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Subdomains What are they?
This is a great article explaining the difference between Sub Domains and Domains.
Subdomains - All You Need to Know
By Suzann Kale
What's the difference between a domain and a subdomain?
Your domain name is the name of your website. This is what you've registered and paid for. It's your primary address.
A subdomain, on the other hand, works off your website name. It costs nothing, you can create it instantly, and there is no need for registration. It's like getting another website for free. The difference is that it uses the resources and account of the primary domain.
Whereas a domain name is a simple word or phrase followed by a dot and a suffix (.com, .org., etc.), the subdomain contains an additional or unique word that is placed in front of your domain name and separated by another dot.
Here's a domain: http://www.ferretfriends.com/
Here's a possible subdomain: http://www.photos.ferretfriends.com/
Or you could go with http://www.adoption.ferretfriends.com/
The new word hung on the front of the domain name creates your sub-domain. Go ahead and use your subdomain name as if it were a primary domain - most search engines will treat both equally. www.adoption.FerretFriends.com can be found by Google or other search engines as easily as www.FerretFriends.com.
How Domains and Subdomains Interact
On your main domain, the subdomain name does not show. The two domains exist separately as far as the user is concerned. One domain can refer to the other but they're not naturally connected.
How Many Subdomains Can I Have?
Some hosts allow you to create unlimited subdomains. Just refer to the host site's Product Features to know for sure.
How to Create a Subdomain
First, log into your host domain and go to the control panel. Every pure domain has a control panel where basic functions are set. One of these functions is "add subdomain". Using that function you can assign and create the subdomain in a directory underneath the main domain.
How Does Installation Differ from that of a Domain?
Initially you start a new installation on either a primary domain or a subdomain by using an FTP program to upload essential files such as Joomla or Wordpress. Once you have that primary file set uploaded to either site, you can go to the site in a browser, and work on it from there. For more details, check out Website - Do It Yourself.
If your site does not have Joomla, Wordpress or other CMS software, you may only have a collection of HTML files, and you can't work on those files in a browser. That's when you need to work on them on your own system - your own computer - and upload new versions using FTP.
The time when FTP programs are most essential is when your site is empty. That means there are no files on your site, and therefore there's no web browser capability to work on your site. The initial installation of a site is done by FTP uploading of installation files to your site.
How to Work on Your Subdomain Site
In the maintenance of your website, you work on the subdomain by going to the primary domain in an FTP program. The subdomain exists as a subdirectory within this primary domain's website.
In Joomla and Wordpress, as an administrator you work in the web browser that logs into your site. However, in simpler websites that only use HTML, you work on it by going to the site via FTP.
Logging into the browser window at a site means that you're using the software on the site to make changes to the site. Logging in with FTP, on the other hand, means you are looking at the site and able to delete and add files to the site using the FTP program.
Disadvantages of a Subdomain
A main domain name is shorter and easier to type or remember than a subdomain name. Plus, the subdomain loses the uniqueness that a domain name has.
When to Choose Domain and When to Choose Subdomain
For a hobby or personal website, a subdomain is useful. For a business, you should only use a primary domain, because of the name recognition value.
Suzann Kale is a technical writer and copy editor. She helps edit www.Website-DoItYourself.com and has written many articles for science-oriented sites and hard copy magazines. She also runs a site on cosmetics and animal safety.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzann_Kale
http://EzineArticles.com/?Subdomains----All-You-Need-to-Know&id=541382
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Tracfone Tips Web Hosting Article
Tracfone Tips Web Hosting Article
Before choosing your web host check to see if they charge extra for subdomains and/or domains. I have several websites on different subjects that I work on at random. Hostmonster allows me to have unlimited domains on my account. Most free websites are sub domains. If you are planning on building a large site that you will be promoting offline I would recommend you do not use a sub domain. The only advantage to a subdomain if HostMonster is your web host is that you do not have to pay the yearly domain fee. Host Monster
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