What is DNS?

What is a domain?
There are two types of domains:

• National Domains, also called country code domains, are two-letter abbreviations of countries and territories. For example: .uk stands for United Kingdom and .us stands for United States.
• Generic Domains show the content of what they contain rather than their geographical location:
  • .com for companies
  • .edu for colleges and universities
  • .gov for government agencies
  • .mil for the military
  • .net for some Internet service providers
  • .org for nonprofit organizations
  • .int for international governmental agencies
  • two-letter names identifying countries

How does a DNS work?
DNS is the name registration service for IP addresses that provides the text-based addresses for Internet resources. The DNS provides the protocol that allows clients, your computer, and servers, the Internet to communicate with each other.

What is a host name?
A host name is an alphanumeric way to identify a location on the Internet, such as www.bellsouth.com for the AT&T Homepage. It is a more specific listing underneath the hierarchy of a domain name.

What is an IP address?
An IP address is a numeric address used to identify a computer on the Internet.

What is resolving DNS?
Resolving DNS service allows your computer to find other websites and email servers across the Internet.

What is authoritative DNS?
Authoritative DNS service allows other users across the Internet to find your website and email server.

What is primary DNS?
Primary DNS servers house the actual entries for individual domain names.

What is secondary DNS?
Secondary DNS servers query primary DNS servers for sets of entries for individual domain names

What Information Should I Give My Domain Name Registrar?
Please provide your administrative and technical contact information to your domain name registrar.

How Do I Establish Domain Name Service?
If you order FastAccess DSL Static IP, FastAccess DSL Business Speed 384, or FastAccess DSL Business Speed 768, then Domain Name Service for 2 DNS domain names is included free in your service.

You will need to establish AT&T as your primary DNS server with your Domain Name Registrar and as the technical contact for your Domain Name Service. Additional DNS domain names are available for a nominal cost.

What is A Domain Name Registrar?
A registrar, also known as a Domain Name Registration Service, is a company that inserts your domain name into a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet. The registrar will ask you to provide various contact and technical information that make up the registration. The registrar will then keep records of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the ""registry."" This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to send you email or to find your web site. You must also enter into a registration contract with the registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained. Each registrar sets the price it charges for registering names, and prices vary significantly among different registrars. In addition, some registrars offer discounted or free registration services in connection with other offerings. Before using a custom domain name for your company, you must first register the name. Access www.internic.net for a list of certified domain name registrars.

How Do I Activate AT&T's DNS Service for an Existing Domain Name?
If you have a registered domain name and wish to activate AT&T FastAccess DNS service for this domain name on your new static IP address(es):

• Contact your Domain Name Registrar
• List AT&T as your Primary DNS for this domain

Note: AT&T does not provide DNS service when listed as Secondary DNS, unless we are also the Primary DNS. It may take up to 48 hours for your Registrar to complete this transaction.

Where Should My Domain Name Be Pointed After Activation?
The domain name must be owned, registered and pointed to AT&T DNS servers within 30 days of activation.

Note: AT&T reserves the right to discontinue service if this does not occur or if the domain name remains improperly registered for a period of more than 30 days.

When Does My Domain Name Expire?
Domain name expiration.