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WiscNet's DNS Service

When it comes to DNS, WiscNet wears two hats:

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  • We are the delegated Top-Level Domain Administrator and Registrar to some .US subdomains and
  • we also host DNS records in our Authoritative DNS servers

 

 

Domain Registration

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vs Domain Hosting

Most of the commercial DNS Registrars sell domain registration and DNS hosting as one service. WiscNet is different. We treat Domain Registration and Domain Hosting as two separate services. One is free, the other is not.

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WiscNet Domain Registration

 

WiscNet is the Top Level Domain (TLD) name server and registrar for a few .US subdomains, which are called Locality domains. This means the world comes to WiscNet to register these domains. WiscNet does not charge for domain registration.

WiscNet is the registrar for following .US subdomainsLocality domains:

  • k12.wi.us
  • tec.wi.us
  • lib.wi.us


When an entity wants any of the domains above, they must contact WiscNet and fill out a registration form support request.  An entity does not need to be a WiscNet member to register any of these domains. Neither does WiscNet charge registration fees for any of these domains.

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WiscNet does not have the authority to register .com, .edu, .org, or .info, or any other domain besides de the domains listed above. 


WiscNet DNS Hosting Service

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WiscNet offers a DNS zone hosting service for WiscNet members only. The cost for hosting your DNS records is part of the Membership fee.


DNS Zone Transfers

Info

These steps do not include other network changes that may need to happen as part of the reason for the zone transfer.


A zone transfer is the process of moving the contents of the DNS zone file from an Authoritative DNS Server to another. The descriptions below give you an idea of the steps involved in zone transfers in different scenarios.Please note that these steps do not include other network changes that may need to happen as part of the reason for the zone transfer. 

DNS Zone Transfer When Joining WiscNet


The steps to transfer the DNS zone to our DNS server vary according to your existing domain.

When Joining WiscNet

K12

k12.wi.us

Tec

/ tec.wi.us

Lib

/ lib.wi.us

All other domains

Registration

Zone Hosting

Registration

Zone Hosting

WiscNet is the official registrar for these domains. Our techs will take care of updating the registration records.We will work with you to ensure your current DNS records are properly configured in our DNS Authoritative Servers.

Zone Hosting

Contact the existing registrar of your domain and find out the procedure to point your domain to our DNS Authoritative Servers

We will work with you to ensure your current DNS records are properly configured in our DNS Authoritative Servers.

 

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When Leaving WiscNet

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The steps to transfer the DNS zone to another DNS server vary according to your existing domain.

K12.wi.us

Tec.wi.us

Lib.wi.us

All other domains

Registration

Zone Hosting

Registration

Zone Hosting

WiscNet will ask you to fill out the WiscNet Domain Registration Form. The form will ask you for the new DNS Authoritative host name and IP address.You will work with your Domain Registrar to provide them with the new DNS Authoritative Server hostname and IP address.
Zone HostingYou will provide you with a copy of your DNS zone so that you can configure your new DNS host to resolve your DNS records accordingly
.You will work with your Domain Registrar to provide them with the new DNS Authoritative Server hostname and IP address
.WiscNet will remove your DNS zone upon the date that you leave the Membership. Please make sure that your new DNS Hosting server has your updated DNS records to avoid service interruption.


Go Deeper

What is DNS

It stands for Domain Name System. DNS is like a phone directory to the Internet.

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If DNS is not working, the Internet doesn’t work.


What is a DNS Zone?

A DNS zone where information is stored about a domain that is managed by by an Authoritative DNS Server. It contains all the DNS records for a particular domain. Any name that translates to an IP for a particular domain is hosted in a DNS Zone for that domain.

How does DNS work?

 Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when you type www.google.com in your browser?

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How does the TLD servers know who the Authoritative Name Servers to Use?

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They do with the help of the Domain Registrars. WiscNet is a Domain Registrar for the k12.wi.us domain. The difference between WiscNet and other registrars is that WiscNet does not charge for registration. Any entity that wants to register a k12.wi.us domain can fill out a DNS registration form in our website free of charge.

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Another difference between WiscNet and other registrars is that WiscNet only hosts DNS zones for WiscNet members.

 

]What is a DNS Zone?

A DNS zone is a text file hosted by an Authoritative Domain Server. It contains all the DND records for a particular domain. Any name that translates to an IP for a particular domain is hosted in a DNS Zone for that domain.