This answer explains domain names and DNS.

Domain names and DNS

Your domain name is the address used to access your website and in your email address after the @ sign. E.g. in www.webfusion.co.uk, the domain name is webfusion.co.uk. In the email address support@webfusion.co.uk, the domain name is still webfusion.co.uk.

Please follow the relevant guidance below to get your domain name working with your hosting package.

DNS (Domain Name System)

This is a service that translates a website’s name into the appropriate IP address. For example, mysite.co.uk could have the IP address 123.123.123.123. Domain names are much easier to remember than IP addresses.

When you type a website address (e.g. www.webfusion.co.uk) into your browser, a chain of computers on the internet talk to each other to establish which is the computer that knows about webfusion.co.uk. When that computer is found, the information you're after (i.e. the website) is displayed on your screen. All this happens very quickly.

What is a name server?

A name server is a machine that holds all the DNS settings for a domain. Each domain has two or more name servers associated to it on the domain name database. When people try to visit the domain the name servers are queried to see where the actual server that deals with the domain is. If domain names and IP addresses were like a French person and a German person, name servers would be the translator who let the two people talk to each other.

What is an MX record?

An MX record points the MAIL for a domain name to the servers listed. MX records need to be displayed as a domain name and NOT an IP address.

Domain names

If your domain name was purchased with your hosting package

If you purchased your domain name with your hosting package then you don’t need to do anything. We will set the correct name servers and DNS zone file records for you. Please note that it can take 24 - 72 hours for your domain name to become accessible from all parts of the internet.

When the time comes for the renewal of a webfusion domain name, if you have chosen to have payments taken from your credit or debit card we will attempt to collect the amount due on the invoice date. This ensures uninterrupted hosting of your account. If the transaction fails, we will contact you via email to advise you that an alternative payment should be submitted if the domain name is to be retained.

Please note that non-payment of a domain renewal invoice within 7 days of the invoice date may cause the domain to be deactivated, affecting any hosting associated with that domain. It is your responsibility to ensure that payment has been submitted for the renewal in advance of the renewal date - if we do not receive payment we are unable to renew the domain on your behalf and it may eventually be deleted from the registry.

If your domain name is registered elsewhere

Transferring an existing domain name to your webfusion hosting account is a straightforward process that only takes a short time to complete.

.uk Domain Names including .co.uk and .org.uk:

Ask your current hosting company or domain registration provider to amend the record for your domain name as follows:

You should also open a free account or log in to your existing account with 123-reg, our sister company, at 123-reg.co.uk. Go to the ‘Domain transfer to 123-reg’ section, click ‘Transfer Domains to 123-reg’ and follow the onscreen instructions.

Other domain names, including .com. .net and .org:

To transfer other domain names to 123-reg, please first ensure that the email address for the current administrative contact is valid and that the recipient will be available to respond to the transfer request. You may need to amend contact details with your current provider first if this is not the case. You should also check with your existing provider that your domain isn’t locked to prevent transfers.

To initiate the transfer, you should open a free 123-reg account or log into your existing one. Go to the ‘Domain transfer to 123-reg’ section, click on ‘Transfer Domains to 123-reg’ and follow the instructions.

Your current administrative contact will receive an email from OpenSRS which will give them login details for a URL from which they can confirm or cancel the transfer.

Please note that once the transfer is accepted it should be completed within 24 hours, but may take up to seven days if your current provider does not operate on the widely-used OpenSRS system.