Sierra Nomad — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:39:21 +0000

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?

Greg K — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 18:58:36 +0000

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 — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 13:20:48 +0000

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,

timjpriebe — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:58:12 +0000

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.

Greg K — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:56:38 +0000

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