1. Domain Names
2. Automatic Sub-domain
3. Registering A Domain
4. DNS Hosting
1. riseup.net
2. your registrar
3. everydns.net
5. Domain Ecology

Domain Names

The Domain Name System (DNS) is how we convert internet address numbers (IPs) into human readable names. Without DNS, if you wanted to go to riseup.net, you would need to remember the address 204.13.164.45 every time. In this case, riseup.net is the domain name and 204.13.164.45 is the actual IP.

In order to put up a website you need three things:

1. a domain name: Domain names are typically acquired through name registrars (for a fee) or you can have a free sub-domain from riseup.net (for example, mysite.revolt.org).
2. a host for the domain name: This is called DNS hosting. The registrar can provide this (more options) or riseup.net can provide it (less options, less hassle).
3. a host for the website: This is called web hosting. It is the most expensive part of the process, and what riseup.net typically provides.

Automatic Sub-domain

When hosting at riseup.net, you automatically get a sub-domain username.revolt.org, where username is your hosting username. This happens right away, costs nothing, and is kind of cool. Later, you can add your own domain if you want to purchase one from a registrar, or you could practice a little domain ecology with another group and share their's.

If you are satisfied with a revolt.org sub-domain, then you don't need to worry about DNS at all and can stop reading this page.

Registering A Domain

If you want a custom domain, you must purchase one from a domain registrar. There are many good and cheap registrars to choose from, although we suggest using gandi.net. We also have a little mini-tutorial on using gandi.

We have found that many groups forget to renew the registration. The domain is then often grabbed by "domain squatters" who replace the activist website with porn. This has happened to many sites which we (used to) host. Bummer.

DNS Hosting

You have three options for hosting the DNS for you custom domain (in order of increasing complexity):

riseup.net

This option is good if your site is hosted by riseup.net and you don't have any need for special options. In order to use riseup.net as your DNS host, specify these values:

• Primary Name Server: primary.revolt.org
  
• Secondary Name Server: secondary.revolt.org
  

That is all you need: once these values are set, riseup will handle the rest. All registrars will allow you to set the primary and secondary nameservers (this is main purpose of registrars) but each registrar has a different way of doing this.

If your site was previously hosted elsewhere, don't make this change until you have uploaded all your files to the riseup.net webserver and are happy with how your site looks at username.revolt.org.

your registrar

The registrar where you purchased the domain will most likely host the DNS also. If you choose this option, configure your domain like so:

• Alias: raven.revolt.org
  
• IP Address: 204.13.164.45
  
• Mail server: mail.revolt.org
  
• Other Aliases: you should make www.yourdomain.org point to yourdomain.org.

It is better to set up your domain as an alias of raven.revolt.org. Use the IP address if you are not able to set up an alias.

Your registrar might give you an advanced interface, where you can specify zone information directly. Generally this is not necessary to mess with, but if you do here is an example of the 'raw' zone data:

If your site was previously hosted elsewhere, don't make this change until you have uploaded all your files to the riseup.net webserver and are happy with how your site looks at username.revolt.org.

everydns.net

If you want more options, use the free service www.everydns.net. EveryDNS has many options and gives you fine grain control over your domain, although it is a bit complicated.

Domain Ecology

Instead of acquiring your own custom domain, consider sharing an already existing domain.

This might be the best option for groups that are part of a larger organization, or a network of groups doing parallel political work. For example, Indymedia uses the same domain for its 120+ websites: e.g., argentina.indymedia.org, paris.indymedia.org, chicago.indymedia.org, etc. Each Indymedia site is different, different design, different hosting servers -- but they have a common URL which connects their efforts and exposes the user to the entire network.

Domain Ecology: I guess it's a way of thinking of domain names as public space, where people can share the resources. An analogy would be different groups all sharing one big park, instead of each buying/creating their own park.

Another analogy is like having a big activist building where all the meetings are, people looking for one thing will find others and cross-pollinate. It can be difficult for people to keep track of different street addresses when meetings are in different locations, thus it can be hard for people to keep track of the growing number of website addresses.

When hosting at riseup.net, you automatically get a subdomain username.revolt.org, where username is your hosting username. This happens right away, costs nothing, and is kind of cool. Later, you can add your own domain if you want to purchase one from a registrar, or you could practice a little domain ecology with another group and share their's.