We will be updating this list of FAQ's frequently. We currently have answers to commonly asked questions shown below in the following categories:

Site Set-Up
How do I add an extra domain?
After you have registered the domain name with a registrar and pointed the DNS information to our servers, you will need to send an email to support@hostirian.com with the following information:
Secondary Domain Name:
Primary Domain Name:

How long does it take to set up a new account?
It usually takes 12-24 hours after the submission of the order. Once the account has been activated, we will send you an email with all the information you will need to know to begin building your site. You will be given the IP address, which you can use to access your site until your domain registration has been completed by the domain registrar.

How do I add a new site under my current account?
Follow the online order form as you normally would. After the "Hostirian Terms and Conditions" you will reach a page that gives you the option of clicking whether you are a new customer or an existing one. Click "Next" by the existing customer option. Enter your current Hostirian Customer ID in the first field and current account password in the second field. Click "Next." On this next page you can choose whether to you one of your existing payment methods or creating a new one. After you have chosen the correct billing method, click "Next" and complete the rest of the form as you normally would. All discounts will be automatically applied.

How do I log into my site using FrontPage?
1. In FrontPage, click the "File" menu, choose "Open Web…"
2. In the "Folder Name" field, type in your HTTP domain (ex: "http://www.domain.com")
3. Click "Open"
4. Type in your Username and Password
5. Click "OK"

How do I get files to my web site once it has been activated?
There are two ways, FTP and Microsoft FrontPage.
1 - FTP . You can FTP your files to your site. You will need FTP software to do this. We recommend WSFTP. Other tools that use FTP are Macromedia Drumbeat, Dreamweaver, Ultradev, Adobe GoLive, PageMill, Netfusion, and other web design applications.
2 - Microsoft FrontPage. Using this software, you can create and edit your pages right on the server itself, eliminating the need to upload/download pages via FTP.

I want to upgrade or downgrade plans?
Send an email to support@hostirian.com with your username, password, domain name and the plan you are moving to. If you are upgrading there is a charge for the "difference" in setup fees. For example if you were on Hostirian A and were moving to Hostirian C, you would be charged the difference in the two setup fees of these plans. There is no charge for downgrading.

Domain Names
How do I point a second domain to a sub-directory or sub-web of my site?
Normally, domains can only be setup so that they point to the root directory of your web site. However, using ASP code, you can detect which URL a person is browsing to your site with, and redirect them to the appropriate place on your site. Here is some example code that will do the job, put this at the very top of an .ASP page, before any HTTP tags:
<%
sname = Request.ServerVariables("SERVER_NAME")
sname = ucase(sname)
if InStr(sname,"DOMAIN1") <> 0 then
response.redirect "subdirectory to go to"
elseif InStr(sname,"DOMAIN2") <> 0 then
response.redirect "2nd subdirectory to go to"
elseif........
end if
%>
Make sure that the domains in the InStr commands are capital letters. For example, suppose you have two domains, apple.com and orange.com, pointing to the same web site. On this site there is an "appledir" subdirectory (or sub-web) and a "oangedir" subdirectory. Then the code will look like this:
<%
sname = Request.ServerVariables("SERVER_NAME")
sname = ucase(sname)
if InStr(sname,"APPLE") <> 0 then
response.redirect "appledir"
elseif InStr(sname,"ORANGE") <> 0 then
response.redirect "orangedir"
end if
%>

I want to register a domain name to have it hosted by Hostirian. What information do I need?
InterNIC's web site (Network Solutions) is located at http://www.networksolutions.com. They have simple registration forms you can fill out to register/transfer a domain name. Here is the DNS information you will need to have a domain name hosted by Hostirian:
Primary Name Server: DNS1.PRIMARY.NET
I.P.: 205.242.187.234
Secondary Name Server: DNS2.PRIMARY.NET
I.P.: 205.242.187.235
Technical Contact: XXX###
"XXX###" is the InterNIC database code (NIC handle) for Hostirian. Hostirian is usually setup to be the Technical Contact, while the domain name owner is usually the Administrative and Billing Contacts. If you are registering a non-InterNIC domain name, then you will need this information to set up Hostirian as the Technical Contact:
Contact Name: Hostirian
Address: 11756 Borman Dr.
City, State, Zip: St. Louis. MO 63146
Phone: (314)-216-2040
E-Mail: webmaster@hostirian.com

I want to point more than one domain to my web site. How do I do it?
Transfer a domain if the name exists and points to another hosting provider. One place to register a new domain would be www.networksolutions.com (Network Solutions), there are others as well like register.com, inww.com, etc. If registering at Network Solutions, type the name at the top of the page. Choose the $70 option. Then fill out the online form. To transfer domains go to: http://www.networksolutions.com/makechanges/ Select "Expert" and "Service Agreement". Replace the "Name Servers" currently displayed with Hostirian's name servers, which are Primary - NS1.HOSTIRIAN.COM, xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Secondary - NS2.HOSTIRIAN.COM, xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. Once completed, the form will be e-mailed to you. Reply to this e-mail and send it back to Network Solutions. Once registered/transferred, send an e-mail to support@Hostirian.com giving us the domain name(s). We will then add them to our domain servers (DNS), pointing them to your web site.

I have multiple domains pointing to my site. Can I have e-mail addresses using all of my domains?
No. You can only have e-mail addresses using your "main" domain. For example, if the site was setup using "domain1.com", and your also have "domain2.com" and "domain3.com" pointing to the site, you can only have e-mail addresses of the type "address@domain1.com". Or, if you have "domain.com", "second.domain.com" and "third.domain.com", e-mail addresses can be only of the type "address@domain.com".

Will Hostirian transfer my domain name if it is with Internic / Network Solutions?
Yes, Hostirian submits a transfer on the customer's behalf. The administrator of the domain at Network Solutions will receive an email approving our request. There is no charge for this, as it is a service we provide when a site is ordered.

How long does it take before my domain name is active?
Once a new domain name has been submitted to InterNIC, it usually takes about 1-2 days to become active. Transferred domains may take slightly longer, since InterNIC requires the owner of the domain name to give permission for the transfer via e-mail. Your account will be activated within 12-24hrs, however. We will give you a temporary IP address to your site so you can begin building your pages right away.

Email
How do I set up my email account on Microsoft Outlook Express?
1. Click on "Tools" on the top menu
2. Choose "Accounts…"
3. Click the "Add" button on the right and choose "Mail…"
4. Type the name you wish to appear on outgoing emails, click "Next"
5. Type your email username, followed by "@" and your domain name (ex: john@doe.com), click "Next"
6. In both text fields type "mail." then your domain name (ex: mail.doe.com), click "Next"
7. Type your full email address in the first field (ex: john@doe.com) and your email password in the second, click "Next"
8. Click "Finish"
9. Click "Close"

How do I set up my email for Microsoft Outlook?
1. Click on "Tools" on the top menu
2. Choose "Accounts…"
3. Click the "Add" button on the right and choose "Mail…"
4. Type the name you wish to appear on outgoing emails, click "Next"
5. Type your email user name, followed by "@" and your domain name (ex: john@doe.com), click "Next"
6. In both text fields type "mail." then your domain name (ex: mail.doe.com), click "Next"
7. Type your full email address in the first field (ex: john@doe.com) and your email password in the second, click "Next"
8. Choose which option applies to you, click "next"
9. Once you have finished with your connection information and receive the "Congratulations" screen, click "Finish"

What is an Mail Forward?
An Mail Forward is a mailbox that forwards its mail to other addresses that you specify.

How many email addresses can I forward to in one alias?
Only one, However you can forward as many Email accounts to one physical Email address.

How do I create an e-mail alias/forward?
1. Click On Customer Care
2. Login
3. Click on Manage services
4. Choose the Email address you want forwarded
5. Click on Forward Email
6. Type the e-mail address(es) you would like mail forwarded to in the "Destination" text box
7. Click "Save"

Where is the location of the Perl sendmail.exe file?
The location of the perl sendmail program is "c:\perl\bin\blat.exe"

How do I set up mailboxes/email addresses?
1. Click On Customer Care
2. Login
3. Click on Add New Service
4. Fill in the username you would like
5. Don't forget to choose the domain name that you want the Email address for.
6. Click Add User
7. Your Email address is now ready in real time.

How do I set up my mail program? What do I use for the SMTP server? POP3 server?
POP3 server = mail.primary.net
SMTP server = use the one that came with your Internet provider.
Username = mailboxname
Password = password for the above mailbox
Keep in mind that these settings will not work if your domain has not yet been registered/transferred.

Do I get email on extra domains?
Yes Any domain name that you host with Hostirian you can add Email address to that domain name.

Control Panel
How do I log into the Control Center to maintain all of my accounts?
MAKE SURE COOKIES ARE TURNED ON (browser options)
1. Go to the Hostirian Customer Care.
2. Fill in your Customer ID (provided by Hostirian) and your password.
3. Click "Login"
 

Billing
What is Hostirian's billing method?
We bill customers on a credit card on a monthly basis, in advance. For those who wish to pay by check/money order, a bill will be sent to you near the end of each billing period via e-mail. Print this and return with your payment to the address designated on the bill.

How do I cancel my website?
Send an email to billing@Hostirian.com and include:
Domain Name, User Name & Password

Site Operation
How can I setup custom error pages (404, 500, etc.)?
To setup error pages, send an email to support@hostirian.com with your domain name, the error code you wish to override, and the file name you would like to display.

Are Log Files included in my disk quota?
No, any disk space taken up by Log files does not count towards your disk quota. See the "Web Space Usage" in the Hostirian Control Panel to see your site usage.

Can I make file permission changes to individual files?
You cannot make changes to file permissions of an individual file. You site is set up to standard permission settings. If you need any custom permissions set on your site please Email hostmaster@hostirian.com or simply put in a trouble ticket requesting the exact permissions needed and no what directly you need them set to.

How do I do a trace route to my site?
1. Open your MSDOS Command
2. Type "tracert YOURDOMAIN.com (or .net, .org, etc.)" or, instead of your domain name you can type your IP address
3. Press "Enter"
A trace route is a method to trace the steps to a destination. For example, going from a site in Arizona to a site in California, your request for information will go through many different pieces of equipment and companies. The numbers on the trace show the time it's taking to travel to each of those locations. Times on the Internet can range from 80ms (milliseconds) to 250ms, which is considered normal during peak hours.

How do I ping my site?
1. Open your MSDOS Command
2. Type "ping YOURDOMAIN.com(or .net, .org, etc.)"
3. Press "Enter"
A ping sends a request to the site typed in and brings it back to your computer, giving you the total time it took for the trip. Times on the Internet can range from 80ms (milliseconds) to 250ms, which is considered normal during peak hours. A ping is a great tool for finding out the current status of your domain. By pinging your domain, you can tell if the IP number it returns matches the IP number you believe your site to be on.

What kind of connections to the Internet does Hostirian have?
Redundant connections to over several TIER-1 providers utilizing multiple T3's and T1's providing "low hop" access from most locations obtained through Mpower Communications.

What is the default file loaded when accessing my website?
Either default.htm or default.asp. The server first looks for default.htm and then for a default.asp file before it returns 403 - Access Forbidden. If you need another file to be the default (ex: index.htm) then contact support@hostirian.com to help set that up.

How much transfer bandwidth do I need to support my site?
Usually, 6 GB/Month is enough for most individuals and business users. If your site does not contain a large number of graphics, and a large number of programs for people to download, 6 GB can support tens of thousands of page displays per month.

FrontPage
My web-bots aren't working. Why?
This often happens when pages are initially created on another computer and are published to our servers. Often the version of the web-bot published does not match the version of FrontPage extensions we are using. The solution is to delete and re-create the bots on our server.

What permissions on directories do I need to get my ASP pages to run?
From within FrontPage 98/2000, right-click on the directory whose permissions need to be set. Choose "properties". and "Allow scripts to be run" for ASP pages.

Are the "_vti_cnf" and "_vti_pvt" directories used with FrontPage?
Any "_vti" directories in your site are related to FrontPage. Do not delete these directories. If you do not use FrontPage they will just sit there but are necessary from server side to manage your account. If you do delete these by accident, contact support@hostirian.com so we can re-apply the FrontPage extensions.

How do I setup a counter on my site?
You can create a counter by using Microsoft FrontPage. Go to the "Insert" pull down menu choice, choose "Component" and then choose "Hit Counter". For non-FrontPage customers, you can also obtain Perl, or ASP versions. Many of them will be free.

Other Software
Where is the Perl Lib directory?
The Perl Lib directory is located at "C:\Perl\Lib\".

Do you support COM, ActiveX, or any other third party objects?
Hostirian installs custom components from only well-recognized third-party vendors. Each component is thoroughly tested on our development servers before put into use. To have a third-party component installed, it will require a $10/month fee per component.

Does Hostirian support JSP, Servlets, or PHP?
No, we support ASP and Perl. We will soon support ASP+ and ASP.Net.

Databases
Where do I put my files and databases that I don't want anybody to access?
Put them in your "_private" directory. Then using Frontpage98/2000, right mouse click on the directory, select "Properties" and turn off the "Allow Files to be Browsed" option.

What should my connection string be in my GLOBAL.ASA if I am using a File DSN/Datasource?
The connection string you should use in your GLOBAL.ASA should be in the following format. Be aware, you will need to change the paths, filenames and even your connectionstring variable to match your particular application.
ConnectionString = "filedsn=c:\directoryname\file.dsn;DBQ=c:\directoryname\database.mdb"
For example: If your file.dsn was located in the "c:\inetpub\website" directory, and your database name was website.mdb, the connection string would be:
"filedsn=c:\inetpub\website\file.dsn;DBQ=c:\inetpub\website\website.mdb"
The following line will display the location of file.dsn in the root directory of your web, if you don't know it already. Change the filename to a file in your site so it can return the correct information.
Response.Write (Server.MapPath("/file.dsn"))

What type of DSN/Datasource should I use?
Either type of DSN is fine. The advatage of a File DSN is that you can create it yourself, but there are many things you can do incorrectly. With a System DSN, all the details are done on the server and are called by a very simple connection string.

What is a File DSN/Datasource and how do I create one?
A File Datasource can be thought of as a pointer (file location) to a database. When developing Active Server Pages (ASP) that access databases you need to reference a Datasource so the ASP can find the database.
To create a datasource, create a file in your site with a .dsn extension. The filename is the name of your datasource. For example, if you name your datasource TEST.DSN the name of your datasource is TEST. The contents for your file should contain the following:
[ODBC]
DRIVER=Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)
ReadOnly=0
UserCommitSync=Yes
Threads=3
SafeTransactions=0
PageTimeout=5
MaxScanRows=8
MaxBufferSize=512
ImplicitCommitSync=Yes
FIL=MS Access
DriverId=25
You can copy and paste the above information in the actual DSN you are creating. The parameters can be changed but aren't supported, therefore will make no difference. Once you have created your datasource, you now need to create the connection string to be used in your Active Server Pages.

I tried to write to database using ASP got error "Operation must use an updateable query". Why?
You are receiving this error because you need NT write permissions on the directory your database is in. By default, all directories are read-only. You can set file permissions by going through the Hostirian Control Panel.

SQL
What tool do I use to maintain my SQL Server database, and where do I get it?
Most people choose to use Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Manager as it is a tool Administrators use to manage SQL Server. This tool is the same one we use to create your database but it can also be used by our clients to maintain their individual databases. To download the tool, click the download link above.
To install the SQL 2000 Evaluation Version, follow these steps
1. After the download, extract the file using either WinZip or Aladdin Expander.
2. Open the folder "em2000," open "x86," open "setup"
3. Double-click "setupsql"
4. At the install screen, click "Next"
5. Leave the next page as is, click "Next"
6. Leave option "Create a new instance…" checked, click "Next"
7. Make sure your information is correct, click "Next"
8. If you accept the agreement, click "Yes"
9. Choose "Client Tools Only," click "Next"
10. Uncheck "Books Online" and "Development Tools," click "Next"
11. Click "Next"
12. After the installation, click "Finish"

What is the port SQL Server Enterprise Manager uses?
When using TCP/IP, SQL Server Enterprise Manager uses Port 1433.

How do I connect to my MSSQL Server Database using Enterprise Manager?
1. From the Start Menu, choose Programs, Microsoft SQL Server, then Enterprise Manager
2. Expand "Microsoft SQL Servers" by clicking on the "+" symbol
3. Right-click "SQL Server Group," choose "New SQL Server Registration
4. In the new window, click "Next"
5. Type in the SQL Server provided to you (EX: SQL5.HOSTIRIAN.COM), click "Add," then click "Next"
6. Choose "SQL Server Authentication" (second option), click "Next"
7. Type in the username and password provided to you in the "Web Site Ready" email or in the Control Center, click "Next"
8. Leave the next page as is, click "Next"
9. Click "Finish"
10. Click "Close"
11. Expand "SQL Server Group"
12. Expand the SQL Server Entry
13. Click "Yes" in the pop-up window
14. Expand "Databases" and find your database

I get an "unable to connect message" with SQL Enterprise Manager, and I know my username and password are correct. Why is this?
If you have followed our Enterprise Manager instructions and you are getting an error similar to the one above, then you need to go configure the default protocol. Since the Internet uses TCP/IP to communicate, we need to tell SQL Enterprise Manager to use TCP/IP first before trying any others. Go to the SQL Server 2000 program group on the start bar and choose "Client Network Utility". When the program loads you will see the default protocol option on the first page.

How can I move my SQL database from my old provider?
To import your sql database from your previous provider you need to use Microsoft SQL Enterprise Manager. This is available in the trial version of SQL that does not expire. Download Enterprise Manager, install it and set it up, and after you have installed and setup the software, follow the directions below:
1. From the Start Menu, choose "Programs," to "Microsoft SQL Server," to "Import and Export Data"
2. On the new window, click "Next"
3. In the "Server" field, type in your old SQL server's address, choose "Use SQL Server Authentication," type in your old username and password, choose your database from the "Database" field, click "Next"
4. In the "Server" field, type in your new SQL server's address, choose "Use SQL Server Authentication," type in your current username and password, choose your database from the "Database" field, click "Next"
5. Choose "Copy objects…" (third option), click "Next"
6. Leave next window as is, click "Next"
7. Leave next window as is, click "Next"
8. Click "Finish" and let the transfer take place.

SSL
How is SSL setup?
SSL is setup in two separate ways:
For Customers with Miva: SSL is setup in a virtual directory that points back to the original directory. This is required by Miva.
For Customers without Miva: SSL is setup in a subdirectory that holds all files needed.
In both cases, you would reference this site the same way (ex: "SSL2.Hostirian.com/mydomain") Notice that you would not put the suffix (.com, .net, .org) after the domain name.

What are "SSL Secure Pages"? Why do I need them? How do I get them?
Hostirian E supports SSL (Secure Socket Layer) secure pages. Once setup, transmission between these pages and the user's web browser will be encrypted, allowing for greater online security. A typical use for this service would be a business taking credit card orders where card numbers are transmitted back and forth. SSL requires that a secure host have a "certificate" signed by a company like Verisign or Thawte. Hostirian has this certificate, which is available for use by our customers. One drawback: All secured pages must be accessible with a URL that has "Hostirian" in it, for example "https://www.Hostirian.com/domainname/ASecurePage.htm". This is a requirement imposed by Verisign, not us. If this is unacceptable to you, then you will need to obtain your own certificate.

I would like to obtain my own SSL certificate. How do I do that? How much does it cost?
The cost of a server ID from Verisign is $349.00 for one year, and $249.00 for subsequent years. We will need to get some information from you (Company Name, URL, Company Address, etc.). Using this information, we generate a Certificate Request File, or "CSR", an encrypted file containing all of the information you have provided. You then take this file to Verisign's web site and fill out their order form for a Secure Server ID, providing the CSR file when asked. After filling out the form, Verisign will send you your certificate (another encrypted file) via e-mail, usually in about a week or so. You will then send this to us and we will install it on your server. Contact support@hostirian.com when you are ready to obtain a certificate, and we will send you more detailed instructions on how to proceed.

What is the price to install an SSL Certificate?
The price to install an SSL Certificate is $50.

MIVA
Can I have Miva on my dedicated server?
We provide a free Miva Merchant license (the shopping cart) as we do on Plan III and higher plans. For dedicated servers it is the customers responsibility to get the Miva Empressa engine from miva.com to run the shopping cart.

Can I use Miva if my Domain hasn't been transferred?
Yes, if your site is being transferred and you would like to work on your store before the transfer is complete you can use the IP address that you were given in place of the domain name. This will work for all your non-secure paths, the three secure URL paths must contain your domain name.

I'm getting error or I'm not receiving confirmation e-mails after an order is placed in Miva. Why?
In most cases where the order or confirmation e-mail is concerned the problem is caused by invalid e-mail addresses being used in the order fullilment configuration section of your admin page. Miva requires that all e-mail addresses entered in their system are valid addresses created on our mail servers. IE: orders@yourdomain.com all e-mail account must also be created as users, aliases will not work.

I forgot my Miva username and/or password.
Because you (the customer) install Miva yourself, your login and password are not something that we have in our system, therefore if you lose that information then we will have to delete and re-create your store

Where are my Miva data files?
Every Miva site has a directory named after their domain in the MivaDataRoot directory that is located on the same level as the Inetpub directory. We do not give access to this directory by default because of the sensitive nature of the files and databases that are in that directory. Should you need to gain access to these files we can create an FTP account for you upon request. Send an e-mail with your domain name, a unique username and password and we will create that for you.

Can I run multiple stores within Miva Merchant?
Yes you can run Multiple stores. We provide one Miva license free. To run a separate store you will need to obtain and additional store from Miva http://www.miva.com . This store will be at a discount since you already have one license.