Overview of DreamHost Domain Manager
DreamHost Domain Manager is a comprehensive service offered by DreamHost, a web hosting company founded in 1997, which enables users to register, manage, and maintain their domain names seamlessly. Here’s a detailed look at what the product does and its key features:
Domain Registration and Management
As an ICANN-accredited registrar, DreamHost allows users to register new domains, transfer existing ones, and manage them all within their control panel. This includes support for common TLDs like .com and .net, as well as newer domain extensions.
Key Features
- Free WHOIS Privacy Protection: DreamHost includes free private domain registration and WHOIS privacy with each domain purchase, protecting users’ personal contact details from public view.
- DNS Management: Users can update nameservers and DNS records, ensuring easy configuration and enhanced security for their domains. This feature also includes the ability to reference specific computers and devices using IP addresses.
- Domain Forwarding/Redirects: Users can set up domain forwarding or redirects to other websites or URLs, a feature useful for driving traffic to specific sites.
- Subdomains: The ability to create free subdomains helps users customize their site and present a more professional appearance.
- Custom Name Servers: DreamHost provides free custom name servers, further enhancing the professional look and feel of the domain/site.
- Domain Lock: Users can lock their domains to protect against unauthorized transfer requests and scams.
Domain Management Dashboard
The DreamHost control panel offers a centralized dashboard for managing all domain-related tasks. This includes:
- Updating nameservers and DNS records
- Setting up domain forwarding/redirects
- Configuring email accounts and routing
- Renewing domains manually or enabling auto-renew
- Managing contacts and transfer lock status
- Adding/updating private registration details.
Reliability and Security
- ICANN Accreditation: DreamHost meets stringent standards for uptime, performance, and customer fund handling, ensuring reliability and compliance with industry regulations.
- Global DNS Network: Domains registered with DreamHost benefit from a globally distributed DNS network with redundancy measures like load balancing and failover, enhancing DNS resolution reliability.
- Security Measures: DreamHost uses SSL/TLS encryption for customer logins, two-factor authentication for domain management accounts, and stores payment information on PCI-compliant servers. Additionally, domains are stored across access-controlled DNS servers to prevent tampering.
Additional Settings and Integrations
- Integration with Hosting Services: Users can manage their domains alongside their web hosting accounts, making it convenient to keep all services in one place. If you purchase a Shared Hosting plan, you can even get a free domain registration for the first year.
- New Features and Updates: The control panel has been updated to include new features such as the ability to enable or disable SSH access, assign domains to different SFTP/SSH users, and manage web options like Web Application Firewall and PHP OpCache.
In summary, the DreamHost Domain Manager offers a robust set of features and tools that make domain registration, management, and security straightforward and efficient, all within a user-friendly control panel. This makes it an attractive option for those looking to manage their domains conveniently, especially when combined with DreamHost’s web hosting services.