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Web Hosting for Non-Profits

Before You Move Your Virtual Domain

July 2, 2008 - some organizations that have moved their virtual domains to commercial Web hosting companies have run into problems controlling their WHOIS information. Because they failed to change their contact information at the time of the move, their registrar requires a Prairienet contact person to confirm changes. In some cases, the registrar even claims that this contact 'owns' the domain name. This is not the case.

Due to the extraordinary amount of time it has taken in the past to resolve these sorts of domain control problems, particularly with Network Solutions (NSI), we regret that we will be unable to assist in any way in these situations. The situation must be resolved directly with the registrar.

Please plan ahead before you move and make sure that you have removed all UIUC and Prairienet staff from your WHOIS contact information.

Prairienet has been hosting Web sites for organizations in East Central Illinois since 1994. Prairienet's Web server sees over 2 million hits per month and is connected to the Internet via the University of Illinois' high-speed network.

We host Web sites for over 200 organizations, everything from Boy Scouts Troops, PTAs, schools, libraries, hobby clubs, to religious organizations, libraries, municipalities and state-wide non-profits. Clubs and organizations with modest needs can take advantage of our economical Basic Web Hosting account which offers organization email and a Web site for only $35/year. Fee waivers are available to qualifying non-profits.

If you are new to Web hosting, this Web Hosting Tutorial does an excellent job of explaining the basics.

Before You Apply for a Prairienet Account

A number of free Web-based services have come online in the last year or two. The most significant of these has been Google Apps.

If you would like:

• your own domain name (or need a .com domain)
• Web-based tools for managing your Web site content
• ready-to-use Web site templates
• a shared calendar
• multiple email accounts in the format: myname@mydomain.com with 6GB of mail space each
• POP and IMAP email access plus excellent spam control
• ability to create, share and collaborate on documents
  AND
• your group has few, if any, applicable technical skills

Overview of Web Hosting Plans

If you would like to use your own domain name, you may want to look into domain forwarding services offered by domain name registrars.

	Basic Web Hosting	Standard Web Hosting	Advanced Web Hosting
Annual Fee	$35/year	$120/year	$180/year see requirements
Eligibility	yes	yes	no
Eligible for fee waiver?	yes	yes	no
Own domain name?	no	no	yes
Quotas	10MB Web 20MB Mail 10MB Home	50MB Web 30MB Mail 10MB Home	100MB Web 60MB Mail 10MB Home
POP or IMAP mailbox	one	one	one
Spam and virus filter	yes	yes	yes
Mail aliases	n/a	n/a	6
Virtual domain name hosting	no	no	yes
Internet Access (PPP dialup)	no	10 hrs/day	10 hrs/day
E-mail tech support	yes	yes	yes

As of December 1, 2006, new Advanced Web Hosting accounts (which include domain name hosting) are limited to organizations in East Central Illinois that are 1) registered as a 501(c)(3) or 2) in the public sector. We have imposed these additional eligibility requirements due to the increased administrative overhead of hosting virtual domains. Organizations wishing to make use of their own domain names still have the economical option of setting up domain forwarding.