To understand what Domain Name Service (DNS) is and how it is used, it
is best to start with an example: John Sample wishes to register and setup
his web site and email. Here are the steps involved:
1. Registration of the Domain: John goes to some company, such
as LuxSci, and finds a domain name that he likes and which isn't taken by
someone else. He then registers it, paying a fee for one or more years.
What does this registration actually buy him? It depends on the company he
registered at and for what exactly he signed up; however, it usually only
means that John has now leased the domain name for some period of
time. He doesn't actually "own" it, he just has the sole right to use it
for some period of time, after which he has the right to renew his
lease.
Note that when you register a new domain name [say at Lux
Scientiae], it will take 0-24 hours for that domain to become live and
functional on the Internet. If you register it elsewhere, it may take
longer.
2. Sign up for web and/or email hosting: John then contacts
some company, such as LuxSci, to order hosting. A hosting company
provides the computers on which John's web site files will reside and/or
which will accept email for John at his new domain name.
What is missing? DNS. Registration of the domain gave John a
"name" on the Internet; obtaining web or email hosting services gives him
an "address" -- the Internet addresses of the computers owned by LuxSci
that will be handling John's web and email needs. What is missing is a
connection between the name and the addresses.
I like to make the analogy that DNS is like a "phone book" for domain
names. It contains entries that indicate which computer address
corresponds to which domain name (and vice versa). You probably use DNS
all the time and don't even know it! Whenever you type an address such as
"http://google.com" into your web browser, the web browser uses DNS to
find out the numerical address(es) of the computers that handle Google's
web site; it then uses these addresses to connect to those computers to
get the web site files.
Thus, anyone who has a domain name needs DNS services. These services
are usually provided by your web or email hosting company because they
know their computer addresses, and should be in a position to update your
DNS settings for you if any of their computer's addresses needs to be
changed I.e. LuxSci will manage your DNS settings for any or all of your
domains for you.
You may be able to manage your DNS settings yourself if, for example,
your domain registration company provides this service to you, or if you
use a company like EasyDNS (of which LuxSci is a partner and whose
services LuxSci offers at a discount to its members).
3. Transfer your domain. If your web hosting
company is going to take care of your DNS settings for you, you need to
give them control over these settings. This means telling your domain
registrar (Register.com in this example) what servers your web hosting
company is using for your DNS.... your web hosting company will tell you
what to say.
