How to set up a Domain Name
In your admin under My Website choose Domain Registration. This page consists of 4 sections:
1. Domain Credits:
This section allows you to purchase domain credits. A single domain
credit can be used to purchase a new domain name or renew an existing
domain name for 1 year. Multiple domain credits can be used to renew a
single domain name for multiple years. For more information on how to
renew domain names, please read the following article:
http://tickets.colony1.net/Customer/KBArticle.aspx?articleid=37
2. Current Domains:
This section lists all domain names that you have currently registered
with your Colony 1 COOLSite. If you registered the domain name through
Colony 1, then the expiration date will be listed here. If you do not
see an expiration date for your domain, then go to www.whois.sc and
type in your domain name (Example: www.domainname.com) to view the
expiration date and other information regarding the domain name.
This
section also allows you to disconnect domain names from your COOLSite
website. Simply click the "Disconnect Domain" link next to the domain
you wish to disconnect. When you try to visit this domain name, it will
no longer point to your COOLSite.
3. Purchase New Domains:
This section allows you to purchase domain names directly through
Colony 1. First you will need to make sure that you have domain
credits. Purchasing a new domain name requires at least one domain
credit (see info on section 1. Domain Credits above for more info). In
addition, Colony 1 will setup the domain for you so that it points to
your website free of charge. All you need to do is type in the domain
name you desire and we do the rest of the work for you.
In the
"Domain Name" field you will need to enter the domain name
without the extension, then choose the extension via the adjacent
dropdown. So for example, if your domain name is colony1.net, you would
type "colony1" in the "Domain Name" field and then select ".net" from
the extension dropdown. Domain names are NOT case sensitive, so it
doesn't matter whether or not you enter capital or lowercase letters.
However, we suggest using all lower case letters so that it is easier
for you to check your spelling. Colony 1 is also not responsible for
any mis-spelling on your behalf. If you register a domain name that is
not spelled correctly, you can not change it or get a refund. Once a
domain is registered, we have already paid the domain registrar (eNom).
Once
you have entered the domain name
correctly, click "Check Name Availability". Our system will run a quick
search to see if the domain name is available. If the domain name is
not available, then our system will provide you with a list of similar
domains that are available. From here you can select one you with to
register or type in a different domain name to check its availability.
4. Connect Your Own Domain to Your COOLSite:
If you have already purchased a domain yourself and NOT through Colony1
or your admin, then you will need to enter the domain name in the
"Domain Name" field without the extension. Then choose the extension
via the adjacent dropdown. So for example, if your domain name is
colony1.net, you would type "colony1" in the "Domain Name" field and
then select ".net" from the extension dropdown. Domain names are NOT
case sensitive, so it doesn't matter whether or not you enter capital
or lowercase letters. However, we suggest using all lower case letters
so that it is easier for you to check your spelling. Once you have
entered the domain name correctly, click "Connect This Domain Now".
There's one last step we need to take, which is setting up the correct
DNS Info:
If
you already own a domain and have entered it in the Domain Registration
page under "Connect Your Own Domain to Your COOLSite", then this
information is essential to complete the process of setting up your
domain with our servers.
You should
log into the site that you originally registered your domain name with
your username and password. This login information should have been
provided to you by the company you registered the domain through. If
you lost this information, then you will need to contact them directly.
Once
you are logged in to their site, there should be a choice of either
“manage name servers” or “point domain name”. Clicking on this option
will bring you to a page which will enable you to edit the nameservers
of the domain name. You will need to delete the existing nameservers
and replace them with the nameservers for Colony 1, which are as
follows:
- DNS1.Colony1.net
- DNS2.Colony1.net
Enter both Colony 1 nameservers in 2 seperate fields. Leave all the other fields blank.
Once
you have completed this process, it should take approximately 48-72
hours for the domain registrant to point your domain name to our
servers, at which point you will be able to view your website. If after
72 hours you are not able to view your website, then please contact us
asap.
If you have any questions, you can contact us at 954-341-7031 or coolsitesupport@colony1.net.