Domain setup

Owning a domain is straightforward - you purchase one, then you own it.

The are numerous ways to use the domain that is usually determined by a domain's DNS settings.

1. Use domain registrar's name server, but specify an IP address (e.g. point www.mydomain.com to 12.34.56.78 which could be the hosting site for www.anotherdomain.com).  One can also add a Mail Exchanger (MX Record) such as mail.mymail.com which can be a different server.  If one uses the registrar's mail server, he can set up mail forward (e.g. forward *@mydomain.com to userid@anotherdomain.com).  This is only useful if the registrar's mail server is used.  This type mail forward would be valid, but has no effect if the registrar's email server is not used.  If one uses his own mail server, mail forward should be set up on that server.  
2. Mail setup.   Run a mail server on a server with address xx.xx.xx.xx.  Add a A record (e.g. Node: mail, IP address: xx.xx.xx.xx) to the domain.  Add an MX record pointing to the host of the newly created A record (e.g. node: [empty], Hostname: mail.mydomain.net).  
3. To set up DDNS: 1. Set it up at the DDNS provider's web site (register for mydomain.org, find the name servers) (e.g. . 2. Add the name servers of the DDNS provider to the domain on the domain's registrar's (e.g. 1an1) website (usually by DNS settings).  If the mail server is hosted at a specific site, one just need to add an MX record (or alias) pointing to the mail server address at the DDNS provider's site (e.g. www.dynu.com).  Dyn.com used to provide free DDNS service.  They stopped providing it in2014.  They also increased the standard service fee from about $20/year to $60/year as of 2016. They seem to have shifted their focus from DDNS to internet performance management.  For someone just needing DDNS for hosting a website on a server with dynamic IP, their service may be an overkill.  www.dynu.com is a fantasitc alternative.  You can register your own domain for free.  Here is a good article about good DDNS services.  It is important to check aliases of your domain at the DDNS provider.

Domain Transfer(the entire process usually takes about 15 minutes):

1. Go to the website of the new provider and request the transfer.
2. The new provider will send a request for transfer to the current provider, and wait for the authorization code.
3. Go to the current provider to obtain the authorization code (usually from the renewal/transfer page).
4. Enter the authorization code on the new provider's transfer page.