CHAPTER 1. Getting Started

1.1. General Overview
1.1.1. Account Information Email
1.1.2. Domain Name Registration and Transfers
1.1.3. E-Mail
1.1.4. Contacting Support
1.1.5. Adding Additional Items to Your Domain
1.1.6. Contacting Billing
1.1.7. Changing Your Credit Card Information Securely
1.1.8. General Facts - Server OS, Configuration
1.1.9. Changing Username and Password
1.1.10. Acceptable Usage Policy
1.2. Uploading Your Web Site
1.2.1. Using FTP
1.2.2. Using FrontPage98
1.3. Setting Up Your Email
1.3.1. Microsoft Outlook Express, Outlook98
1.3.2. Netscape Communicator
1.3.3. Eudora
1.3.4. Other Email Programs


 
1.1 General Overview

1.1.1  Account Information Email

You probably received an email that looks similar to the one below from
our billing team. This email contains your account information that you
need to start using HostAvenue.com service.  Below you will find an
explanation of each component.

It is important for you to save this email message for future reference.
Also since it contains your username, password and customer ID, you
should store it somewhere safe. (Contrary to popular beliefs, a Post-It
note attached to the side of your monitor is NOT a safe place.) Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for choosing HostAvenueT TM. Below you will find your account information. Please retain for your records.

1. ACCOUNT INFORMATION
DOMAIN NAME..........:gogo.com
USER NAME............:gogo
PASSWORD.............:Kicfn993
IP ADDRESS...........:209.224.134.144
DEFAULT EMAIL........:gogo@gogo.com

2. BILLING INFORMATION
CUSTOMER ID..........:dancer8923
SERVICE ORDERED......:Gold Plan
BILLING ANNIVERSARY..:1/1/1997
BILLING CYCLE........:Monthly
RECURRING CHARGE.....:$29.95
SETUP CHARGE.........:$24.95
TOTAL SALE...........:$54.90

1. Account Information

Domain name:
This is the domain name you picked.  If it's not the domain name you
picked, then please contact our support team right away.

Username:
It's also referred to as a user ID.  You would use this to log onto your
ftp, FrontPage98, and email servers. Remember: the username is case
sensitive. So always type in lower case. We never assign upper case
usernames.

Password:
The only thing to keep in mind about your password is that it is case
sensitive. If you type in "kicfn993" instead of "Kicfn993", your access
will be denied.

IP Address:
For those who are digit-adverse, not to worry...IP address is your
friend. This is what you would use to connect to your account on
HostAvenue.com network while your domain is either being registered or
transferred to our network.  You would use your IP address in place of
your domain name.

Using the example above, instead of typing http://www.gogo.com, our Gogo Dancer would type http://209.224.134.144 . He would end up at gogo.com's website.  So when you are asked to type in your host server by your FTP program, you would type in your IP address.  Remember that this is just temporary until your domain name becomes active on the net.  Once it becomes active on the net, you should start using your domain name for everything.

Default Email:
Each HostAvenue.com web hosting account comes with a default email account. The key feature of this default email account is that it's also a
catch-all email account. If you haven't specified any email aliases or
additional email accounts, any and all email to your domain will end in
this email account.

Using the example above, if someone writes to john@gogo.com, it will end up in gogo@gogo.com.  If someone writes to jane@gogo.com, it will end up in gogo@gogo.com. If someone writes to sales@gogo.com, it will end up in gogo@gogo.com ..... well, you get the picture.

So don't despair if you were assigned a long default email account like
reallylongdomainname@reallylongdomainname.com   You don't have to give this email to other people.  You can tell others to write to
me@reallylongdomainname.com and it will simply end up in your default
email account.

BTW (by the way) we can't change default email accounts.

2. Billing Information

Customer ID:
It's important for you to remember your customer ID.  Whenever you
request something to be done (such as adding POP3 email accounts, etc.) by HostAvenue.com, we will require you to input your customer ID.

Service Ordered:
This is the plan you picked for your domain name. If it isn't the plan
you picked, then please contact our billing team.

Billing Anniversary and Billing Cycle:
The payment is due at the start of your billing cycle on the anniversary
date. If you are paying by credit card, your credit card will be
automatically charged on this date.  If you are paying by check or money
order, it is your responsibility to submit your payment to HostAvenue.com on or before this date.

Recurring Charge, Setup Charge and Total Sale:
Recurring charge is what your account is charged every billing cycle.
Setup charge is a one time fee that you are charged when you open your account. Total Sale is the sum of the setup charge and the first
recurring charge.

 


1.1.2  Domain Name Registration and Transfers

Q. I just received my account information email saying that my account has been setup.  Is my domain name active?

A. Not just yet. When you place the order with us, we submit the domain
name registration with the InterNIC on your behalf.  Once your domain
name is registered with the InterNIC, which usually takes 24 hours from
the time we submit the request, there is a propagation delay period.

During the propagation period, all the name servers of the world are
being informed of your domain name's existence on HostAvenue.com's
network.  The name server at your ISP must be updated with this new
information for you to start using your domain name rather than your IP
address.   The propagation period could take anywhere from 48 hours to
two weeks. It depends on how fast your ISP's nameservers are updated as well as certain conditions on the Internet. This is something we (in
fact no human) have any control over. You should check everyday to see
if you can bring up your web site by typing your domain name in your
browser.

Q. I'm transferring my domain to HostAvenue.com from another hosting
company? How long is this going to take?

A. As there seems to be many problems at InterNIC, we decided to devote a whole new page to this. For more information on this topic, please click here.

Q. So how do I upload my files? Do I have to wait until my domain name
is active?

A. No. You can start uploading your files right now using your IP
address. Where you would use your domain name, you would instead put your IP address. In a browser this would be something like
http://209.xxx.xxx.xxx; if your ftp program asks for hostserver, put
209.xxx.xxx.xxx; if FrontPage98 asks for where to publish the website,
put 209.xxx.xxx.xxx.

BTW, if you are transferring your domain to us, you are responsible for
uploading your files associated with your Web site. HostAvenue.com does not transfer your web site.  We only help you transfer your domain name.

Q. I have non InterNIC domains (.ca, .cc, .co.uk, etc).  I need your DNS
information.

A. Though we host non-US domains, we do not register or transfer these
domains. To do this, you would need to contact the appropriate NIC
authority for the respective TLDs (Top Level Domains).   Here is our DNS
information you can use:
HostAvenue.com DNS (Domain Name Servers) Information
_______________________________________________________
Primary Server Hostname.............:    NS.SITEPROTECT.COM   
Primary Server Netaddress...........:   209.100.98.10
Secondary Server Hostname.........:   NS2.SITEPROTECT.COM
Secondary Server Netaddress.......:   209.224.144.2

 


1.1.3  E-mail 

Q. How do I setup my email client software such as Eudora or Outlook so
I can read my email that comes to my HostAvenueT TM domain?

A. If you have setup your email software before, then all you need to
change is the POP3/SMTP setting, username and password. Your POP3 (or incoming mail server) is simply [yourdomain].com.  If you are not sure
of all the steps involved, you will find step-by-step instructions in our online manual.

 

1.1.4  Contacting Technical Support

Please email at: 

http://www.HostAvenue.com/support/

Note to FrontPage Users: Please check out our online manual before
contacting HostAvenueT TM Support.  If you are having problems with FrontPage, you should first contact Microsoft Technical Support. 



1.1.5  Adding additional items to your domain

Please use the form found at:

http://www.HostAvenue.com/support

Q. Do I need to use this form even if I'm requesting something to be
setup that comes standard with my plan such as POP3 accounts?

A. Yes you do. This is so that your request is not misplaced.

REQUESTING ADDITIONAL EMAIL ACCOUNTS
- Each Web Hosting plan that you order comes with a certain number of
POP3 email accounts. To request these to be setup, please use the form
at http://www.HostAvenue.com/support Otherwise the request will not be processed. Thank you.



1.1.6  Contacting our Billing Department

Please send an email to billing@HostAvenue.com Please include your customer ID as well as your domain name.



1.1.7  Changing your credit card information securely

Please use the secure form found at:
https://HostAvenue.com/HostAvenueT /resources/change.htm

HostAvenue.com is pleased to provide Internet presence solutions for you and your business. Establishing an Internet presence use to be quite expensive.  Only the largest corporations could afford it. No longer.
With HostAvenue.com services, you can web-enable your business without the high costs.



1.1.8 General Facts

Server OS: Linux 2.0.36
Apache: 1.3.4
Hardware Configuration: Dual Pentium II with Ultrawide SCSI HDD
Internal Network: Fast Ethernet Switch (100Mbps) Based
Internet Connectivity: Multiple t3 and OC3 to diverse backbones
Location of HostAvenue.com Data Center: Chicago, IL

 

BEFORE YOU UPLOAD....
- All passwords, usernames, and file names are case sensitive.
- Any and all files you want to be accessed via a browser should be
placed in your www directory.
- Your home page (the first page that is loaded when visitors come to
your website) must have one of following names:

default.htm
default.html
index.htm
index.html
index.cgi

1.1.9 Changing Usernames and Passwords

- Username changes must be done by us.  Your default username is not
changeable. Any other username change can be requested by writing to
support@HostAvenue.com

- Password for your default username (or Telnet account) can be changed
by following instructions below:
•Telnet into your account
•Type "passwd", hit Return
•Follow on-screen instructions


- Password change for Email Only and FTP accounts must be done by us. 
You can request the password change by writing to support@HostAvenue.com

1.1.10.  Acceptable Usage Policy

Policy
HostAvenueT TM provides web hosting services to thousands of clients and thus has a responsibility to protect each client and to provide the best
service possible. The following guidelines were designed to insure these
services.
Content
All services provided by HostAvenueT TM may be used for lawful purposes only. Transmission, storage, or presentation of any information, data or
material in violation of any United States Federal, State or City law is
prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material,
material we judge to be threatening or obscene, or material protected by trade secrets and other statues. The subscriber agrees to indemnify and hold harmless HostAvenueT TM from any claims resulting from the use of the service that damages the subscriber or any other party.

NOTE: Pornography and sex-related merchandising are not allowed on
following Web hosting plans: Value Plan, Gold Plan, Platinum Plan,
Reseller Plan and CommercePak. This includes sites that may infer sexual
content, or links to adult content elsewhere. This is also true for
sites that promote any illegal activity or content that may be damaging
to our servers or any other server on the Internet. Links to such
materials are also not allowed.  If you wish to host such contents and
materials, please contact us for special plans.

Following materials are strictly prohibited from our network.
pirated software
Hackers programs or archives
Warez sites
MP3
IRC
HostAvenueT TM will be the sole arbiter as to what constitutes a violation of this provision. If you are found to be in violation our policy,
HostAvenue.com reservers the right to terminate your account immediately.

Server Resource
Any website or database that uses a high amount of server resources
(such as, but not limited to CPU) will be given an option of either
paying extra (which depends on the resource needed) or reducing the
resource needed to an acceptable level. HostAvenueT TM shall be the sole
arbiter of what is considered to be a high server usage level.

CGi Scripts
Cgi script sharing with domains not hosted by HostAvenue.com is not
allowed.

Chat Rooms
HostAvenueT TM does not allow clients to install their own chat rooms. Chat rooms tend to be large system hogs and we cannot permit it as an account option. HostAvenueT TM does provide a choice of Java chatrooms for a small extra charge that should meet most users' needs and run without hindering the performance of the machine of our servers.

Background Running Programs
HostAvenueT TM may allow programs to run continually in the background , these programs will be considered on an individual basis and extra charge will be incurred based on system resources used and operational maintenance needed. If you wish to run background programs please contact us at support@HostAvenue.com before doing so.

IRC
HostAvenueT TM does not allow IRC or IRC bots to be operated on our servers.

Commercial Advertising - Email
Spamming, or the sending of mass unsolicited email, from a HostAvenueT TM server or using an email address that is maintained on a HostAvenueT TM machine is STRICTLY prohibited. HostAvenueT TM will be the sole arbiter as to what constitutes a violation of this provision.

Server Abuse
Any attempts to undermine or cause harm to a HostAvenueT TM server or HostAvenueT TM customer is strictly prohibited. Any sub-networks of HostAvenueT TM and dedicated servers must adhere to the above policies. The failure to meet or follow any of the above guidelines are grounds for account deactivation. We reserve the right to remove any account with 15 days prior notice.

1.2. Uploading Your Web Site

BEFORE YOU UPLOAD....
- All passwords, usernames, and file names are case sensitive.
- Any and all files you want to be accessed via a browser should be
placed in your www directory.
- Your home page (the first page that is loaded when visitors come to
your website) must have one of following names:

default.htm
default.html
index.htm
index.html
index.cgi


1.2.1 Using FTP

You will need to refer to the account information email that you
received from us throughout this manual. It's the email with following
subject heading: [yourdomain].com-accinfo-[customerID].  In the body of
the email, you will find following information:

1. ACCOUNT INFORMATION
DOMAIN NAME...............:[yourdomain].com*
USER NAME.................:[username]
PASSWORD..................:[password]
IP ADDRESS................:209.xxx.xxx.xxx
DEFAULT EMAIL.............:[username]@[yourdomain]

*Depending on your domain, you may have [yourdomain].net, .org, or any of the non-US top level domains or extensions.
Host Name/Address:  Your IP address
Host Type: Automatic Detect
User ID: [username]
Password: [password]
Your website needs to be uploaded to the following directory:
/www/[yourdomain]

If you can't bring up your site after you have uploaded your pages,
please make sure you have uploaded to your web directory.

Now Let's begin (assuming that you are already connected to the
Internet.)

1) Start your FTP program. We will use WS_FTP for the purposes of this
manual.
2) In "Profile Name", type in whatever you want.
3) In "Host Name", type in [yourdomain].com or [209.xxx.xxx.xxx]
 
IMPORTANT:  [yourdomain].com vs [209.xxx.xxx.xxx]
If it has only been three or four days since you received the account
information email, then you should use [209.xxx.xxx.xxx]. If it has been
more than that, you should use [yourdomain].com.  You can find out the
reason behind this here After your domain name is active on the
Internet, you should always use [yourdomain].com.
 
4) In "User ID", type in [username].
5) In "Password", type in [passwd]
6) Under "Initial Directories" you will find two boxes. In "Remote
Host", type in "/www/[username].
7) In "Local PC", type in the path where your web site is stored on your
local PC.
8) Select "OK"
9) You will now be connected to your account on our server. This will
connect you to the webserver, where you will connect directly to the
root ("home") directory of your account. WS_FTP will display a split
screen where files on the left-hand side are within your own computer.
You will see several folders on the right-hand side such as www, and
infobots which are landmarks suggesting a successful connection to your
website, as illustrated in Figure 1A.

Figure 1A

10) Double click on "www".  This will take you to your web directory.
This is where all your web site files will be downloaded, and/or you
will create subdirectories. The only system directory that you may need
to use is cgi-bin; this directory is reserved for custom scripts.
11) To upload a file or files, simply highlight the file(s) on the left
and click the right arrow button (->) in the center of the window.
 
IMPORTANT: Be sure to upload HTML documents and cgi scripts in ASCII
mode.  Images should be uploaded in BINARY mode. This is important.
Much pain and suffering will be avoided if you remember to do this. You
can specify these settings by selecting one of three radio buttons on
the panel.

12) To transfer a file to a subdirectory, double-click the appropriate
subdirectory to open before transferring the desired file(s). To create
a new directory, click on the MkDir button when you are inside the www
directory or subdirectory.
13) As soon as a file is uploaded to the web server, it is available for
all to see. If, after uploading a file, you are still unable to see the
updated file via Netscape, try hitting the "Refresh" or "Reload" button.
If that fails, you need to clear both disk and browser cache. This
function can be found by selecting Options>Network Preferences in
Netscape. Remember that you must first be connected to the Internet
through your local Internet service provider in order to connect to the
web server.

 

1.2.2 Using FrontPage

You will need to refer to the account information email that you
received from us throughout this manual. It's the email with following
subject heading: [yourdomain].com-accinfo-[customerID].  In the body of
the email, you will find following information:

1. ACCOUNT INFORMATION
DOMAIN NAME...............:[yourdomain].com*
USER NAME.................:[username]
PASSWORD..................:[passwd]
IP ADDRESS................:209.xxx.xxx.xxx
DEFAULT EMAIL.............:[username]@[yourdomain]

*Depending on your domain, you may have [yourdomain].net, .org, or any of the non-US top level domains or extensions.

Now Let's begin (assuming that you are already connected to the
Internet.) After you have built your html documents and are ready to upload them to our server:

1) Open the web you've created on your PC using FP Explorer.
2) Choose File > Publish
3) If your "Destination Web Server" doesn't appear in the Publish window (it won't the first time you publish to our server) Click "More Webs" and type the location of the web to publish to: [yourdomain].com or [209.xxx.xxx.xxx]. Hit return.
 
IMPORTANT: [yourdomain].com vs [209.xxx.xxx.xxx]
If it has only been three or four days since you received the account
information email, then you should use [209.xxx.xxx.xxx]. If it has been
more than that, you should use [yourdomain].com.  You can find out the
reason behind this here After your domain name is active on the
Internet, you should always use [yourdomain].com.
 
4) You will be asked for your USERNAME and PASSWORD. Type in [username] and [passwd]
5) You can watch the progress of the upload by looking at the bottom
left corner of FP Explorer.

1.3. Setting Up Your Email

When you first setup your account with us, you are assigned a default
email account. With certain accounts, you get more than one email
account. To request the setup of additional email accounts, you should
use the form here.

You will need to refer to the account information email that you
received from us throughout this manual. It's the email with following
subject heading: [yourdomain].com-accinfo-[customerID].  In the body of
the email, you will find following information:

1. ACCOUNT INFORMATION
DOMAIN NAME...............:[yourdomain].com*
USER NAME.................:[username]
PASSWORD..................:[passwd]
IP ADDRESS................:209.xxx.xxx.xxx
DEFAULT EMAIL.............:[username]@[yourdomain]

*Depending on your domain, you may have [yourdomain].net, .org, or any of the non-US top level domains or extensions.


NOTE: What is "DEFAULT EMAIL"?
As you read the instructions below, you will find references to
"whatever@[yourdomain].com. Often times, your default email address is
long and not very easy to remember. At the same time we can't give
everyone simple default email address since each [username] needs to be unique on each server. But there is a work around. Your default email is a "catch-all" email account. This means that when someone writes to
"whatever@[yourdomain].com", it will end up in your default email box as long as "whatever" is undefined in your .redirect file. So in place of
whatever@[yourdomain].com, you can put "sales@[yourdomain].com".

How do I setup additional email accounts?
Only we can setup email accounts. You can request your email account to be setup by filling out the form at http://resources.HostAvenue.com/support/add.htm Some of your accounts come with certain number of free email accounts. You would still need to fill this form out.  You will only be charged if you go over the allotted number of email accounts.

What is the difference between POP3 email account vs. email alias?
Each POP3 email account comes with its own password. Let's say you want to give each of your five employees his/her own email account. Then you would request additional email accounts to be setup.
An email alias just forwards email to a real POP3 email account. For
example, the name of the POP3 email account is
john-yourdomain@yourdomain.com. Then you can create john@yourdomain.com
as an email alias for john-domain@yourdomain.com. This means that
whenever someone sends an email to john@yourdomain.com, the email will be forwarded to john-domain@yourdomain.com  Email alias can by setup by yourself.  For instructions, please go to Section 2.2 



1.3.1. Microsoft Outlook Express, Outlook98

1) Goto Tools | Accounts
2) Click on Add | Mail
3) In Display Name, type whatever you want. Click "Next"
4) E-mail address: whatever@[yourdomain].com Click "Next"
5) My incoming mail server is a "POP3".
5) Incoming Mail(POP3 or IMAP)server: [yourdomain].com
6) Outgoing Mail(SMTP) server: [yourdomain].com or what your ISP
provided you.
7) Click Next
8) Click on "Log on using:"
9) POP account name: [username], Password: [passwd] Click "Next".
10)Internet Mail Account Name: whatever you want
11) Choose your connection type depending on your connection method. If using AOL, choose "Connect through ...LAN..." option.
12) Click "Finish"
 


1.3.2. Netscape Communicator

1) Goto Edit | Preferences | Identity
2) In "Email Address", enter [username]@[yourdomain].com
3) In "Reply to...", enter whatever@[yourdomain].com
4) Goto Mail&Group
5) In "Mail server user name", enter [username]
6) Outgoing Mail(SMTP) server: [yourdomain].com
7) Incoming Mail(POP3 or IMAP)server: [yourdomain].com
8) Click "OK"



1.3.3. Eudora

1) Install and start up the Eudora program
2) Select "Settings" from the "Special" menu
3) Select the "Getting Started" tab, then under Real Name, enter your
Real Name
4) Under "POP Account" put [username]@[yourdomain].com
5) In "Return Address", enter whatever@[yourdomain].com
6) If you use the Macintosh version, the radio button for TCP/IP
connection should be highlighted
7) Click the "Personal Information" tab (also only for the Macintosh
version)
8) Under POP account put [username]@[yourdomain].com again
9) Fill out the "Real Name" and "Return Address" as you did before
10) Under "Dialup User Name" enter yourdomain (do not enter .com or .net here)
11) Click the "Hosts" tab then enter [username]@[yourdomain].com again under POP Account, and put yourdomain.com under SMTP Server.
12) Go to the "Checking Mail" tab and make sure "Save Password" is
checked.

 


1.3.4. Other Mail Programs



Microsoft internet mail

•Full name = Your Name •Email = [username]@[yourdomain].com •Internet
Mail server = [yourdomain].com •Account = [username] •Pass = [passwd] •
SMTP = [yourdomain].com •From = whatever@[yourdomain].com

 
Netscape

•Your Name = Your Name •Email Address = [username]@[yourdomain].com •
Reply to = [username]@[yourdomain].com •Mail Server user name =
[username] •outgoing SMTP = [yourdomain].com •Incoming =
[yourdomain].com

If you would like additional POP email accounts, ask us and we'll set it
up for you. Remember there may be an additional one-time charge for each POP account depending on your account. To check numerous POP accounts, read the manual or help files that come with Eudora or your email client software for configuration.

If you are familiar with the shell (Unix) programs, "pine" and "mail",
you can use either of these to check and send email as well.