.CH Domain General FAQ Switzerland FAQ - What is a domain name?
- Just imagine that, when you wanted to telephone someone, you simply had to key in their name rather than a number. That would be very practical, because we can all remember names a lot more easily than numbers. It is precisely this convenience that domain names provide in the internet. Computers that are connected to the internet communicate with one another by means of numerical addresses, called IP addresses, which identify each computer absolutely uniquely.
- What domain names exist? What is the meaning of the endings .ch, .li, .com, etc.?
- The name space of the Domain Name System, DNS, has a hierarchical structure. At the very top come the so-called Top Level Domains (TLDs). There are two sorts of these. On the one hand, there are the generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs), such as com, net, org, which are not assigned to any particular country and, on the other hand, there are numerous Top Level Domains that are specific to individual countries; these are called Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs). They include ch (Switzerland), li (Liechtenstein), de (Germany), fr (France), it (Italy), uk (United Kingdom), and many more.
The next tier below the Top Level Domains is comprised of the so-called Second Level Domains. The Switzerland Registry has the job of administering the Second Level Domains that come under the TLDs ch and li. There are also Third Level Domains (which are sometimes called subdomains), but these are defined locally for each network and are most frequently used to designate autonomous subsections of a domain, such as cam.switch.ch. The "www" before the domain name is the host name, which is also defined locally (generally on the provider's system).
- What's the point in having a domain name of my own?
- Your domain name is your unmistakable identity in the Internet. Having your own domain name is not, strictly speaking, a prerequisite for a web presence. It would also be possible for your website to be called by passing through the domain name of your hosting provider. This might then have an address something like: www.myprovider.ch/~myname. This is generally the sort of arrangement offered by free web hosting services. There are three clear disadvantages, however: such addresses are not easy to memorise, they are not very elegant and, worst of all, they are dependent on one provider. As soon as you move to a new provider, the existing address of your website would lose its validity. If you have your own domain name, the address for your web presence will never change, no matter how often you change providers, and it will also have some form of direct relation to you, your organization or your sector of activity.
- What can I use a domain name for?
- The two most common uses of domain names are for one's own homepage (corporate web presence, web shop, private website and so on) and for e-mail addresses. A domain name can be used to divert a visitor to a website that already exists at a different address. You are not forced to have a website at all and you can use the domain name just for e-mail addresses. It is also possible to forward messages to another e-mail address that already exists. A website might be accessible via several domain names. So you can use several versions of your personal or company name or different product names as domain names, and they will all lead to the same website. It is also feasible for the same name to be registered under several Top Level Domains (for example, ch and com).
You also have the option of registering a domain name without actively using it. You might do that, for instance, if your planned internet presence is not ready yet but you want to secure a particular domain name before anyone else does. Alternatively, you might decide to register a domain name to make sure that a competitor is unable to do so.
- How do I get hold of my domain name?
- Since it is essential for domain names to be absolutely unique throughout the whole world, they are issued by a central body, called a registry, and its partners. Most registries are responsible for just one TLD, but some look after several. Switzerland Registry issues domain names with the endings .ch and .li. If you want a domain name with a different ending, you will need to contact either the registry in charge of it or a provider. In nearly all cases, a charge is levied for the registration of domain names.
- A domain name is shown as registered, but there doesn't seem to be a website to go with it. Why not?
- The most common explanation is that the domain name was registered without any name servers. As a general rule, the name servers are added when the domain name and the website are switched live by the hosting provider. However, even if name servers have been correctly set up for a domain name that does not mean that you will necessarily find a website. It may be that the web server (where the website's files are held) is not yet ready or that the files have not yet been installed on it. It is also possible that the holder does not want to use the domain name for a website, but only for e-mails or FTP. Another feasible explanation is that the name server is not (or no longer) correctly configured.
- Why is it that the domain name often only works with "www" in front of it, although it sometimes works without it?
- The "www" that comes before the domain name in the majority of website URLs usually designates the host name (i.e. the name of the computer). It has become established practice to use "www" as the host name for the computer on which the WWW service is running. It is possible for something else to occur in front of the domain name and also for there to be nothing in front of it. It depends on what the customer wants and/or on how the provider has configured this in the name servers and web server.
- Where can I get IP addresses from?
- You will nearly always get your IP addresses from your Internet Service Provider. Each provider is allocated IP address ranges by the so-called Regional Internet Registries (RIRs).
- How can my domain registration be denied?
- Registration of a domain name may be denied if:
1. the domain name contains hyphens as the first, as the third combined with the fourth and/or as the last character (e.g. "-hallo.ch", "ha--llo.ch", "hallo-.ch");
2. the domain name contains fewer than 3 or the ACE string more than 63 characters, subject to statutory exceptions or exceptions approved by the Office of Communications;
3. the domain name is identical to a domain name already registered or to one requested previously but not yet registered;
4. the domain name in question has been reserved by OFCOM or the Office of Communications, unless the conditions for registration defined by OFCOM/Office of Communications for the relevant category are met;
5. important technical reasons or compliance with international standards require it;
6. the applicant does not meet the conditions relating to the registration request or the request contains incorrect details;
7. the fees are not paid, or in the event of doubtful solvency.
8. there is an evident risk that SWITCH could make itself legally liable owing to the registration of the domain name. In these cases the denial takes place in consultation with OFCOM;
9. the applicant cannot be contacted for queries, or does not reply within 10 working days (receipt of the answer by SWITCH).
* Notification of denial of a registration of a domain name will generally be given within 10 working days from receipt of the request by SWITCH to all the contact persons named in that registration request. With the denial of registration the request in question will be rejected and the relevant domain name will become available.
Source: www.nic.ch/
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