Free webhosting sites.

[RamsusX]

Quatro:
Yes. Unless you own a domain name and have a DNS server that says the name goes to your IP address, you can only reference your computer by IP address. This can be made easier by using a referral service like cjb.net that simply redirects (and possibly masks with a frame) to the IP address.

If you do own a domain name, you can set it up with a DNS server so that the name is a substitute for your IP address. You can do the same with subdomains of the domain you own.

dyndns.org offers free subdomains that they assign to your IP address with their DNS server. So when a person types in your subdomain, they go to your computer directly (they are not redirected via a separate page). The advantage of using this is clearer since the name will actually be assigned to your computer, even if it is just a subdomain.

This also means you can set up your computer as a mail server, an ftp server, a whatever server and access it with the subdomain you registered at dyndns.org. So you can send and recieve e-mail from whatever.ath.cx if you install a mail transport agent on your computer. This isn't possible if you use a referral service.

Both cjb.net and dyndns.org offer the ability to install a client program on your computer that automatically updates their servers every time your IP address changes.

[RamsusX]

Originally Posted by finalight

if i use computer as host, can my domain be words instead of ip address?

This is sort of a rather simplified, inaccurate, and unnecessary expanation of how DNS works... even so, it still manages to be difficult to understand.

Anyway, DNS is how those names you type are able to take you to actual computers. All computers have IP addresses. When you type in a name like www.google.com, you ask a DNS server what the IP address for www.google.com is and it tells you.

The Internet has thousands of DNS servers running on it. At the top are the DNS servers for com, edu, gov, jp, au, etc. the toplevel domains. These servers are handled by ICANN (the people who are in charge of domain names and IP addresses).

When you want to see a site, say bob.localdomain.com... Your request is sent to one of these DNS servers at the top. In this case, the one handling com domains.

Then this DNS server looks to see if there's a DNS server registered as handling localdomain.com. It then sends the request to that DNS server if it exists. If it doesn't exist, the domain name is invalid.

Then the DNS server for localdomain.com looks up the IP address of bob.localdomain.com and tells what it is. This DNS server is owned by the person who owns localdomain.com. Some domain name resellers provide DNS servers for you, since setting them up can be complicated.

So in order for your computer to have a name of some sort, a DNS server has to have your IP address listed for that name. It also has to be accessible from right to left...

That is, if you set up your own DNS server that said you were bob.ngemu.com, it wouldn't work unless the com DNS server for com domains handled by ICANN has your DNS server listed for ngemu.com. They will only do this if you buy a domain name.

What dyndns.org does is let you choose a subdomain (e.g. mysite.dyndns.org), and they add that name to their DNS server, and have it point to your IP address. So then your computer has a name. If you happen to own your own Domain name, they'll also let you use their DNS server to use it.

This isn't exactly necessary though. What matters is that the user has an easy to remember name they can type at any time and get to your site with. Because of this, a service such as cjb.net that is a redirection service (they have a page at the subdomain whatever.cjb.net that tells the browser to go to where the site really is) can work just as well. While your computer won't have a name, users can type in a name that takes them to your computer. This is just as good as DNS if you just have a web server on that computer.

[finalight]

so that means either way, I can't have my own true domain, right?
like http://www.ff-zone.com or .org or .net

[Quatro]

oic... so it is possible, but you should also ahve a decent connection for it right? its not recommended for dial up user even thye have large HD space right?

[finalight]

correct, they are going through your connection first before anything else. SO using 56k is no hope

[Galway no Sora]

so that means either way, I can't have my own true domain, right? like http://www.ff-zone.com or .org or .net

Well, dot com domain now pretty cheap, why don't you buy one of them? It's not even more $10 a year [some domain registar, not all ].

[finalight]

I've no credit card, neither does my parents(even if they do, they won't let me use it for these 'useless' things)

[Razor Blade]

get what I have. www.razorbladeonline.tk its short and sweet! go to www.tk and register there. Its totally free. And one popup though but well worth it if your into saving $$$. If your nice to someone who owns there own server they just may host you Hehe I just got my new account set up yesterday and guess what unlimited bandwisth and all the space I need! WOOHOO! In your face! I mean uh good luck

[finalight]

I already have one
http://ff-zone.tk

btw, what web hosting did you use?

[Razor Blade]

Uh I forget the name. Right now its just a adress like numbers ... Its not published yet if thats what your asking. So I hear you use YaBB forums. LOL I registered there. Oops I said too much!

[RF]

Heh, same here I got a good buddy that is training to be a network security dood or whatever, and he gives me all the free webspace i need to host my sprays

[finalight]

go for it then

[finalight]

are you referring to me or what?

[RF]

No..........
..
Im saying that I have a friend that gives me free webspace with no frills, no gimmicks. Like RB..

edit: make use of the edit button.

[finalight]

ohh..ok
btw..I remember someone posted between my two post, I don't post two replies in the same row.

[kmjk]

*raises hand* that was me... i was replying to someone on what i thought was the last page... it wasn't so i deleted it

http://www.internic.net << more domain info

[RF]

Originally Posted by finalight

ohh..ok
btw..I remember someone posted between my two post, I don't post two replies in the same row.

Oh, ok, sorry

[finalight]

no problem...
btw, is registering for a domain free at that website?

[RamsusX]

Originally Posted by finalight

no problem...
btw, is registering for a domain free at that website?

internic.net? No, InterNIC just ensure that Registrars are reliable. If your registrar isn't listed on their page, you should probably consider another one. They also provide a lot of other useful information on their site. Definitely check it out.

They also explains DNS here: http://www.internic.net/faqs/authoritative-dns.html

[Razor Blade]

My website should be out sometime in July ... Hey if ne1's inyterested Ill post a little preview ...