Okay here's the deal. I have an account with a domain name with Host Gator. And I registered another domain name with Netfirms. But now I have no idea how to transfer my domain name from Netfirms to my Host Gator account.

What I want is to transfer my domain name on Netfirms to my Host Gator account so I can use all the features of Host Gator with my Netfirms domain name.

Is this possible? Any help on this?

They should have an entry in your Netfirms control panel for transfers, but control panels do vary with registrars. Most of what you are going to need to do is going to be on the side of the gaining registrar (Hostgator).

What you need to do with Netfirms is:

1) Unlock your domain so that it can be transferred.

2) Get an authorization code for the transfer from Netfirms which you will then have to submit that with your domain name to Hostgator.

If there is not an obvious transfer entry in the control panel for your domain, then you may find what you need when you unlock your domain. This is what Namecheap does; you click on the domain name you want to modify, click on registrar lock, and choose to unlock the domain so that it can be transferred. In the registrar lock section on Namecheap is where you'll also find the link to have the epp code sent that is needed for the transfer.

As I said, it could vary wildly from one registrar to another. Look around in your control panel for a menu item that has to do with locking the domain.

If someone who uses Netfirms comes along, they would be a better source of information; provided they have actually transferred a domain away from Netfirms.

I'm taking a look at Hostgator and wondering what you supposedly get that would make you want to transfer a domain to them; aside from a higher registration fee with Hostgator.

I would frankly caution you against registering your domains with your hosting company.

If you want all kinds of free services and lower renewal fees, check out name.com

Originally Posted by Menard

I would frankly caution you against registering your domains with your hosting company.

Please tell us why you caution not to register domain name with hosting companies

Because some hosting companies will register your hostname to themselves, then either hijack it at renewal time or charge you an extortionate fee to transfer ownership

Originally Posted by lovely

Please tell us why you caution not to register domain name with hosting companies

It's basically double jeopardy.

When dealing with an accredited registrar you are usually dealing with the firm through which you have registered your domain, and only that firm.*

*Note that some accredited registrars, such as Namecheap, might be a reseller even though they are accredited.

When dealing with a hosting company, you are usually dealing with a reseller and not an accredited registrar. If you have problems that affect your domain, you usually only have a channel of communication through your reseller and not directly with the registrar.


What if your hosting goes south?

What if you did something the hosting company claims is against their TOS and have your account suspended or terminated?

What if you were not able to renew your account within a timely manner due to expenses; could the hosting company hold your domain in lieu of fees?

There are various what ifs that you don't want to add to the potential security of your domain.

It just makes it more secure and simpler to keep your hosting with a hosting company and your domain with a registrar; each one is specialized in what they do.

When dealing with a hosting company, you are usually dealing with a reseller and not an accredited registrar.

Bit of a broad statement. There are plenty of hosting companies that are accredited registrars as well. Accreditation and hosting are not mutually exclusive.

As rule web hosting companies whih are domain name reguistars accreditated started with Domains and that add web hosting services

you should only need to point the name servers at hostgator to get full access to DNS records
What do you gain by transfering


I have a hostgator account I can look and see if you can do it without transfering

If you register it with a hosting company and got domain free with hosting , forget about domain transfer , they dont let you .

Just create a new domain name with Host Gator, I doubt Netfirmsis going to transfer. Host Gator is an accredited registrar, so no worries there. Ive been really happy with them over the past few months!