What is a Domain Name?

The main purpose of a domain name is to provide recognisable names, to mostly numerically addressed internet resources. This translation from domain names to IP addresses (and vice versa) is accomplished with the global facilities of Domain Name System (DNS).

Domain name: www.example.net

Registered domain name: example.net

What is an IP Address?

Every computer and other electronic device on the internet has a unique identifying number, called an IP address. IP stands for Internet Protocol. A typical IP address looks like this:

• 216.27.61.137

­­

­To make it easier for us humans to remember, IP addresses are normally expressed in decimal format as a "dotted decimal number" like the one above. But computers communicate through binary form. Look at the same IP address in binary:

11011000.00011011.00111101.10001001

What is a URL?

The following example illustrates the difference between a url (Uniform Resource Locator) and a domain name:

URL: http://www.example.net/index.html

Domain name: www.example.net

How do I register my own Domain Name?

Click on Domain Names Order in the right menu, and fill our the necessary information.

If you require a hosting package (somewhere to place your new domain / website) click on one of our hosting options, which will present you with the opportunity to check if your desired domain name is available - and continue to register it with your hosting package.

Please note that if you choose an .ie extension, you must prove you are entitled to it, while .com domain names are available on a 'first come, first served' basis. Regarding .ie names and entltelement, you must be Jack Brown to register domain jackbrown.ie    If you are trading as The Sweet Shop you would need to have this name registered as a trade name or a Limited Company first, if you want to register the domain name sweetshop.ie   However you could register jackbrown.com if not already registered or sweetshop.com if it were available, whether or not you are Jack Brown or trade as The Sweet Shop.

More detailed information on .IE domain names is available here.

Why do I need a Hosting provider?

Websites need to be available to anyone who wants to view them 24hrs per day, 7 days per week - and lots of people may want to view your site at the same time. While some large businesses do have their own server computers hosting their own websites, usually this is not practical. This service is usually provided by businesses such as Host My Ireland who have very fast servers with substantial bandwidth to allow very large numbers of people, view your site at any given time, day or night! All of our packages will supply you with more bandwidth than you are ever likely to need. All of Host My Ireland's packages come with a Control Panel (cPanel) where you can monitor bandwidth usage.

How do I make a website?

Thankfully it is now relatively simple to make a really great website. Originally one would need to learn HTML (HyperText markup Language). Today the only requirement is to know how to operate a computer! All Host My Ireland hosting packages come with a software package Fantastico that will allow you upload various FREE website packages to your server space, to get your website up and running really quickly. We will upload the super Joomla 1.5 code to your space if you wish, which will create a website instantly and install sample data. You can replace the sample content with your own. And if you really don't want to do any of the work yourself, Host My Ireland would be happy to create your fully working website for you. If you do opt to use Joomla or any of the other free resources, we ask you to consider making a small donation to the relevant developer community when your website is up and running.

New in August 2009 all our hosting packages now also have a Free Site Builder included. There are more than 600 templates to choose from, or you can upload your own. Check out the Free Website Builder link in the top menu, to view a selection of the templates available.

How much does everything cost?

There are two annual costs. Firstly, domain names are paid for on an annual basis. We offer very good value: .com names cost €9.95 per year while .ie names cost €35.00 per year. Hosting packages vary depending on your requirements, but our most popular Standard Package costs €79.95 per year, while our Starter Package costs €39.95 per year. All prices exclude VAT.

From time to time we publish tokens offering various discounts. Enter the token code in the box provided in the checkout process, and the relevant discount will be applied to your account. All tokens have an expiry date; keep this in mind if you find one of our tokens somewhere on the net. If it doesn't work, the chances are that it is out of date.

Host My Ireland offers a full 60 days no nonsence money back guarantee with all hosting packages. We are confident that when you see what you get for your money, you will be impressed.

Can I transfer my domain to Host My Ireland?

Yes, and you will then only pay for hosting. Each package has the option to transfer an existing doamin name to us. However you still need to enter the domain name in the form provided (the system will show this as registered, but you can continue with the hosting application). If you have your domain name registered somewhere else you will need to point it to our servers. These are ns1.hostmyireland.com and ns2.hostmyireland.com

Can I upgrade my Account?

Yes, as your site grows, you may need to upgrade to a higher level account. Simply send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it requesting an upgrade from Starter to our Standard hosting package, for example. We will carry out the upgrade and invoice you for the difference in package costs. There are no additional fees. So if you are not sure which package to start out with, why not choose the Starter package - and you can then upgrade it, if this becomes necessary.

How do I pay?

You can pay by Cheque, Credit Card or from a Paypal account. You can post your cheque to us at: Host My Ireland, The Print Factory, Fivealley, Birr, Co. Offaly. You can also pay over the phone with your lazer or credit card if you wish. Note: This site has 256 bit encryption for secure transmission of data over the internet.