What is needed to host and maintain a website?

There are 4 basic requirements for establishing and maintaining a website

1. Domain Name: http://www.youdomain.com.au
2. The domain must have a Domain Name Server (DNS) pointer. This tells the internet where to look in order to find where your website is hosted.
3. An Internet Protocol (IP) Address. That which is pointed to by the DNS pointer. Your site’s home on the World Wide Web.
4. A server or hosting company that holds the files to the website.

The domain name must be purchased. This is done either through an authorized domain registrar or through a third party re-seller of domain names. In Australia,DNS Pointers and IP address are set up when the domain is purchased. The DNS pointer can then be changed if the hosting company is different from where the domain was purchased.