Building Your First Web Site – Domain Name
Building Your First Web Site
Tim Querrey
Creating your own site can be a satisfying experience. Here are some tips to help get you up and running.
Before doing anything on the technical side, you need some kind of basic idea to work with. I suggest first getting some paper and a pencil. Start by sketching a layout of how you would like your web page to appear. For example, a simple title at the top, the area in which you would like any content, pictures and so on. Now its time to do some programing!
Dont let the word programing scare you. Anyone can learn and there are several sites that offer free tutorials. One such site is http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp. Although it is not necessary to be a top notch programer to build and operate your web site, you should learn the basics of html. I recommend that you thoroughly learn about tables. They are widely used and with them, you can create a professional looking layout even as a beginner.
You can use any basic text editor, like notepad, to write, edit, and save your code html. When saving your work for the first time, choose Text Document for type of file, then save with the extension htm for example index.htm. Your home page the first page people usually see is normally saved as index.htm. To see how your page looks, double click on the file and it should automatically open up in your browser.
Now that youve got your web page ready to go, its time to find a host a place for your web page to live. Since this is your first site, I suggest you use Free Web Hosting. Some host will put advertising, such as a banner, on your site as the cost of free hosting. Others will only charge you to register your Domain Name www.YourSite.com. Be careful not to accidentally sign up for extras such as url protection, spam control, etc. unless you feel you need them as they will add to your cost. These sites will have a limit on bandwidth how much data that can be transmitted per month, email accounts, and maybe a few other things, but are still great for first timers. If later on you feel you need more, then you usually can upgrade. To find a host, just use any search engine and the keyword phrase Free Web Hosting.
Ok! Youve sketched a layout for your web page, learned some basic html, coded your web page, found your host with the most couldnt resist, and registered your URL www.YourSite.com. Now its time to upload transfer your file web page to your host. To do this you need a FTP program. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. When using this application, there are usually two windows. The left window shows your computer files, and the right window shows the files stored on your host. For a good tutorial and to download a freeware FTP program, FTP Commander, go to http://www.nexcess.net/hosting/support/tutorials/ftp/ftpcommindex.php.
Now you should be up and running. But dont stop there. Continue to tweak, add pages, learn to link to other pages and sites, and frequently add new content. Who knows, you could eventually learn to profit from your creation.
About The Author
Tim Querrey is the owner of http://www.homerunbusinesses.com
Know How DNS Works – Domain Name
Know How DNS Works
Pawan Bangar
Domain name Servers DNS are an important but invisible part of the internet, and form one of the largest databases on it. Each machine on an internet is assigned a unique address, called an IP address, which is 32 bit number and is expressed as 4 octets. The method user to represent these IP addresses is known as dotted decimal Notation". A typical address looks like this: 199.249.150.4
It is very difficult to keep in mind the IP addresses of all the websites we visit daily, because its not easy to remember strings of numbers. However, we do remember words. This is where domain names come into the picture. If you want to connect to a particular site, you need to know its IP address but do need to know its URL. The DNS gets the mappings of the IP addresses and the corresponding names.
Names and numbers
DNS converts the machine names such as www.xyz.com to IP addresses such as 199.249.150.9. Basically, it translates from a name to an address and from an address to a name.
The mapping from the IP address to the machine name is called reverse mapping .when you type http://www.xyz.com into your browser, the browser first needs to get the IP address of www.xyz.com. The machine uses a directory service to look up IP addresses and this service is called DNS. When you type www.xyz.com your machines firsts contacts a DNS server, asking it to find the IP address for www.xyz.com. This DNS server might then contact other DNS servers on the internet. DNS is therefore is considered as the global network of servers. The great advantage of DNS is that no organization is responsible for updating it. It is what is known as distributed database.
The three letter codes
A DNS server is just a computer thats running the DNS software. The most popular DNS software is BIND Berkeley Internet Name Domain DNS is hierarchical, tree-structured system. The top is donated by.. And is known as the root of the system. Below the root there are seven immediate sub domain nodes and these are com, org, gov, mil, net, edu, Int, etc.
DNS consists of two components
Nameserver
Resolver
Nameserver:
This performs the task of looking up the names. Usually, there is one nameserver for a cluster of machines. If the nameserver does not contain the requested information, it will contact another nameserver. But it is not required for every server to know how to contact every other server. Every nameserver will know how to contact the root nameserver, and this in turn will know the location of every authoritative nameserver for all the second level domains.
Resolver:
This runs on a client machine to initiate DNS lookups. It contains a list of nameservers to use. As we have read, the function of each of these nameservers is to resolve name queries. There are three types of nameservers-primary nameserver, secondary nameserver, and caching nameserver. The secondary nameservers are configured for backup purposes. Caching nameservers only resolve name queries but do not maintain any DNS database files. It is important to note here that any change to primary nameservers needs to be propagated to secondary nameservers. This is because primary nameservers own the database records. The changes are propagated via a zone transfer.
HOW CACHING"WORKS
DNS uses principle of caching for its operation. When a nameservers receives Information about a mapping, it caches this information .further queries for the same mapping will use this cached result, thereby reducing the search cost. The nameservers dont cache forever. The caching has a component called time to live TTL and the TTL determines how long a server will cache a piece of information. So when the nameservers caches receive an IP address, it receives the TTL with it. The nameserver caches the IP address for the period of time then discards it.
When a process needs to determine an IP address given a DNS address, it calls upon the local host to resolve the address. This can be done in variety of ways:
Table look up. On UNIX hosts, the table is /etc/hosts.
The process communicates with a local nameservers. This is named on a UNIX system.
By sending a massage to the remote system that is identified from the information in the file/etc/resolve.conf.
When a nameserver receives a query for a domain that is does not serve, it may send back a referral to the client by specifying better nameservers. Typically operate in the recursive manner wherein any DNS server passes requests it cannot handle to higher level server and so on, until either the request can be handled or until the root of the DNS name space is reached.
The nameservers contain pointers to other nameserver with the help of which it is possible to traverse the entire domain naming hierarchy. A host with the initial nameserver addresses has to be configured. After this, it is able to use DNS protocols to locate the nameserver responsible for any part or the DNS naming hierarchy.
Thus when a nameserver receives a request, it can do one of the following:
It can answer the request with an IP address. This method is called iterative. In this, the client simply asks the server to resolve a domain name. The server accesses its database, finds its IP address and sends that back. If the server does not find the address, it sends back an error ;DNS not found. Contact another nameserver and try to find the IP address for the requested name. Send back a referral to the client specifying the IP address of better nameservers.
A popular user interface, called nslookupis available on the UNIX system. With this, you can perform any DNS function. This program also displays the result to the user. Using is nslookup, you can obtain a listing of all the hosts in a zone. In order to do this, you first need to identify the nameserver for the zone.
The threats that are associated with the DNS are due to the lack of integrity and authenticity checking of the data held within the DNS. Also, other protocols can use host names as an access control mechanism. The internet engineering task force IETF has come up with DNS security DNSSEC extensions to DNS protocol. The main objective to DNSSEC is to provide authentication and integrity to the DNS. These are provided through the use of cryptographic
About The Author
Pawan Bangar,
Technical Director,
Birbals, Ebirbals, SeoBirbals, Hbirbals
India.
Visit us at:
www.birbals.com
www.ebirbals.com
www.hbirbals.com
Faster Browsing Tips – Domain Name
Faster Browsing Tips
Pawan Bangar
IF WE say that it was mainly because of the Windows operating system that a Computer could become a personal computer it would not be an exaggeration. The revolution is still on. Windows is far beyond what a common man presently knows and uses.
Internet surfing
For searching something, search engines are being used. However, if you know a Windows trick, then searching for information on the Net may become easy, all you need to do is simply locate the address bar in Internet Explorer and write in the phrase that you want to search on the Internet. Here it is important to remember the Internet Explorer IE recognizes a phrase and not a single word. If it’s a single word, then Internet, Explorer assumes it as a domain name and attempts to create a URL in its place. However key in a few words and IE will run your phrase through a search engine on Microsoft’s Web site.
If you want to search for a single word then you should put a question mark at the beginning of the line to tell IE that this is a search keyword. The same thing applies to the Netscape Communicator also and searching the Web is as easy using the Netscape as it is with IE.
Transferring files
Another common use for which the computers are being used is for transferring the files over the Internet. Normally FTP client is being used for transferring files, which is a common application among the Internet users. However, very few persons realize the power of Windows.
You do not need a separate FTP client for transferring the files. The basic Windows constituent IE already has a feature of FTP. Thus if you type an FTP address in the address box of any Explorer view, whether on the Internet or while browsing your own hard disk, you can go to the site and be able to use the window as an FTP client.
Create link in MS Word
Windows users sometimes complain of working on too many applications for a single work, for example, work related to the Web. However, this is probably due to the ignorance of the persons as all major applications have features that arc quite universal in nature. Take for example, MS Word. Most of us know about MS Word as the most wonderful word processor. However, quite a few of us know that it is a good tool for Web based applications also. The Web-based functions of the MS Word are worth trying as it gives you endless features. One such feature is the option of creating a link to a Web page in a Word document. Thus if you are creating a MS Word document, you can create a link to a Web page or other HTML document rather than just including the address in text. The procedure for this is simple first copy the address URL to which you want to link, then select the word, phrase or sentence in your document that you want to create as the link. Now on the Insert menu in Word, click hyperlink and then in link to file or URL, paste the address by pressing Ctrl + V. This will create a link to a Web page in the Word document.
However you can use your computer for purposes other than the Internet also and make better use of it. Normally we all crave for faster performance. In a Majority of the cases you do not require a replacement or up gradation as you can enhance the performance of your existing computer running Windows.
Manage hard disk
The first thing in this regard is better management of the hard disk; it has been discussed many a times in the article on tips and tricks that you can manage your hard disk better by defragging it regularly. However, there are some more steps, which should be performed before you defrag your hard disk in order to optimize the performance of your hard disk.
These steps are:
Delete the IE temporary files and history regularly before defragging your hard disk.
It is also important to delete all TMP and BAK files present in the hard disk as these files are not generally required and unnecessarily consume the hard disk.
Normally you will find *.TMP files in the TEMP directory or WINDOWSTEMP directories. Thus you must locate these directories and delete the aforesaid files.
As a next step defrag your hard disk without the swap-file. The instructions for this can be found at defragmenting the swap file. It is a standard feature of Windows 98 as per which it has a built-in utility called Disk cleanup.
You can run it from either Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup or directly run CLEANMGR.EXE. This is also an important feature of the Windows that takes care of all deleted files and other junk files as this feature deletes them as a part of disk cleaning exercise.
Use Address bar
Windows makes your work so easy that it can actually take the unnecessary load off you. For example, if you are a Windows 98 user, then you can use browser for purposes other than browsing the Net.
Did you know that you could use the address bar to run programs on your computer
This is very much possible as all you need to do is just type the program name, including its path its location, you may type c:msofficewinwordwinword.exe. This will open MS Word depending upon its location.
Send Web page via e-mail
For sending a Web page, while viewing the page, click the File menu, and then click on Send sub menu, then click either Page by e-mail to send a copy of the page or Link by e-mail to send a short-cut to it. This way you can simply send a Web page by e-mail. This is also a great option of keeping a site in your record, as it will also facilitate in viewing it offline. Similarly, it is also easy to send a video clip or an audio clip, which you may find on the Internet.
Thus to send a video or audio clip simply right-click the icon or link for the item you want to send, and then click Save Target As. Specify the location, where you want to save the file. Now open your e-mail client and click Insert file or attach file as the case may be. You can also add your message in the message window if you wish to send a message to the recipient of the mail.
#PageBreak# Enjoy the power of World Wide Web in lesser time with these tips.
Do you feel anxious whether your important mails have reached their destination
Use the feature which is available on most e-mail clients and requests the recipient to confirm that he has received the message by a return e-mail. It is called Read Receipt in Outlook Express.
To do this while composing a mail in Outlook Express, click on Tools > Request Read Receipt in your message window. If you desire, you can have all your outgoing messages sent with the Read Receipt notification. For this, go to Tools > Options, click on the Receipts tab and tick ‘Request a read receipt for all sent messages’. Remember, the read receipt confirmation is dependent on the e-mail client the recipient is using and also whether he wants to send the confirmation.
Adding signatures to your e-mail
If you send a lot of mail each day, then a repetitive task like signing your name at the end of each mail can be quite tedious. It’s easier to create a signature and attach it automatically to every mail that’s sent.
To do this in Outlook Express, go to Tools > Options > Signatures. Then go to New and add the contents of the signature in the Edit Text field. Also select the option of sending the signature automatically with all outgoing messages. In case you don’t want to send this with replies or forwards, enable the option, ‘Don’t add signatures to Replies and Forward’. For creative signatures, use the option to append a file that contains the signature you have created. If you happen to have multiple e-mail accounts, select the account with which you want to send the signature. To do this, go to Tools > Options > Signatures and click on the Advanced button near the Edit Signature tab. A new box will appear saying ‘Advanced Signature Settings’ where you can select the account with which the signature should be automatically added.
Auto-respond facility
Won’t be checking mail for some time Activate a feature called ‘vacation reply’ if you are using a Web-based service. Most e-mail services such as Indiatimes provide this feature which can be activated through the options menu. You can type a short message which will be sent to all who e-mail you while you are away.
In Outlook Express, you can do this from Tools > Message Rules > Mail and clicking on the New Rule option. Select the ‘For all Messages’ options from the condition for your rule field and in the Action select Reply with a message. You will have to select a message that you have already created and saved.
Keep a copy of the message
If you are on a trip and want to access your e-mail from another machine, keep a copy of your messages on the server of your e-mail service provider. Go to Tools > Accounts and select the account if you have multiple accounts, then go to Properties > Advanced. Check ‘Leave a copy on server’. This has one more advantage: if you’ve formatted your machine without taking a backup of your mail, you can retrieve the mail as a stored copy.
Disable MSN Messenger from auto-starting
Whenever one opens Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook XP, MSN Messenger loads automatically. To disable it, go to Tools > Options in Outlook Express and uncheck ‘Automatically log on to MSN Messenger Service’. Then go to View > Layout and uncheck the option of Contacts. In Microsoft Outlook XP, go to Tools > Options > Other and uncheck ‘Enable MSN Messenger’. The over-eager Messenger won’t be so eager now!
Optimizing your Inbox
A three-step process to ensure that your Inbox never looks cluttered.
Organizing: Outlook Express allows you to create folders within which mail can be organized. To create a new folder in Outlook Express, go to File > Folder > New. This will display the directory tree of your Inbox. Just select the location say Inbox where you want to create a folder and enter the Folder Name. Or, you could use the shortcut [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [E] and enter the Folder Name. You can also drag and drop folders to change their location. Folders can be quite useful, especially if you have multiple accounts configured on the same identity or to sort out e-mail messages on the basis of sender, subject, etc.
Filtering: Message Rules can automatically sort your mail into the appropriate folder as soon as it is downloaded. Specify the folders where you want the messages to be downloaded based on names in the from address, names in the to address, certain words in the Subject line or in the message body.
Go to Message > Create Rule from Message. Create a rule selecting the appropriate options offered, and the next time you download your mail, it will be sorted according to the rules created.
You can also sort your existing messages based on the message rules created. In Outlook Express, go to Tools > Message Rules and click on Mail. You will get a list of the message rules you have created. Click on ‘Apply now...’ select the rules to apply, and click on Apply to filter your existing folder.
Grouping: Outlook Express allows you to group e-mail messages on the basis of the conversation carried. To enable this, go to View > Current View and click ‘Group Messages by Conversation’ In Outlook, this option is available from View > Current View > Conversation Topic.
With this feature, all e-mail messages are sorted on the basis of the subject line and the messages that are a reply to that particular subject are grouped together. A ‘+’ sign next to a message indicates responses based on that subject.
Download Mail to your PC
If you use a Web-based e-mail service, download a copy of your mail directly to your browser. This is much quicker than using the bandwidth-hungry Web interface and also allows you to access your mail without having to be connected to the Internet. To do this first add a new account by going to Tools > Accounts > Add and select the Mail option. You will be prompted for personal details and account information.
Select the POP3 server option in the screen that asks you for your e-mail server information and enter the appropriate POP3 server address for incoming mail.
Browsing offline
Quite often you may want to refer to a page that you have visited at some point in time. While finding the link in your browser’s History is not too difficult, you can view the site without actually logging on to the Internet by going to File > Work Offline. Then just click on a link in your History folder to view the complete page from your hard disk.
Split files
Splitting files can increase download speeds tremendously. Usually, splitting the file in three or five segments is sufficient. However, if you are downloading a particularly large file which is available from several servers, you could get better speeds by increasing the number of segments being downloaded simultaneously. The number of segments that you want the file in can be set in the option box that pops up when a download begins. Just set the option for the number of segments that you want the file to be split into.
About The Author
Pawan Bangar
Technical Director
Birbals,India
www.ebirbals.com
www.birbals.com
www.hbirbals.com
www.seobirbals.com
pawan@ebirbals.com