.nz Registry Services (NZRS)

.nz Registry Services (NZRS) is the trading name of New Zealand Domain Name Registry Ltd. It was established by InternetNZ with the sole purpose, and exclusive right, to operate and manage the .nz register and DNS. NZRS deals exclusively with authorised registrars and has no contact with registrants or the general public. Its primary function is to ensure that the Shared Registry System is operational 24 hours a day, under the terms of a service level agreement it has with InternetNZ.

Hosting

The term hosting can refer to a variety of Internet-based services. In the context of .nz, the term usually refers to the hosting of a domain name in a particular DNS through an arrangement between a hosting company and a registrant. This is necessary before a domain name can be used on the Internet. The term hosting is also used when companies, or organisations, host people's web sites or email accounts on their computers. This type of hosting falls outside the responsibility of .nz and the DNC. If a registrant experiences a problem with the use of their web site or email address, it is recommended that they approach the organisation hosting the web site or email account first. In many cases, even if the problem lies in the DNS, the same organisation will be responsible for hosting both.

DNS System

Many thousands of DNS link together to form the most active distributed database in the world, known as the DNS System. A relatively small number of high-level "root" DNS handle the several hundred top-level domains (eg. .nz, .uk, .com). A request for a .nz domain name (eg. dnc.org.nz) is referred by the root DNS to the .nz DNS. The .nz DNS, which is managed and operated by NZRS and updated regularly from the register every day, will refer the request to one of countless other DNS that exist within hosting companies. It is therefore important that the name server (DNS) details for individual domain names in the register are kept up to date. Missing or incorrect name server details will make a domain name unusable for a web site, email address, or any other purpose.

Domain Name Server (DNS)

A Domain Name Server, or DNS, accepts requests from programs, or other DNS, to convert domain names into IP addresses. When a web address is typed into a browser, the browser's first step is to convert the domain name into an IP address so that the browser can find the computer where the web page is located. To do this, the browser has a conversation with a DNS, which in turn may contact other DNS, all of which are part of the worldwide DNS System. In DNS terminology, a domain name is said to be 'delegated' to an IP address. Although DNS is simply a generic term for a name server, it is often also used to refer to the DNS System as a whole, or to a specific DNS (ie. the .nz DNS is often just called 'the DNS').

Domain Name Commission (DNC)

The Domain Name Commission Limited (DNC) is a company wholly-owned by InternetNZ, Internet New Zealand Incorporated. The DNC is responsible for the ongoing development and monitoring of the competitive registrar market and the environment for registering and managing .nz domain names. This includes responsibility for the authorisation of registrars and the handling of disputes and complaints.

What is Domain Name???

Domain Name:

The name of a computer on the Internet; the domain name service (DNS) converts domain names to IP addresses.

OR

The "address" or URL of a particular Web site. This is also how you describe the name that is at the right of the @ sign in an Internet address. For example, netlingo.com is the domain name of this Internet dictionary