Virtual Domain Hosting
The benefits of having your own Internet identity (domain) while outsourcing the technical and administrative responsibility for hosting that domain can be achieved through virtual domain hosting. Many organizations, including Fortune 500 and large government agencies, currently utilize virtual domain hosting with high levels of success.
Virtual domain hosting occurs when an organization with its own domain, such as an ISP, “hosts” your business’ domain. For example, if UUNET Technologies hosts Acme Sprockets’ domain, all e-mail addressed to “acme.com” would actually go to “uunet.net,” and then be forwarded to Acme’s mail box. Unlike with sub-leasing, users are completely unaware of the service provided by the domain hosting organization.
The same is true with a hosted Web site. Users type the URL “www.acme.com” in their Web browsers, unaware that their requests are first routed through UUNET’s domain. Computers on the Internet that interpret domain names (domain name servers) would recognize that any e-mail messages to or requests for a Web page from “acme.com” are to be sent to “uunet.net.” UUNET would sort out each request upon receipt.
