Web hosting doesn't have to be confusing or mysterious.
Here are the most common questions we receive -- we hope the answers will be helpful to you.
What's the difference between web hosting and domain registration?
When you first obtain a domain, you register it with a domain registrar -- an agent responsible for keeping track of all the details regarding your domain: who the contacts are, whether it is private or not, and where it is hosted. A web host, on the other hand, provides you with an address on the Internet so visitors can find you, and space to store your website. This address has to be recorded with the domain registrar in the form of a DNS (domain name server) entry in order for traffic to be routed to yoru website. Sometimes web hosts and domain registrars are the same company, but often they are separate.
What if I don't have a domain name yet?
No problem. We recommend GoDaddy, a creditable and inexpensive domain registrar. Visit their site, search for the domain name you'd like, and they'll walk you through the process, step by step.
How do I set up or transfer my web hosting to you?
Once you sign up for hosting with Ambient Glow, you will receive a confirmation letter by email letting you know all of your new settings. To transfer your website from your existing web host, you will need to log-in to your Domain Registrar, and change the DNS entries.
How long does a transfer take?
Depending on your current web host (if you have one) or your domain registrar, transfers may take between 24-72 hours to fully resolve (make the change of address workable).
How do I actually get my website online?
You will need to transfer your website from your computer to the web host's server (a remote computer). To do this, you will need to FTP (file transfer protocol) software. There are a variety of differenty types of FTP software available, but they all operate the same way. You type in your FTP address (which is usually your domain name, as in ftp.yourdomain.com) and a login and password provided to you by your web host. Once connected, your software will show you the files on your home computer and remote server side by side and you can upload (transfer to the server) or download (transfer to your computer) easily.
How do I set up emails?
Once you have set up web hosting, you can log in to your Control Panel (login, password, and website address provided in your welcome letter), and go to the Email Management section. There you can easily add as many new email addresses as your plan allows.
How do I make payments?
Read our Terms of Service for more information.
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