Glossary

Account Domain

The initial domain added to a host server. Also referred as the primary domain, first domain, main domain, server domain, host domain. This is also the same domain that you provide a host provider when getting a VPS or server hosting plan.

Additional Domain

Any domain added to a server after the account domain. Also referred as secondary domain, add-on domain, addon domain. It is a fully registered and separate domain, like the account domain, and has its own files and folders on the same server as the account domain. In reality, it is separate but is dependent on the account domain’s existence, due to the account domain’s ties to the server. Whereas, the account domain is not dependent on any additional domain’s existence.

DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin is one of the industry leading web control panels. It’s in the similar arena of cPanel & Plesk and is typically listed in the top 5 web panels due to its reliability, frequent updates, and features. DirectAdmin, as a parent page, has several configuration topics on this site. The originator of DirectAdmin covers features that empower an individual or team to create, manage, and operate a server or hosted server. Various DirectAdmin retail Features include DNS Administration, IP Management, Mail Queue Administration, and much more. Various DirectAdmin retail pricing levels exist that offer increasing accounts and domain. DirectAdmin Support is offered in 3 arenas: Knowledge Base, Community Forum, and Helpdesk.

DNS

Domain Name System. It’s a vast networking system of servers, specifically, nameservers, that equates an IP address with a domain name. Each nameserver must be authoritative in creation, configuration, and operation across the Internet. For a great explanation, see “What is DNS And How Does It Work?“

Domain

While the term domain refers to a central identifier as a main focus, it specifically has countless means in many fields of knowledge. Within Information Technology, the term by itself refers to a collection of requirements, terms, and functions for a software application used to solve a specific field’s problem. It is also combined with other terms to delineate various specific meanings. Examples that this site uses are: domain name, domain name system, account domain, and additional domain. Again, Wikipedia outlines the use of “domain” in many fields.

SSL

Secure Sockets Layer. A way to provide secure transmission between 2 endpoints, e.g., https. Some implementation checklists, using DirectAdmin, of implementing it are discussed in our parent page for Domain Management’s section of “SSL Certificate Sequencing”. The current term used is TLS instead of the legacy SSL. A good non-tech definition is provide at “What does SSL mean?“.

TLS

Transport Layer Security. A modern way to provide secure transmission between 2 endpoints, e.g., https. The modern verbiage replacement for the term SSL. Wikipedia describes a full in-depth description of TLS.

VPS

Virtual Private Server. This represents a server that is virtual and 1 or more VPS exists on a physical server. Setting up and configuring a VPS is a parent page on this site. The physical server shares its resources to one or more virtual servers and with other users. Typically a VPS is assigned a dedicated portion of the services from the physical server that is not reused by other VPS. This defines a step up from shared hosting and is referred as VPS hosting. Google Cloud defines it in detail at “What is a virtual private server (VPS)?“