Domain hosting recommendations
-
Hello all, does anyone here know of a reliable domain hosting company - I'm currently using Webhosting.uk.com who are proving to be unreliable ( been down twice this year for a few days )- my domain name is purely used for email purposes.
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
What I use (the short version): OVH for web hosting, GoDaddy as domain name registrar, ZohoMail as email service provider. Also afraid.org as backup DNS server. As you said that you don't delve much on these issues, I'll give you a longer version with explanations what each part is good for: - OVH hosting = this is just a Linux computer up in the cloud (a VPS - Virtual Private Server) that is always on and connected to a fixed IP address. I need it to run the primary DNS server. It also runs a Web server but you don't care about that. - GoDaddy domain registrar = this one registers your domain with the big, top level DNS servers (TLS) that tell the world where the primary DNS for my domain is located. Something like: Email sender: "Hey, TLS server, what is the IP for the mail server of 'neacsu.net'?" TLS server: "Please go to w.x.y.z (the IP of the OVH VPS) and ask there. If this one is not working try at a.b.c.d (the IP of afraid.org DNS server)." Email sender: "Hey DNS server at w.x.y.x, what is the IP for your mail server?" OVH VPS: "Please go to m.n.p.q (the IP of Zoho server) to send the mail." - ZohoMail = this is the actual mail server. In principle, I could use the OVH VPS to install a mail server like PostFix, but taking care of it, update spam filters and what not, is too much of a hassle. The free option from Zoho gives me 5 email mailboxes of 5G each. I can live with that. - afraid.org = a backup DNS server. Every time I change something in the configuration of my primary DNS server (at OVH), it notifies the server at afraid.org to make a copy of all DNS records. If later on the OVH server is down (a rare event), the server at afraid.org can answer in its place. The whole setup costs about 100$/year and I've use it for close to 10 years now. --- Edited to clarify the GoDaddy is just the registrar, not the DNS server.
Mircea
-
Hello all, does anyone here know of a reliable domain hosting company - I'm currently using Webhosting.uk.com who are proving to be unreliable ( been down twice this year for a few days )- my domain name is purely used for email purposes.
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
I am currently hosting my own website/email server through the broadband connection at my home/office. It requires a static IP address and periodic maintenance (certs), but it works great. We also have a site hosted at hostpapa and 2 sites running from Azure VMs.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"
-
Yuppers, a quick over simplification of what's going on... and in which order... 1 You need a registrar. Basically a frontend for a public database that says blah.com is pointing to these DNS servers, etc. For you this is tucows currently, and this has to be public info so the public can find your site. Since I doubt the problem is on this end (otherwise I couldn't do an nslookup on it) and since registrars are just a middleman, not spending too much time here. 2 You need DNS hosting with a DNS server. This is where name server entries come in. Most registrars will fill this in for you. However, in your case this is set to ns173.eukdns.com and ns172.eukdns.com. Which, when going to their site, they don't have a valid SSL cert, so I wouldn't trust them. So, anyway, your domains registered at tucows is pointing there. Maybe your webhost uses these people underneath the hood... who knows. But this could be the why your crap goes down if these people suck. So basically, you'll need to replace eukdns.com if you have outage problems. To a better DNS server. On that DNS server you want to edit MX records in particular. These records are what allows you to configure your email client. 3 You'll need email hosting (POP3, IMAP, SMTP, etc.) for that MX record to point to. This could be another outage area. Not sure as I'm just looking into this. You can usually tell though if it's server or DNS related by doing some DNS queries or trace routes. Anyway, most places that offer email hosting will also handle number 2. So, you don't have to worry about thinking of them as separate even if they are. Since email is so common, just about every web host offers email hosting with their service. It'll be harder to find one that doesn't. So, if you find any good web host besides the one you got, you should be good to go. Tucows is most likely still good to keep and having a registrar other than your host is a good idea in case you ever get into a dispute with your host they won't control your domain. Hope that helps and I didn't make it worse. :laugh:
Jeremy Falcon
Thanks Jeremy - it sounds very complicated to me - if I leave my current hosting company I wiil lose my domain name and email boxes. What I want to do is, transfer the entire setup to another host. Is this doable. You say keep the registrar separate from the host but how will they bill me for renewal? Thanks again Confused of London
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
-
Thanks Jeremy - it sounds very complicated to me - if I leave my current hosting company I wiil lose my domain name and email boxes. What I want to do is, transfer the entire setup to another host. Is this doable. You say keep the registrar separate from the host but how will they bill me for renewal? Thanks again Confused of London
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
pkfox wrote:
if I leave my current hosting company I wiil lose my domain name and email boxes. What I want to do is, transfer the entire setup to another host. Is this doable.
Yes. It sounds like your host is lying to you and are crooks or their support sucks or both. So, for the next time don't use the same peeps for your domain and host to help avoid this nonsense. Tucows is the reigstrar for your domain, here's the [proof](https://www.godaddy.com/whois/results.aspx?itc=dlp\_domain\_whois&domain=pjksolutions.com). It seems these days that Tucows only resells, but they control the domain right now and not your web host. Given the fact they're white label, your host is just pretending to be domain registrar. I'd be messaging Tucows letting them know you want to change name servers to a new host (after you get the host that is) and your current host won't allow it. Hopefully their support won't suck. [My Domain Provider is unreachable](https://tucowsdomains.com/help/domain-management/my-domain-provider-is-unreachable/) For your inboxes, you can recreate them on the new host. If your web host support says you can't, they're full of it. Most peeps use IMAP these days. Not sure what email client you use, but even Outlook will allow you to export and import old emails that you downloaded. Anyway, here's [pretty pictures](https://www.nexcess.net/help/how-to-migrate-an-email-account-with-imap/) about that. Side note, never use a reigstrar that doesn't allow you to transfer a domain. Your web host is playing registrar as a proxy to Tucows, so they should allow it. If they don't, then your web host is acting like crooks.
Jeremy Falcon
-
pkfox wrote:
if I leave my current hosting company I wiil lose my domain name and email boxes. What I want to do is, transfer the entire setup to another host. Is this doable.
Yes. It sounds like your host is lying to you and are crooks or their support sucks or both. So, for the next time don't use the same peeps for your domain and host to help avoid this nonsense. Tucows is the reigstrar for your domain, here's the [proof](https://www.godaddy.com/whois/results.aspx?itc=dlp\_domain\_whois&domain=pjksolutions.com). It seems these days that Tucows only resells, but they control the domain right now and not your web host. Given the fact they're white label, your host is just pretending to be domain registrar. I'd be messaging Tucows letting them know you want to change name servers to a new host (after you get the host that is) and your current host won't allow it. Hopefully their support won't suck. [My Domain Provider is unreachable](https://tucowsdomains.com/help/domain-management/my-domain-provider-is-unreachable/) For your inboxes, you can recreate them on the new host. If your web host support says you can't, they're full of it. Most peeps use IMAP these days. Not sure what email client you use, but even Outlook will allow you to export and import old emails that you downloaded. Anyway, here's [pretty pictures](https://www.nexcess.net/help/how-to-migrate-an-email-account-with-imap/) about that. Side note, never use a reigstrar that doesn't allow you to transfer a domain. Your web host is playing registrar as a proxy to Tucows, so they should allow it. If they don't, then your web host is acting like crooks.
Jeremy Falcon
Thanks for your patience Jeremy - to be clear 1) I don't have to move registrar 2) I need an email hosting server 3) I need their nameservers 4) I need to contact tucows and ask them to update the nameservers/ MX record for my domain name with the new ones Question Will tucows know how to contact me for billing purposes to renew the domain Thanks again
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
-
Thanks for your patience Jeremy - to be clear 1) I don't have to move registrar 2) I need an email hosting server 3) I need their nameservers 4) I need to contact tucows and ask them to update the nameservers/ MX record for my domain name with the new ones Question Will tucows know how to contact me for billing purposes to renew the domain Thanks again
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
pkfox wrote:
Thanks for your patience Jeremy
Any time, buddy.
pkfox wrote:
to be clear 1) I don't have to move registrar 2) I need an email hosting server 3) I need their nameservers 4) I need to contact tucows and ask them to update the nameservers/ MX record for my domain name with the new ones
Close... and the only reason this isn't so simple is your web host... 1) I don't have to move registrar. Normally correct. Tucows is white label, so you may have to depending on if your new host uses them or not. Normally, this is not the case, but Tucows seems to only be white label and don't deal with customers directly. 2) I need an email hosting server. Yuppers. 3) I need their nameservers. Yuppers. 4) I need to contact tucows and ask them to update the nameservers/MX record for my domain name with the new ones. Close. I'm sure they'll want you to contact your web host first. But, Tucows will use the new host's name servers. So yes for that. You'll update the MX records on the new host (which the new host may do automatically). Tucows will only have control over the name server entries and since they're white label they may want you to speak to your host to change that.
pkfox wrote:
Will tucows know how to contact me for billing purposes to renew the domain
Great question. I imagine they wouldn't. Since they're just a white label reseller they probably don't do that. Which means you may just have to transfer your domain elsewhere. Most likely Tucows will tell you to speak to your web host for that transfer first (guessing they have some API to interface with them). But, if your web host refuses to allow you transfer your domain then they're breaking ICANN policy and according to Tucow's website at least, then they'll take action. If your web host says you can't backup your emails if you transfer the domain, just know if that if you're on IMAP... they're wrong.
Jeremy Falcon
-
Oh, I used IONOS in the past too. Like 15-20 years ago. https://www.ionos.com/ They’re a lot more corporatey and do data tracking a lot more. Which is why I stopped using them, but the service itself is ok if you don’t mind being their pawn.
Jeremy Falcon
I use them also. I have not had any problems so far. I use them mostly for email, but I also have a starter website on the service.
I use Thunderbird as my email client; my wife uses their web email client. I am not sure what interface my children use.
__________________ Lord, grant me the serenity to accept that there are some things I just can’t keep up with, the determination to keep up with the things I must keep up with, and the wisdom to find a good RSS feed from someone who keeps up with what I’d like to, but just don’t have the damn bandwidth to handle right now. © 2009, Rex Hammock “If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - John Wooden
-
Hello all, does anyone here know of a reliable domain hosting company - I'm currently using Webhosting.uk.com who are proving to be unreliable ( been down twice this year for a few days )- my domain name is purely used for email purposes.
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
-
pkfox wrote:
Thanks for your patience Jeremy
Any time, buddy.
pkfox wrote:
to be clear 1) I don't have to move registrar 2) I need an email hosting server 3) I need their nameservers 4) I need to contact tucows and ask them to update the nameservers/ MX record for my domain name with the new ones
Close... and the only reason this isn't so simple is your web host... 1) I don't have to move registrar. Normally correct. Tucows is white label, so you may have to depending on if your new host uses them or not. Normally, this is not the case, but Tucows seems to only be white label and don't deal with customers directly. 2) I need an email hosting server. Yuppers. 3) I need their nameservers. Yuppers. 4) I need to contact tucows and ask them to update the nameservers/MX record for my domain name with the new ones. Close. I'm sure they'll want you to contact your web host first. But, Tucows will use the new host's name servers. So yes for that. You'll update the MX records on the new host (which the new host may do automatically). Tucows will only have control over the name server entries and since they're white label they may want you to speak to your host to change that.
pkfox wrote:
Will tucows know how to contact me for billing purposes to renew the domain
Great question. I imagine they wouldn't. Since they're just a white label reseller they probably don't do that. Which means you may just have to transfer your domain elsewhere. Most likely Tucows will tell you to speak to your web host for that transfer first (guessing they have some API to interface with them). But, if your web host refuses to allow you transfer your domain then they're breaking ICANN policy and according to Tucow's website at least, then they'll take action. If your web host says you can't backup your emails if you transfer the domain, just know if that if you're on IMAP... they're wrong.
Jeremy Falcon
-
For my personal sites, I’ve been using Dreambost for years. Never had an outage with them. Not sure if they’re US only though. [https://www.dreamhost.com/\](https://www.dreamhost.com/) Pretty sure they’re Linux only though, but since I’ll never use a Windows server if given the choice… that’s cool. If it’s for the enterprise, that’s a whole different story. But for personal stuff they’re awesome.
Jeremy Falcon
-
Thanks Jeremy - you use the term "White label" a lot , what does it mean ?
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
To quote Investopedia...
Investopedia:
White label products are sold by retailers with their own branding and logo but the products themselves are manufactured by a third party. White labeling occurs when the manufacturer of an item uses the branding requested by the purchaser or marketer instead of its own. The end product appears as though it's been produced by the purchaser.
Jeremy Falcon
