We provide a complete Domain Name Registration and Management Service as part of all our registration and hosting packages

• Domain Name Searches
• Domain Name Registration
• Domain Name Renewal
• DNS Record Management (inlcudng name transfers and changes)

If you are not sure what these terms mean, or why they are important, the following should help to explain them.

Domain Name Management - Explained

What is a Domain Name?

Your Domain Name "yourcompany.co.uk"  is simply an easy to use “name tag” which has been associated with a special “behind the scenes” unique number ( IP Address: nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn). Every time someone uses your domain name, (either to find your website or send you an email) their request is translated into this unique number.

DNS Records

This translation between the English Language domain name and the unique number is held in the DNS Records. The IP address associated with the domain name can be changed if required.

By itself, your domain name is NOT the complete “postal” address and the domain name must also be associated with a destination computer. This is called Domain Name Hosting and is the responsibility of your web / email Hosting Company.
(Not necessarily of your Internet Service Provider)

Note: Your domain name is yours – it is mobile and it can follow you from one ISP or hosting company to another. However, this process of transferring domain names can be complex and requires expert guidance, but is part of our Domain Name Management Service.

Registration of Domain Names

This involves searching the entire Internet to see if a chosen  / preferred Domain Name is available. If it is available, we use a special system to register the chosen domain with Nominet.  Once accepted, the domain is officially recorded against the registrants name and address for the designated period.

Registration Period

All domain name registrations ending in .uk last for two years from the date of registration. 
When we register a domain name for you we provide a certificate, stating the domain name, registrant, registration date and the expiry dates. Additionally, we provide renewal notifications by email, 2 months in advance of the expiry date.

Domain Name Hosting

Once you have registered a domain name, it must be associated with a destination computer. This links the unique domain name to the unique IP address of the hosting computer. The address is now complete and any communication (email, FTP or web traffic) with the domain name can find its way to the destination computer.

We provide fully mananged email, FTP and website hosting services, at very competitive rates.

Note: Your domain name can only be associated with a single hosting company and target computer at any one time.

Transferring a Domain Name

Whilst the domain name you have registered can move with you to different Internet Services Providers, or different hosting companies, the process involves transferring the DNS records and associating them with the new server hosting your email and website. This can be a time consuming process and

Registrants are also encouraged to contact us if they are in any doubt.

DNS Management

Domain Name System (DNS) Management involves all aspects of ensuring your chosen domain name is available on the Internet and that the DNS Records are up-to-date and point to the correct server.

Optimus UK Ltd, (the owner of Warwickshire Internet Services) is a Nominet Registrar and member with Nominet, the UK organisation officially charged with the management of all ".uk" first level domains.