Hi,
I know it's a fairly basic query but all advice would be appreciated.Is it better to register your domain name (obviously my first site) with your intended web host,or with an independent company? I suspect the latter but does it matter?
best regards
maclantis

It doesn't make much difference where, as long as you are listed as the owner, and administrative contact.

I used a host one time to register a domain, and they did it in their name, and then went belly-up. Taking the name with them. GoDaddy was the registrar and were absolutely no help even though I could furnish proof. I had to get a close-sounding new domain. Needless to say, I register all my domain names myself, and don't use GoDaddy.

As long as you have control of the domain name, you should be OK. If you host goes out of business or anything else, you can always change your DNS info, and restore your site on with another host, assuming you are able to get access to the latest backup files, if not you would have to start off with slightly older files.

This is a BIG NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I cannot stress things enough, even if you are listed as owner.

When you get your domain name, get it from a large reputation Domain Name Provider.

Godaddy, Register.com, ect

Do not get it from the same person you get getting hosting from. ever.

If you get your own domain name, you can control it yourself ~

If you get your domain from host, sometimes they do not switch the ownership to you as they are the person who registered your domain name ~ They want you to stay with them ~ :p

If you are going with a large scale host, as long as you are listed as the domain owner there should be no issues, for instance, if you buy a domain through EV1, and you have a dedicated server there, I have not experienced any problems getting it moved to another provider. Although if you are going with small hosts, I have to agree with Zachery, don't get the domain through your hosting provider.

I own a web hosting company, and I have to somewhat agree with everyone else. As a hosting company, we need to be able to offer domain registration through the sign-up process just to make things as painless as possible. Our registration is all done through a major registrar, however we still have control over all the domains that are registered through us. A disreputable hosting provider could swipe your domain very easily. So better be safe than sorry and register your domains yourself - unless you either know the hosting company personally, or else don't have a huge vested interest in possibly losing your domain.

dale

I agree with most people here, I would register my domain seperatly. I also would not trust recieving a domain with your hoswting as then the hosting company usually controls the domain. A customer of mine is having that problem right now. Athough she paid for her domain her old webhost controls it and her and I have been trying for a few weeks now to get ahold of the domain registrar and see if she can get login information for her domain. It has turned into a big hassle and if she can not get back control of the domain I will have to go past the 30 day money back guarentee and refund her since she has been unable to use the webspace she purchased.

Long story short, register your domain at a trusted registrar, not with a hosting company, unless you trust them. And read their TOS to make sure you can not loose control of your domain that is registered with them if you switch hosting providers.

Plain and Simple: No.

I always say NO because a lot of hosts dont give you full control!!! Ive known so many people that lost their domain name simply because their host would not renew it!

Use a real domain register like godaddy.com