Domain End User Frequency Asked Questions

1. What is a domain name?
2. What is the role of Tucows/OpenSRS?
3. How do I register a domain name?
4. What is the difference between a domain registered at Tucows and one registered at another registrar?



5. Registry? Registrar? Reseller? Registrant? What do these words mean?
6. What is involved in getting my domain name?
7. Once I have a domain name, how can I make changes to it?
8. I forgot/lost the login information for my domain.



9. How do I change ownership of my domain name? (ie. I want to sell it or give it to someone else)
10. How can I transfer my domain to another Reseller?
11. How can I get in touch with my Reseller?
12. I can't get in touch with my OpenSRS Reseller. What can I do?



13. I can't get any technical support from my OpenSRS Reseller?
14. How do I resolve a payment dispute with my OpenSRS Reseller?
15. Who does a registered name actually belong to, the end user or the OpenSRS Reseller?
16. How much control do domain owners have over their domain?



17. What is the difference between the WHOIS at OpenSRS and the one at Internic?
18. How can I tell who my OpenSRS Reseller is?
19. What does REGISTRAR-LOCK & REGISTRAR-HOLD mean?



20. Some WHOIS databases say my domain expires in 2004, OpenSRS says 2003, which is right?
21. What happens to domain names when they expire?
22. My domain name is in the Redemption Period and I cannot contact my reseller.
23. Does OpenSRS register in any other top level domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk, etc.)?



24. What's the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?
25. What's the difference between a ccTLD and a gTLD?
26. This is fascinating. Where can I go for more information on the domain name space?

1. What is a domain name?
   A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Every website you've ever been to, and every email you've ever composed, has used a domain name in its address. People register domain names in order to 'stake a claim' to a particular name -- whether for business or personal reasons. Once a domain name is registered to a person or company, it is that person's to use exclusively as long as they continue to pay the yearly renewal fee. Our domain name is myostrich.net.
   
   
   
2. What is the role of OpenSRS?
   OpenSRS is a domain registrar that competes with other domain registrars (Network Solutions, Register.com, etc). in the domain name industry. What makes Tucows/OpenSRS unique is the fact that we are strictly a wholesale domain registrar, providing services to OpenSRS Resellers like myOstrich Internet, who in turn sell domain names to people and companies worldwide.
   
   
   
3. How do I register a domain name?
   Use the Domain Registration system at myOstrich Internet and select "Register a Domain" from the menu.
   
   
   
4. What is the difference between a domain registered at Tucows and one registered at another registrar?
   There is no difference in the actual domain name itself. There are however differences in the ways registrars conduct their business. Some registrars are wholesales (like Tucows) and some are retailers that market to the general public. You will also find different product offerings, different pricing and different policies and procedures.
   
   
   
5. Registry? Registrar? Reseller? Registrant? What do these words mean?
   
   
   Registrar: A "Registrar" (or "Domain Name Registrar") is an organization like Tucows or Network Solutions that has control over the granting of domains within certain TLDs (top level domains, like the generic .com/.org/.net or country-specific .ca/.us/.mx etc.).
   
   Registry: The 'Registry' is the backend that registrars have shared access to. Each registrar writes new names to a central registry database, from which the authoritative root (essentially, a table of all domain names on the Internet) is built.
   
   Reseller: A reseller is a company like myOstrich Internet Services that uses the Tucows/OpenSRS registrar system to provide domain registration services to the general public.
   
   Registrant: A registrant is the person or company who purchases a domain name. For example, Jessica Smith (registrant) registers the name example.com through an OpenSRS Reseller.
   
   
   
6. What is involved in getting my domain name?
   Use the Domain Registration system at myOstrich Internet and select "Register a Domain" from the menu.
   
   
   
7. Once I have a domain name, how can I make changes to it?
   You can make changes to your domain name by using the myOstrich Internet Domain Manager, or the OpenSRS management interface at: http://manage.opensrs.net. Bear in mind you'll need your domain's username and password to make the desired changes. If you do not have the username and password or have forgotten them, please see our Support Center.
   
   
   
8. I forgot/lost the login information for my domain.
   Your login information can be obtained by trying to log in to the Domain Manager and having the login fail. When this happens, you will be presented with a link that lets you have your username and password emailed to your admin email address from your domain record.
   
   If the admin contact email address listed is no longer valid, the domain owner must print, sign and fax us the Administrative Email Address Change form located at http://www.adminchange.com. Our fax number is 1-207-934-0416
   
   Please let us know this fax is coming by sending email to support@myostrich.net.
   
   
   
9. How do I change ownership of my domain name? (ie. I want to sell it or give it to someone else)
   You can simply give your username and password to the new owner and allow them to change the contact information using the Domain Manager. They should also move the domain into a seperate profile with a unique username and password.
   
   To change the contact information:
   
   Log into the Domain Manager, and update the information.
   
   To move the domain into it's own management profile:
   
   Log into the Domain Manager and click on the "Manage Profile" link. From there click on the "Change Ownership of Domain" link and enter in the new username & password of the profile you want to add this domain to, or create a new profile and provide a username and password. If you are moving the domain to an existing profile, click on the "Move to existing profile" checkbox and type the name of a domain that is already in the profile into the "Previously registered domain" field. Click on "Change Owner" and the domain will be in the new profile.
   
   * It is important to remember that anyone with the login information can change all the contacts/ownership information for all the domains in the management profile.
   
   
   
10. How can I transfer my domain to another Reseller or Registrar?
    If you wish to transfer your domain name to another OpenSRS Reseller or registrar simply contact them and have them start the transfer process. Since they are the gaining party they will handle all the details.
    
    The following requirements must be met before you can transfer your domain name:
    
    
    • Since transfer confirmation is done via email, the admin contact email address listed on your domain name must be valid. If you are unsure of what you have listed please perform a whois lookup on your domain. If the address is invalid and you have your login information, you can update it through the Domain Manager. If you do not have the login information the only other option is to fax us the "Administrative Email Address Change Form" located at http://www.adminchange.com.
      
      
    • Your domain name must be at least 60 days old to be transferred. This is a registry requirement that affects all registrars.
      
      
    • If your domain name is expired, it must still be within the OpenSRS grace period. For a list of grace periods on the various TLDS please click here.
      
      
    • There must be no locks or holds on your domain name. If you need to have your domain name unlocked or to have an expired-hold removed please contact us through the Support Center.
11. How can I get in touch with my OpenSRS Reseller?
    Through our Support Center.
    
    
    
12. I can't get in touch with my OpenSRS Reseller. What can I do?
    Tucows/OpenSRS, as a wholesale domain registrar, likes to leave customer service issues between the OpenSRS Reseller and the end user. However, if you have tried repeatedly to contact your Reseller using all traditional means (including telephone and email), to no avail, please contact our Compliance Department at compliance@opensrs.org.
    
    The Compliance Department will normally respond to your query within 24-48 hours. Our Compliance Officers will not necessarily deal directly with your issue; their first step is to try to contact your Reseller directly to get the issue resolved. Failing that, they can take action to remedy almost all situations. NOTE: Please do not contact the Compliance Department unless you have exhausted all other means of contacting your Reseller.
    
    If the company you have chosen as your Reseller has gone out of business, Tucows will ensure that you are notified and allowed to chose another OpenSRS Reseller before your domain name is due for renewal.
    
    
    
13. I can't get any technical support from my OpenSRS Reseller?
    Technical issues are best dealt with between you and your reseller. If you cannot contact your current OpenSRS Reseller please review this question.
    
    If your current reseller does not meet your requirements, you are free to move your domain(s) to any other provider you wish. All that is required to transfer away is a valid Admin contact email address. The new Reseller/Registrar will handle all the transfer details. If you don't know of any providers, please visit http://referrals.tucows.com and choose one that suits your needs.
    
    
    
14. How do I resolve a payment dispute with my OpenSRS Reseller?
    As a wholesaler, Tucows/OpenSRS has very little to do with Reseller billing issues. However, if you feel that unsavoury business practices are at the root of the dispute and that contacting OpenSRS is your only recourse, please review this question.
    
    
    
15. Who does a registered name actually belong to, the end user or the OpenSRS Reseller?
    A domain name is owned by the registrant listed in the WHOIS database. The designated administrative contact generally has full control over the domain as well.
    
    
    
16. How much control do domain owners have over their domain?
    Domain owners, in general, have full control over their OpenSRS registered domain names. This means that the domain owner has the power to:
    a) Change admin/technical and billing contacts for the domain.
    b) Change ownership of the domain.
    c) Change the nameservers that are authoritative for the domain.
    d) Create sub-users and enable them to change some/all of the options in a, b and c above.
    e) Change the password that enables a, b, c, and d above.
    
    
    
    
17. What is the difference between the WHOIS at OpenSRS and the one at Internic?
    WHOIS is a tool that permits people to access information about a particular domain name. The Internic Registrar Whois updates their WHOIS database twice a day. This means the data it presents isn't as up-to-date as it could be. For example, if a domain name has transferred ownership, it's possible this fact wouldn't be available to you for up to twelve hours. In contrast, with regard to names registered at Tucows, the OpenSRS WHOIS information is updated in real time. If you need to be certain that your domain name information is correct, we recommend you use the OpenSRS WHOIS.
    
    
    
18. How can I tell who my OpenSRS Reseller is?
    The easist way is to perform a whois lookup on your domain name. If your Reseller has enabled the "Reseller Whois Information" you will see something similar to the following:
    
    

     Registration Service Provider:
        Example Reseller, help@example.com
        This company may be contacted for domain login/passwords,
        DNS/Nameserver changes, and general domain support questions.
    

    If the "Reseller Whois Information" is not available, you can log into the Domain Manager and click on the "Reseller Contact" link.
    
    Failing the above you may email the OpenSRS Support Department at support@opensrs.org to verify who the reseller is. In your email be sure to list your domain name(s).
    
    
    
19. What does REGISTRAR-LOCK & REGISTRAR-HOLD mean?
    If you have chosen to lock your domain name to prevent unwanted transfers and name server changes, the domain status will show as "REGISTRAR-LOCK". A "REGISTRAR-HOLD" is normally applied to your domain name when it expires. The main difference between the two is that REGISTRAR-HOLD will prevent the domain name from working. To enable or disable locking please log into the Domain Manager and select the Lock Status option.
    
    
    
20. Some WHOIS databases say my domain expires in 2004, OpenSRS says 2003, which is right?
    The expiry date located in the OpenSRS WHOIS database is always correct. In order for Tucows/OpenSRS to hold onto a domain name when it expires we must submit a temporary renewal to the registry. This is what you are seeing when you perform a WHOIS lookup at http://www.internic.net/whois.html on your expired domain name.
    
    Please also note the DISCLAIMER in the Internic WHOIS:

    NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the 
    registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is 
    currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration 
    date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring 
    registrar.  Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to 
    view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.
    

21. What happens to domain names when they expire?
    Expired domains will be held at OpenSRS for a grace period defined by the registry.
    
    For .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .us, .name, and .cc the grace period is 40 days.
    For .ca it is 30 days.
    For .tv it is 55 days.
    For .cn it 10 days.
    .uk domains are held until the 25th day of the month after they expire.
    
    There are no grace periods for .de domains. They are deleted on the day after the expiration date.
    
    During the grace period all associated services will cease working until the name is renewed (if and when this happens). As well, name server/DNS changes will not be possible.
    
    If a renewal is not made by the end of the grace period the domains will sent to the registry for deletion and returned to the available pool. Deletion at the registry level can take 1 to 10 days.
    
    Please note, .com and .net registrations will enter into a new "Redemption Period" state and will be held at VeriSign (the .com & .net registry) for an additional 30 days. During the Redemption Period it is still possible to recover the domain name and have it renewed. For information on process please contact your OpenSRS Reseller directly.
    
    
    
22. My domain name is in the Redemption Period and I cannot contact my reseller.
    If your domain name has gone into the Redemption Grace Period and you cannot contact your OpenSRS Reseller please e-mail our Sales Department at sales@opensrs.org for assistance.
    
    
    
23. Does OpenSRS register in any other top level domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk, etc.)?
    Currently, OpenSRS offers registration services for .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .us, .cn, .cc, .tv, .name, .de, .co.uk, .org.uk, and .ca through myOstrich Internet Services.
    
    
    
24. What's the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?
    Originally, the three letter extensions after the dot (or Top Level Domain/TLD) were meant to denote whether the domain name was being used for business (.com) charity/non-profit (.org) or for a technology based company (.net). However, with the explosion of the Internet (and specifically, the world wide web) as a new business medium, the lines were blurred, and companies and individuals alike started cross-registering domains (ie. example.com, example.net, example.org) just to protect their interests. Now, .com, .net, and .org names (the generic Top Level Domains) can be used for any purpose.
    
    
    
25. What's the difference between a ccTLD and a gTLD?
    A gTLD is a generic Top Level Domain. These are top level domains that are NOT affiliated with any country and can be registered by anyone for a fee.
    
    ccTLDs are Country Code Top Level Domains. These are the two character top level domain names affiliated with various countries around the world. Many ccTLDs are closed or restricted, requiring proof of residency in the country in question. Others are not restricted, and can be purchased much like gTLDs. For a full list of ccTLD's please visit http://www.iana.org/cctld/cctld-whois.htm
    
    
    
26. This is fascinating. Where can I go for more information on the domain name space?
    For a detailed account on the evolution of the domain space as a business phenomenon, please visit http://www.icann.org.