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Understanding Internet Infrastructure Domains, Hosting, and Email

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Domain Names and DNS

Domain names are human-readable addresses for websites. They work as follows:

  1. User enters a domain name in their browser.
  2. Browser sends a request to DNS servers.
  3. DNS servers look up the nameservers for the domain.
  4. Request is forwarded to those nameservers (managed by the hosting company).
  5. Nameservers direct the request to the web server hosting the website.

Web Hosting

Web hosting provides storage space for website files. The process involves:

  1. Purchasing a hosting plan from a provider.
  2. Provider allocating server space for website files.
  3. Server sending necessary files to user’s browser upon request.

Connecting Domain and Hosting

To make a website accessible:

  1. Register a domain name with a registrar.
  2. Purchase a web hosting plan.
  3. Upload website files to the hosting server.
  4. Configure domain’s DNS settings to point to hosting provider’s nameservers.

Web Hosting vs. Deployment Services

While related, these are not the same:

  • Web hosting: Provides storage and access for websites on internet-connected servers.
  • Deployment: Process of moving code from local environment to public host/server.

Example Comparison: Hostinger vs. Heroku

  1. Hostinger:
    • Traditional web hosting company
    • Offers shared hosting, WordPress hosting, cloud hosting
    • Beginner-friendly
    • Generally cheaper for basic web hosting
  2. Heroku:
    • Container-based cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS)
    • Supports multiple programming languages
    • Focused on developers
    • Provides tools for deploying, managing, and scaling applications
    • Pricing based on application resources and services

Email Servers and Providers

Email servers and providers are crucial for email infrastructure:

  1. Mail Transfer Agent (MTA): Relays emails from sender to recipient using SMTP.
  2. Message Delivery Agent (MDA): Receives emails from MTAs and stores them for delivery.
  3. SMTP Servers: Handle sending of emails.
  4. Inbound Servers:
    • IMAP: Stores messages, allows access from multiple devices.
    • POP3: Downloads messages to a single device, often deleting them from the server.
  5. DNS Resolution: Uses MX records to locate correct recipient server.
  6. Security and Authentication: Implements encryption, spam filtering, and authentication protocols. Email providers (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Mailgun, SendGrid) offer managed email infrastructure, handling backend processes so businesses can focus on email content and strategy.

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