HostNed FAQ

1) What do I need to make my own web site?
HostNed provides all that you need to make your own personal web site.
a) You need a DOMAIN NAME to identify your site.
b) WEB HOSTING space to store your data and make it accessible on the internet.
c) WEB DESIGN or the actual meat and content.

2) How difficult is it to create a website? Do I have to be a computer guru to do it?
HostNed is a full-service provider, offering solutions for beginners up to enterprise-level developers. To help give you an idea of what plan is best for you, see this handy chart below.

3) What are upload/download speed? I do not want to spend lots of time to upload my files.
    The actual speeds you experience may vary depending on many factors including:
    a. Your connection speed.
    b. The connections enroute.
    c. Network/Internet traffic.
    Many HostNed clients say our connections are very fast and are grateful for the speed we are able to provide; however, we cannot guarantee a specific speed for you - that depends on the connectivity between the web server and your location at the time for you. We have multiple backbone connections to the internet from our Data Centers providing the best possible internet connections to our servers.

4) How do I transfer my site from another web host to HostNed?
We perform many seamless transfers every month. Here are the steps to follow:

Most transitions to HostNed are performed seamlessly so your website may never appear to be unavailable.

1) What is a web hosting?
Simply stated, 'web hosting' is storage space for a web domain. A domain name is a title used to identify your web site on the internet.

2) What is a control panel useful for?
Many of our web hosting plans come with "control panels" which are restricted areas of the web where the owner can configure settings for the account like email, passwords, databases, etc...

3) If I purchase one plan, and decide I need something else, can I upgrade?
Yes, we strive to provide exactly what you need at any time.

4) What happens if I exceed my monthly transfer or space limit?
If you go over the allowed data transfer, it simply alarms us here and we suggest that you upgrade your service. We do not "wall" you in and HostNed NEVER charges your account without prior authorization.

5) I see you offer both Linux and Windows hosting plans. My computer run on Windows (or MAC, Linux, etc..) so which plan type should I choose? Do I need to learn the other operating system to use the hosting account?
The operating system of your computer does not come into play when deciding hosting options. The server is independent of your machine type. So we can host sites created with any platform.

6) What is the difference between Windows and Linux hosting?
    For basic HTML web sites, there is no apparent difference.
    As you may have guessed, Windows and Linux accounts are differentiated by the operating
system platform that the server runs on.
    "Windows" is a Windows 2000 (or the new Windows server 2003), which are both very much like the Microsoft Windows 98, XP, etc...Except, web server versions are more specialized for hosting web sites and server applications that standard PC operating systems.
    "Linux" is an alternative operating system platform originally developed from open source code (not from a software corporate giant, like Microsoft). It is not very popular in the PC market, but has become huge in the server arena.
    So, which one is better for a basic website?
    Performance-wise, they are about the same. With Linux, you tend to get more "bang for the buck", since there are not the extensive licensing fees as are associated with a Microsoft product. You will notice that in our hosting plans, the Linux accounts run on average $10 cheaper than the Windows accounts.
    For the "beginning webmaster" or hobbyist, Linux seems to be a good starting place. You may find it interesting that about 2/3 of all Internet web sites are hosted on Linux platform -- therefore we recommend Linux for most users. About 1/4 are Windows driven.
    For the "advanced web developer", the opposing platforms represent different flavors of technology associated to each. For example, Microsoft developers can use "Access Database" and "ASP Script"- while Linux developers can us "MYSQL", "MOD_PERL" and "MYSQL Database". All of this garble is simply different technologies for driving dynamic and very complex sites (like auction sites or shopping malls).

7) Does HostNed support Streaming Media?
Streaming media is not recommended from the regular web hosting accounts. We have streaming media services available as account add-ons at http://hostned.com/purchase_streaming_on_demand.htm. They offer unlimited monthly transfer and support all media formats.

1) Is a domain name included in my web hosting plan?
The domain name is purchased separate from the web hosting plan. For more information on domain names and our policy on them, see here.

2) How do I get a domain name for my website?
HostNed is a full service web host. You have three options.

   a. You may use your existing domain name and we will link it to our servers.
    b. We can issue a sub-domain name of HostNed like you.hostned.com or you.hostned.ws   This option is offered free of charge.
    c. Or you may register a new domain name with any domain registrar including our favorite DomainsNed.com. Other web hosts register domain names for their customers and add their own company info to the domain name. By doing this they legally own the domain name and can stop you from reclaiming the domain name in a dispute or upon renewal. For ethical reasons, we strongly advise against letting any web host register a domain name along with the ordered web hosting package. That is why we allow you the client to register your domain name yourself and put the domain name under your personal ownership. We believe that our customer should have complete access to the domain name, not the hosting company. The web host should only give the necessary information on how to setup the DNS settings. We believe if the customer cannot do this on their own they will also not be able to setup their website the way they want. If you wish to have assistance in registering a domain name or would like any advice on the matter, feel free to contact us. After registering your domain name, go here to purchase your web space. DomainsNed.com 's service defaults to HostNed servers' DNS, however you should still set the nameservers at the registrar account exactly as indicated in the Welcome email HostNed sends you. Please allow the internet standard of about 24 hours for changes to take effect.

3) What is the difference in the different domain extensions? (i.e. .com, .net, .ws, etc..) Is one more popular or right for my site?
Although anyone can use any domain extension they wish, there are specific meanings for domain extensions: .com = Commercial, .net = Network, .org = Non-profit organization, and so on. The .com is the most popular, but for personal use any extension is fine.

4) How can I order a subdomain? How do subdomains work?
Some accounts include sub-domain support free of charge. In case it does not, subdomain accounts are ordered just like regular accounts. You do not have to register a subdomain with a domain registrar, however. Since you already own the primary domain name, you automatically have rights to use subdomains thereof. If you would like to order one, simply put the full address in the Domain Name box in our oeder form. The format should be something.yourdomain.com, where yourdomain.com is a domain we host for you on our servers. We also offer the flexibility to become a subdomain of ourselves, with an address of yourname.hostned.ws. The advantage? You save the annual registration fees from a domain registrar, while still having the same functionality as any regular domain account. This can be a saving of up to $35/year.

5) How do I link my current domain name to my HostNed web space?
You need to alter your domain name settings and change the NameServer settings to the ones supplied to you by HostNed in the Welcome Email. After changing the NameServer settings, it may take up to 48 hours for the domain name to link up with your server. NameServer settings need to be done if you ordered the Stand-alone e-mail account. (If you need help changing the DNS settings please contact customer service at your domain name registrar or open a support ticket here at HostNed.)

6) I have extra domain names that I want to point to my HostNed domain. Is this OK and how can I do it?
    If you have a domain with us (domain.com) and you own other domain names (like domain.net, domain.biz, etc...) to point to the domain.com, this is fine. We provide two different solutions for you:
    a. All DomainsNed.com orders now come with FREE Domain Forwarding and Domain Masking - this allows you to "direct" your domain name to any pre-existing domain you desire. Transferring your domain name to DomainsNed.com will give you these features as well as extend the domain name lease for an extra year. For more details, see here.
    b. Keep your current registrar and order the Domain Forwarding/DNS management 10 pack.

7) I have more questions about domain names. Where can I find more information?
An entire FAQ devoted to domain names can be found at the DomainsNed.com site.

1) How do I create my website?
There are many website creations methods to choose from. If you are an expert web developer, you already have your favorite methods of creation. A beginner may want to contact us for a personal interview and free consultation on designing a website. Yes, HostNed does offer custom web design services. Those who have some experience may wish to experiment with different software programs until he/she gets the hang of the creation method. Beginners and experts alike should look at the new HostNed Online Web Site Builders, and online web site creation tool that uses flash animations to create a complete, professional website within minutes. Everything is customizable from colors and themes to background music and text. You can build an entire site for free THEN decide if you like it enough to purchase it. WOW!

2) If I purchase a design template, can I use that for as many pages as I want, and is it a one time fee/or yearly?
The one-time fee makes it yours to own. You can then use it for as many pages/sites as you wish.

3) How do I know if I can use a picture I find on the internet in my sight (copyright issues???)
This is more of an ethical issue to be discussed than a cut-and-dry Q&A. If a copyright is expressed or implied, then you should respect it and get permission first.

4) Can I put whatever I want on my web site?
The web site you create is your own property, so you have sole discretion over the content. Out of respect (and law) we do not allow you to adopt previously copy-written content as your own. HostNed web servers are extremely versatile, so they can house anything from very basic content (like text, images, and Flash) to very advanced dynamic content (like web portals, auctions, and e-commerce).

5) Can I manage a mailing list with my web hosting account?
Mass mailing is not supported on our typical website hosting accounts; however, we do provide mailing list management solutions as a hosting option. For more information see the Hosting Options page or contact us.

1) What happens after I have ordered my account?
After you have placed your order, we will process that order and setup the account for you. We strive to have all this done within hours. The same day, we will send you a "Welcome Email" detailing how to proceed in setting up your domain name to the web site.

2) How do I know you will not lure me in at a low price then raise the price later?
We hear time and time again about clients who are looking for a new hosting company because their old hosting company raised the price on them or charged more $$ for exceeding monthly transfer limits. Although our pricing is subject to changing, HostNed values your business and strives to please each of our customers. Our policies like the 30-day money back period and detailed invoicing create a very low-risk customer experience.

3) How do you offer such low prices?
We can offer our services at a very low price for many different reasons (we can not say for fear of our competition stealing our methods). What we can say is it has to do with efficiency, low overhead, volume, and systems management. Don't worry, we will not go out of business by offering such great pricing, HostNed is here to stay!