How does all this Internet stuff work?
If you are not too clear about things, we thought it would be a good idea to explain to you step by step.
What is Dial-Up? The average Internet user accesses the web by means of a dial up connection. This is the means by which your computer connects, via a modem (or router) to your service provider (M-web, Telkom, Icon, Planet Host etc) and which allows you to visit websites, use a search engine such as Google, do your banking online, catch up with the news at CNN, send emails, check the weather.
It is not essential to use the same service provider for your dial up access and for hosting your website, in fact providers of dial up facilities are usually not geared towards the needs of their hosting clients so there is something to be said for keeping the two functions separate.
What is E-mail? When you set up an account with your dial up service provider you are asked to select an e-mail identity (yourname@mweb.co.za for example), this is the means by which you maintain contact with your friends and family as well as in the running of your business. But what happens if you decide that you are no longer satisfied with the service that you are receiving, or if the service provider should experience financial difficulties or sell out to a rival? If you are running a business, it could cost you dearly to change your e-mail address, today it is an absolutely essential business tool, as vital as your telephone number.
What is Bandwidth? No explanation of web hosting is complete without a mention of bandwidth. This refers to the capacity of a hosting company to satisfy the demand for its service. When the World Trade Centre towers in New York were attacked in 2001 the major news sites like CNN.com and the BBC online service came to a standstill because they didn’t have the capacity to deal with the sudden demand on their resources.
It is important to make certain that a hosting provider has sufficient bandwidth available to meet your current and future needs, to little will mean slow loading pages and lost business. Bandwidth is measured in kbps (kilo bytes per second) which refers to the amount of information that can be processed in ONE second. Most people in South Africa connect using a 56K modem which means that they can achieve a theoretical speed of 56 kbps, the theoretical is important here because in reality due to congestion, poor phone lines and a variety of other reasons even halfthis speed is likely to be achieved.
A ‘step up’ from the 56K modem is a 64K ISDN modem, this delivers a more consistent speed but requires a special modem and usually a set-up fee is charged for its installation. In South Africa at present, a couple of service providers are able to offer speeds of up to 500kbps through a wireless system that bypasses the copper phone lines to a certain extent and Telkom has launched Broadband ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) in most parts of the country. This technology is already widespread in the USA, Europe and parts of Asia and will allow a permanent, 512K connection (almost 10 times as fast as your 56K modem) to the internet.
What is a Domain?
A domain might be thought of as your company name in cyberspace. Having made that statement it is important to remember that although many businesses do prefer to have a domain that is the same as their company’s name it is by no means essential and in some cases it is better to have a domain that is rather descriptive of the service that you offer.
What is a Domain Registration? Domain names are allocated by the relevant domain authorities on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a domain name has been registered, _it is no longer available_. We offers a domain registration service to clients who are purchasing one of our hosting packages, or to clients who choose our domain parking package.
When you register domain, it is important to know that you have the ability to have an e-mail address (or many e-mail addresses) associated with your domain.
Now, instead of somebody@someserviceprovider.co.za you can have this: yourname@yourdomain.co.za. Perhaps the greatest advantage is that no matter how often you change service providers your e-mail address remains unchanged. Should you be unhappy with the company hosting your site, you simply move it to a new provider and your e-mail address remains the same.
The other advantages are that it creates a more professional impression and as your company grows you can set up more email boxes for new employees, you may have john@yourcompany.com and jane@yourcompany.com as well as sales@yourcompany.com. The possibilities are endless!
What is Hosting? If your domain is your company’s name on the Internet, then hosting can be likened to the physical location of your offices. Once you have registered a domain name for your business it is necessary to have a home for your website. The actual files that make up a website are stored on a specialised computer called a _server_ where they are available 24 hours a day to Internet users all over the world!
There is a cost associated with this service which varies considerably according to the space required as well as the number of visitors passing through your site, special requirements such as a database, secure facilities for processing sensitive information (e.g. credit card numbers).
Domain name lookup Enter the domain name that you are interested in registering to [check whether it is available](http://co.za/whois.shtml), this function checks most top level domains.
How do you Payment? Payment is in advance and can be either by Internet transfer or by credit card (American Express, Diners Club, Visa & Master Card).
WHY do I need a Domain Name? A good domain name creates inherent value for your organisation. Domain names that reflect the name of your organisation (i.e. sony.com, intel.com, ford.com) are an invaluable asset to your company.
Wouldn’t your rather your customers find you on the internet as *www.yourcompany.com* instead of like this….
www.mwebtelkomcellciafrica.com/yourcompany/?
In some ways, a domain name is similar to a customised license plate - very easy to remember. A domain name allows you to receive e-mail at a customised e-mail address. With a domain name, your email can look like this: yourname@yourcompany.com instead of _yourcompany@your-service-provider-to-market-them-and-not-you.com_
As the Internet grows and domain names become more scarce, premiums for existing domain names will increase significantly.
Why do I need one right now?
• to avoid costs of address changes later on.
• to avoid somebody else registering the name you want.
• to maximise the chances of a successful internet presence.
• Eventually, all the names will be all taken up! Don’t be left behind —
• The sooner you act, the better your chances of getting the domain name you want. Once a domain name is taken, you would have to track down the owner to see if they are willing to sell it.
What if I’m not a business? Domain names aren’t just for businesses. People everywhere are securing domain names for personal use. Act quickly! Domain names are being registered at the rate of ONE domain every 5 seconds! It’s time for you to take advantage of the internet boom!
If you are happy…. 
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