is forwarding a domain to my web servers ip address a problem when it comes to search engines. does the webcrawlers scan the wrong site instead?

It is a problem if its not a permanent redirect as that way you dont have the advantages of backlinks and PR.

You can get around this by doing fancy javascript work:

// Search engines can see this, and avoid indexing your page
document.location = 'http://www.newlocation.com';

// Search engines can't see this, and will index your page as a valid page
var a = "docu";
var b = "ment.loca";
var c = "tion = 'http:/";
var d = "/www.newlo";
var e = "cation.com'";
eval (a+b+c+d+e);

Try it. Make a page with a made up word like supermagicallyopus in the title, and all over the page. Then put that script on the page. Throw a link on myspace or blogspot pointing to your page.

After one week, go to Google, type in your magic word and you'll see your page. If your magic word is unique enough you'll see only your page and nobody else.

JM

// Search engines can see this, and avoid indexing your page
document.location = 'http://www.newlocation.com';

Search engines cannot see this

// Search engines can't see this, and will index your page as a valid page
var a = "docu";
var b = "ment.loca";
var c = "tion = 'http:/";
var d = "/www.newlo";
var e = "cation.com'";
eval (a+b+c+d+e);

Neither they see this.