registering your .co.za domain name
(This is for .co.za domains only)
The first step in setting up email or a website for your company/private use, is getting your own domain name.
A domain name is basically the yourdomainname.co.za part that makes the whole thing work. For a more in detail description about how DNS (the domain name system) works, this is a pretty good article, on Wikipedia. It does not have to be .co.za extension, it could be anything from .net, .com to .org etc. I am doing .co.za because it is the most widely used in South Africa and if you can register a .co.za domain the other types will be pretty easy thereafter.
Why would you want to register and administer a domain name yourself instead of letting an ISP take care of it for you?
- You always maintain full control over your domain, so you are never at the mercy of any provider. Much like Open Source software. But different in the sense that it is DNS.
- You can make changes to your DNS as you wish and at any time without all the jazz that surrounds getting your ISP to make changes for you. Ever tried getting large ISPs in SA to alter your DNS? Case in point.
- You will save some money.
- It is really not as hard to do as you might think it is, especially if you have the basics down
- It is cool
basic introduction
If you are a small company doing business in South Africa, you will most likely be used to paying ridiculous and ever increasing amounts of money for just about everything. From diesel (the new petrol) to power your fossil fuel abusing German urban wagon, to your promised ADSL connection due for installation next week - touch wood.
In fact we have become so used to things becoming more expensive every so often, that paying R10 for a Castle is now considered a bargain?
After finishing your one Castle and not tipping the bar lady, you realize that your ISP is charging you R400 per year, just like that - for your domain name. And most likely in the region of R20 per mailbox per month. How did things come to this you may ask yourself? You really want another Castle but cannot afford it. It is only the 19th now remember? Payday is on the 25th.
