) if there was no christianjobs.com in existance, it will try .edu, .org, etc.... before giving up and saying that it can't find anything. Also with MSIE you can set it to try a search on failure. So, when it can't find anything, it will then search the Internet for "christianjobs"

The RealNames thing is a keyword registration and you need to 1) Pay RealNames a fee to register a keyword. and 2) The user (translation: Joe Netizen) has to have installed a RealNames plug-in on their browser in order for it to work.

I don't use RealNames. I don't see the point in registering keywords for $$$$$$ and then in order for it to work, you have to have special software installed on your computer!

But, anyway let me stop my rambling and go back to the original point.....

So, let's say I registered the keyword "example". If someone without the RealNames plugin types "example" into their browser, the browser will try and find "example.com" or "example.edu" etc.........

If the user has the RealNames plugin installed and they type in "example" the user will then be taken to my website (http://christianjobs.com)

*** DISCLAIMER: I am not 100% positive on the workings of RealNames, because I don't use it. Of course you can just go to http://www.realnames.com and take a look. ***

------------------
_______________________
Christian Jobs Online
"...bringing people and ministry together!"
http://christianjobs.com

Wed, 22 Mar 2000 22:48:00 +0000

Well, wanted to correct myself... My theory was correct. Using IE 5.0, I can type "dids" and it will take me to our Web site (except it brings up that annoying MSN search box) and we aren't paying RealNames anything. I don't know what it is like in Netscape, but I know Microsoft IE doesn't use the RealNames thing.

------------------
TWF Administrator

Looking for Web Hosting Services?
Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
Windows NT and UNIX Hosting ($9.95 - $399.95), Dedicated Servers, and Co-Location Programs

Wed, 22 Mar 2000 22:23:00 +0000

So my theory was *partially* correct? I didn't know about the whole realnames thing, but I thought it would just be a "smart browser" type of feature and I thought I had read something about it.

Anyway, great information to know!

------------------
TWF Administrator

Looking for Web Hosting Services?
Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
Windows NT and UNIX Hosting ($9.95 - $399.95), Dedicated Servers, and Co-Location Programs

Max — Wed, 22 Mar 2000 15:53:00 +0000

I use Netsacpe 4.7

Some words I type into 'open URL' function bring up the top level domain for that word and other words bring up nothing. Sometimes a word that brings up nothing will bring up the domain when a '.com' or 'www' plus '.com' is added. I may be wrong but doesn't that rule out the browser feature on/off theory?

Thinking about it a bit more though, and not wanting to get lost in a bunch of knowledge base sites, I'm wondering if the browser searches some index on its company's site on the 'open URL' function and simply goes by that. ie. if a domain isn't in the index it doesn't complete the top domain. If this is so, it sure does that search fast! So... I may be wrong there.

Who's up for some lovely white paper reading?

Elm — Wed, 22 Mar 2000 15:07:00 +0000

I may be wrong here, but isn't the keyword thing a RealNames(www.realnames.com) feature?

[This message has been edited by Elm (edited 22 March 2000).]

Wed, 22 Mar 2000 13:52:00 +0000

Hi Max,

The "one word" thing is a feature of your browser. It depends on your browser and I am not 100% positive which versions now support it, but I know IE 5.0+ (and I am pretty sure 4.0+ has the feature as well - been a while since I used it) allows it. Basically, if there is one word, the browser is smart enough to assume it may be a domain. This is a setting that can be turned on or off somewhere - if someone has more specifics on this, please post.

In regards to your IP address question, there is one of two options:
1) IP based hosting
2) IPless hosting

And IP address is really what you get. You don't get a domain - you get an IP address. The domain simply overlays the IP address (an alias basically) to make it easy for people to remember your site. Your site is accessible via your IP address as well (given you are using option 1 above).

There are minor advantages and disadvantages to each of the above, but either one will make your site run in the same way.

Hope that made a little sense and answered your questions. If you want, you can contact me directly (info is in the profile) and I would be happy to help you out.

------------------
TWF Administrator

Looking for Web Hosting Services?
Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
Windows NT and UNIX Hosting ($9.95 - $399.95), Dedicated Servers, and Co-Location Programs

Max — Wed, 22 Mar 2000 11:28:00 +0000

I was wondering what I have to do to get my domain name automatically route to the .com when only the first word is typed into the client browser.

I know to have both "http://yourdomain.com" and "www.yourdomain.com" you need your host to have the setup for it but what about the .com routing?

And when a host says you get your own IP address is that the same as getting the "http" and "www" or you need to request that in addition to the unique IP.

Excuse the questions if they're too simple, I'm on the learning path.