Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

As a rusult of the incompetence of my ISP shown in this thread who also provide all our domain registration, web hosting and stuff, I want to move from them.

There are some issues, particularly in how I can control where and when stuff is being sent, and make changes to those settings myself rather than relying on anybody else to do it.

The webhosting side is probably the easiest bit. Most web hosts now provide Cpanel and stuff enabling me to get at whatever controls I need.

Where and how can I get control (direct ownership) of my domains, so that I can decide where the tags are being pointed?

Chances are I will have two separate ADSL connections into the office and will want to be able to swap between the two if one dies.

I have a particular issue on email. Our incoming email should come to us as a SMTP feed, which is then sorted by our Exchange Server to end up on individual inboxes. It's not like email the average user has to their outlook express where the computer sends out messages for an email account at a time. Effectively anything for @domaion.co.uk just gets shovelled at us. Sending email goes back through the ISPs SMTP server.

Do I have to have an ISPs SMTP server to send stuff back to? or can I just upload to the internet? If so who's DNS servers do we point stuff at?
If I have my websites hosted somewhere can I still get an SMTP feed.
Can I control the fixed IP that that email is being sent to and change it swiftly myself if I get a problem?

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

as Clara.net handled your domain registration, they will have acted as your agent with the registrar - however, afaik, you can request them to transfer the details to a new registrar, such as 123-reg.co.uk.

this then gives you direct control over web forwarding, DNS management and name servers. (some registrars charge for these services, btw, be careful)

Your new host should be able to handle the email, most I've seen provide smtp - however I should mention my hosting company does recommend using the ISP's smtp server.

As for controlling the email server IP address, I think you will need more than shared hosting to do that, directly, but I'm not sure, tbh ;)

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

It's the control over the email that is the most critical aspect. If I can't easily point it to a different IP, the backup one, then I won't have gotten very far.

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

I think you would need to speak with the hosting company, about that, my experience doesn't cover that requirement, sorry.

- instinct says you would need a dedicated server, but I am more than happy to be proved wrong, as the difference in price is not trivial. ;)

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

I assume with your email your a re saying you need to be able to change the MX record of your domain, this would depend on how you are hosted, as this is controlled name server (if i remeber correctly). you can then route email directly to the internet accting as your own email server but I owuld suggest using your ISP' smtp server.

As you are talking about using ADSL connections perhaps ETRN is the way to go, this allows you to collect email with Exchange etc without a permananet connection.. most busines ISP's offer this as a service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETRN

---------- Post added at 23:41 ---------- Previous post was at 23:40 ----------

btw DSVR offer all of this sevice including tag control nameservers etrn shell access etc:

www.dsvr.co.uk

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

what you want to do is transfer the domain, I reccomend you transfer it to an independent registrar who you do NOT have hosting with eg. godaddy, what some providers are doing is blocking transfers of domains to try and keep their hosting customers.

Your new provider should just need you to set the nameservers and everything else should be set for you then MX/A records etc.

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

I can see this is going to take a little thought. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

give me a call ;) :)

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

Wondered if you would show up :p:

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

lol.... :)

Well im always on your MSN too ;) :)

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

Ah, but without internet (only just got it back - was like having a limb torn off) I couldn't get onto MSN to pester anyone :(

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

:( Well if you wanna talk to me.... or anything.... just send me a message, if im not about... will get back to you :)

Re: Domain Settings - Webhosting & email
 

Have a look at www.gradwell.net. They offer very flexible mail service and forwarding and a DNS service to that you can control online down to a fine level of detail. They do not have to host your sites if you don't wish.

APS