| The Internet consists of millions of computers each with a
unique address, all concerted to a common network. This allows us to access the
information on any computer provided we know its name or IP (Information Packet or
Internet protocol) number. The IP number is often refereed to as the computers address. One computer may host many web sites all on a common IP address. This may cause confusion, but a system of Domain Name registering services (DNS) has been put in place which is used to identify a website. Many DNS servers which are permanently on line collaborate and ensure that when a user requests a web site the request is redirected to the correct server where the website resides permanently. The DNS servers use a complicated system of reference and cross reference to ensure that each website request is redirected to the physical location of the requested URL (Uniform Resource Locator) An example of a URL is http://www.info4u.co.za Once you have selected a service provider who will host your web site, you will need to specify a unique domain name of your choice, which will be registered with a registry service and be used in al DNS servers to point web site requests to your URL. You should never host a website on a server that is not perminantly on line, (24 hours a day, 7 days a week 24 /7) as a DNS request that is not answered may cause other DNS servers to send error messages stating that the URL is inaccesable even when you are on line. Website hosting is thus the act of making a website available to the intended target users on a public or private network.
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The IP number system uses 4 blocks of 256 numbers, separated
by periods as a base numbering system, and there is a dire shortage of these numbers as no
2 computers may have the same IP address. This will cause confusion as the system will not
know where to send the information. An example of an IP number is 196.025.1.1 which is a computer based at SAIX (South African Internet Exchange). In South Africa we have COZA which controls all the domain names within the South African domain name space, and every domain within the South African Name space is listed here with its IP address, owners, Technical;l support staff and other public information. This makes life a lot easier for all South African internet users, especially web site owners. Before a web site may be hosted it must first be registered with an registry service of your choice. The most common registry service in South Africa uses the co.za domain. When registering your web address your technical advisor / technician will need to supply the fully qualified address of at least 2 name servers where your web sites name will be registered for future cross reference by the system. http://co.za is very particular and checks are done on a continuous basis to ensure integrity and compliance with the system. You pay a service fee to your hosting service to ensure that your base URL (Home Page) is available on the internet 24/7. Your service provider will specify all IP's and DNS servers where your website information will be available. A website host is thus a web server which is connected to the Internetor intranet 24/7, which
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