The only technical requirement I have for being hosted on The-Bar-End.com web server is that you have a domain name that you own. A domain name is the technical term for the 'address' of a particular website on the internet. The domain name tells your browser where to access the web pages you want to see. The domain name for this website, for example, is The-Bar-End.com and you accessed this page by clicking through one webpage to another, moving from one domain name to another, or by typing the exact address into the address bar of your browser.

To have a domain name you must register a unique name with a Domain Name Server (DNS) provider (a registrar). There are a vast array of providers out there on the internet that are able to register a domain name for you. You should be aware that the cost associated to registering a domain name can vary between providers. The-Bar-End.com's registrar is netregistry . I chose netregistry due to my understanding that netrigistry:

• is an Australian Registrar and the legal implications of this under consumer law,
• DNS is recognised as being on an Australian Register and search engine recognition,
• has a good management console relatively easy to instigate,
• has an Australian based support system, and
• has extremely competative pricing stated in Australian dollars. For example, to register the barend.id.au domain name (my personal website) it cost $29.95 for the name registration for 2 years plus $19.95 for the domain manager package for 1 year, a total of $AUS49.90.

For many people their email address is dictated by who provides their internet service, ie. name@bigpond.com.au, name@grapevine.com.au, name@tpg.com.au, name@pacific.come.au, etc. An added advantage of registering a domain name is that you can now have an email address that you own, name@myaddress.###. This means that if you want to change your internet service provider you do not have to worry about loosing your email address and having to inform all the contacts in your address book your new email address. I will be altering the yabbaonline.com domain name to help Australians facilitate this. (NOT INSTIGATED AS YET)

There are certain rules in relation to registering a domain name that you should be aware of. In Australia a ".com.au" domain name can serve as a good URL for your business, however, internationally a ".com" domain name is king.

.com.au & .net.au domain names

To register a ".com.au" or ".net.au" domain name you must be an Australian registered company or business with a registerd business number (ABN, BRN, BN).

.id.au domain names

This is designed for individuals who reside in Australia. You may register any personnal name by which you are known.

.org.au & .asn.au domain names

To register a ".org.au" or a ".asn.au" domain your organisation must be a non-commercial organisation.

.au.com, .com, .biz, .net, .info, .org domain names

There are no restictions about who may register a ".au.com", ".com", ".biz", ".net", ".info", or ".org" domain name.

Once you have a registered domain name you will need to have it pointed to my IP address so that the DNS knows that your web pages are located here. If you need any assistance with registering your domain name and having it point here please feel free to ask me for help.

Browse through the information available here, including the Guidelines, and if you wish to take it further or know more then please do not hesitate to contact me for further information about possible instigation of your free hosting. All initial contact is via the email address on the contacts page.