[To mod, it seems it is better to set a new thread for this question] I have found the following 2 websites: https://www.xname.org/index.php http://freedns.afraid.org/ It seems I can set any domain name I like for these kinds of services. What're the difference between: - websites which offer a free domain name (eg www.dot.tk); and - websites like the above (which offer any kinds of domian names) What're the pros and cons? Any idea? Thanks.
with free dns you will get subdomain. (e.g. yourname.xname.org) (i don't know is there free dns for domains , but even if there exist option like that you must buy domain.) other places for free dns: https://www.no-ip.com/services/managed_dns/free_dynamic_dns.html http://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/ free dns is good for website if: you like domain where you will have subdomain.(some free dns providers have a long list of choices) you want to host your site on your pc (but your pc must be 24 hours online with good connection if you want your site to be accessible ). dot.tk gives you country code domain instead of subdomain , but with ads. free dns gives you more features(by me).
In xname, it says: Which zones can I register ? All zones are accepted (except TLD). It means you can register bar.com, foo.bar.com, but not foo (like com, net, info...) All TLD are accepted (.com, .net, .info, .fr, .in-addr.arpa...) Can I register in-addr.arpa zone ? Yes. What does these all mean? Do I feel free to register any domain names for free?!? As to subdomains, a web hosting may give you one anyway. Usually it is in form of {mysite}.{mywebhoster.com} So I tihnk it is only good if you don't like your host's name. If I host on my PC, does it mean I can get any URL to my liking (eg www.johngames.net) for free without the need of registering my domain in domain registrar? Otherwise what's the point of hositng at my own PC? Better apply for a free web hosting. Actualy dot.tk is just URL redirection unless you paid for it. It is what I heard from others. So you can't do deep-linking and so on.
no. you just can use dns services for this domain names for free. no. for more information about domains i will recomend you: http://www.internic.org/faqs/authoritative-dns.html and other related articles on www.internic.org and icann.org. and the reason for hosting on your own pc is only better control of your site , mail etc...but there is some disadvantages too , and all depends of your ISP.
Oh! I see. What a big misunderstanding... X"( Thanks for your links. But it seems some ISPs do not allow you to host website.
if you get free dns service its much better then free domain names. because free domain names are only redirections to orginal url's. and most search engines hate redirected domain names.
Yes. If there is a firewall / Proxy / NAT or similar. If they filter external traffic to commonly used ports 80/21/22 etc... If they use one real (external) ip for many customers within their LAN.... If they don't give static , IP hosting is possible , but harder. (free/dynamic dns services are a good choice in this case) If your internet connection upload speed is low your site will be slow. (common case in ADSL)