End User FAQ
Remarkable
Hosting is a OpenSRS Authorized Reseller.
Back to the domain name
registration menu.
End
User Questions
- What is a domain name?
- After I've chosen an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider, what's involved in getting my domain name?
- Once I have a domain name, how can I make changes to it?
- How do I change ownership of my domain name? (ie. I want to sell it or give it to someone else)
- What is the role of OpenSRS?
- What's the difference between an OpenSRS registered domain name and a Network Solutions (NSI)registered domain name?
- Registry? Registrar? Registrant? What do these words mean?
- How can I get in touch with an OpenSRS Domain Registration Service Provider?
- Why can't I get domains at wholesale prices?
- I can't get in touch with my Registration Service Provider. I call, I write, and I still don't get answer. What do I do?
- How can I transfer my domain to another Reseller?
- I can't get any technical support from my Registration Service Provider?
- I forgot my login name and password.
- How do I resolve a payment dispute with a Registration Service Provider?
- Who does a registered name actually belong to, the end user or the Registration Service Provider?
- How much control do domain owners have over their domain once they've signed up through an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider?
- I heard the "WHOIS" at Internic is not in real time. How is this different from the WHOIS function at OpenSRS?
- What's the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?
- Does OpenSRS register in any other top level domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk, etc.)?
- What's the difference between a ccTLD and a gTLD?
- This is fascinating. Where can I go for more information on the domain name space?
End User Answers
- 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 opensrs.org, and we also own opensrs.com and
opensrs.net
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- After I've
chosen an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider, what's involved
in getting my domain name?
Most OpenSRS Registration Service Providers have built a domain
registration process that you initiate from their web site.
Once you've applied for the name, the Registration Service Provider
accepts payment, processes the order with OpenSRS, and then
the domain name is registered to you. This process can generally
be completed within one business day, but it will vary by Registration
Service Provider.
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- Once I have
a domain name, how can I make changes to it?
You can make changes to your domain name by using 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 don't have a username and
password or have forgotten them, please contact the company
that registered the domain for you on your behalf.
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- 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 Manage
Domain interface. They should also change the domain's profile
to a new one with a unique username and password.
To change the contact information:
In the Manage Domain interface (http://manage.opensrs.net),
click on Organization link and update the information
To change the domain's profile:
Log into the Manage Domain interface at: http://manage.opensrs.net
Click on "Manage Profile" and then select "Change Ownership
of Domain". Fill out the 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 "Move to existing profile" 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 profile login
information can change all info for all domains in the profile,
including ownership.
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- 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 market. What makes us unique is the fact that we are strictly
wholesale, providing services to Registration Service Providers
who in turn sell domain names to people and companies worldwide.
Because we focus on 'business-to-business' relationships, we're
able to avoid the costs of supporting a base of end users, and
consequently, can offer our services at a significantly lower
price than our competitors.
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- What's the
difference between an OpenSRS registered domain name and a Network
Solutions (NSI) registered domain name?
There's no difference between a name registered with OpenSRS
and a name registered with Network Solutions. Network Solutions
is currently better known because they ran the first domain
registration business without competition for a number of years.
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- Registry?
Registrar? Registrant? What do these words mean?
Registrar: A "Registrar" (or "Domain Name Registrar")
is an organization like OpenSRS 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.
Registrant: A registrant is the person or company who
purchases a domain name. For example, Jessica Smith (registrant)
registers the name jessicasmith.com through OpenSRS (registrar)
who in turn writes the name to the central database (Registry).
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- How can I
get in touch with an OpenSRS Domain Registration Service Provider?
You can reach a Registration Service Provider by emailing our
helpful sales staff (sales@opensrs.org)
who will make sure to expedite your request as quickly as possible.
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- Why
can't I get domains at wholesale prices?
You can! OpenSRS is a service for organizations that register
at least 25 or more domain names a year. In order to register
domains at wholesale prices using OpenSRS, you will need to:
- Complete
and return our contractual agreements
- Install
our Perl-based tool on a Perl-capable machine
(Quickstart customers can start registering domains via our
Web interface before they've completed the installation on
their own server)
- Pass a
certification test (the RITE test - RSP Integration and
Testing Environment)
- Pre-pay:
- $250
(US dollars) for Full Access (if you're using the OpenSRS
client software scripts)
- $500
(US dollars) for Quickstart (if you are just using the
Web interface to start while preparing the scripts)
If you want
an easier process for registering domain names, we encourage
you to visit a retail domain name Registration Service Provider
that regularly handles single registrations. Contact an OpenSRS
Domain Registration Service Provider by clicking here. For more
information on becoming an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider,
please visit:
http://www.opensrs.org/gsguide2.shtml
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- I can't get
hold of my Registration Service Provider. I call, I write, and
I still don't get an answer. What do I do?
OpenSRS, as a wholesale domain registrar, likes to leave customer
service issues between the Registration Service Provider and
the end user. However, if you have tried repeatedly to contact
your Registration Service Provider, using all traditional means
(including telephone and email), to no avail, please contact
compliance@opensrs.org.
The compliance department will normally respond to your query
within 24-48 hours. Our compliance officer will not necessarily
deal directly with your issue; our first step is to try to contact
the RSP ourselves to get the issue resolved. Failing that, we
can take action to remedy almost all situations. NOTE: Please
do not contact the OpenSRS compliance officer unless you have
exhausted all other means of contacting your RSP.
If the company you have chosen as your Registration Service
Provider has gone out of business, Tucows will ensure that you
are notified and allowed to chose another Tucows RSP before
your domain name is due for renewal.
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- How
can I transfer my domain to another Reseller?
If you have found another Reseller that you wish to do business
with, you can transfer your domain to them by contacting them
directly to make your request. See below for info on finding
a new Reseller.
Please be certain that you meet the following requirements:
- Your current
Admin Contact email address is valid, and you can respond
to a confirmation message sent to that address.
- Your gTLD
domain registration is at least 60 days old, or has been
with the current Reseller for at least the same period.
- Your domain
is no more than 40 days past it's present expiry date.
You can verify any aspect of your current domain record, including
expiry date at http://whois.opensrs.net
If you have not yet decided on a new Reseller to do business
with, OpenSRS can gladly provide you a list of qualified referals.
Simply send your request for a "Reseller Referal" to sales@opensrs.org
If you wish to transfer a .CA domain -
Please visit the following page for a complete list of our .CA
Resellers:
http://www.tucows.ca/calist.html
Please be aware that this process will normaly take about a
week to complete, and your new Reseller will charge you a fee
for the transfer of gTLD domains (com/net/org). The fee will
add an additional "domain year" to your registration in the
transfer process. Again, you will be able to view this newly
extended expiry date at http://whois.opensrs.net
PLEASE ALSO NOTE:
If your domain is in a Profle containing other domains, it will
be removed from this Profile. As such your login information
might change during an RSP Transfer, though you will be informed
of this, of course.
For more info on Profiles: http://www.opensrs.org/Manage_FAQ.shtml#q9
If your domain is past expiry, you should simply renew with
the current Reseller, unless your new Reseller can assure you
that they can complete the RSP-Transfer for you before the dopmain
is deleted 40 days after expiry. If your new Reseller requires
more info on this process, you can refer them to the following
URL:
http://www.opensrs.org/Support_FAQ.shtml#Live_reseller_domain_move
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- I can't get
any technical support from my Registration Service Provider?
Technical issues are best dealt with between you and your Registration
Service Provider; however, if you cannot contact your Registration
Service Provider, please review Question 10 of this FAQ.
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- I forgot
my login name and password.
Your login name and password (used to make modifications to
your domain name record) can be obtained from your Registration
Service Provider.
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- How do I
resolve a payment dispute with a Registration Service Provider?
As a wholesaler, OpenSRS has very little to do with Registration
Service Provider 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 Question 10 of
this FAQ.
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- Who does
a registered name actually belong to, the end user or the Registration
Service Provider?
Domain names are not truly owned -- they're leased out on a
first-come, first-served basis, and remain with the initial
lessee until either a) the lessee does not renew the name, or
b) a business with a trademark of the same name demonstrates
a greater claim to the name than the lessee can demonstrate.
The question is better phrased as 'who can control the domain
name'. With OpenSRS, the answer is the domain's Administrative
Contact. This is usually specified by the registrant during
the registration process; however, as each Registration Service
Provider may have slightly different policies in this matter,
please consult individual Registration Service Provider's websites
for full details.
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- How much
control do domain owners have over their domain once they've
signed up through an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider?
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.
As an end-user, it's unlikely you'll care to bother with such
details. If this is the case, there are many Registration Service
Providers opt to offer these services as a 'value-add' to their
registration service. Please review individual Registration
Service Provider policy pages for information on how they deal
with domain authority.
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- I heard the
"WHOIS" at Internic is not in real time. How is this different
from the WHOIS function at OpenSRS?
WHOIS is a tool that permits people to access information about
a particular domain name. Internic updates their WHOIS data
twice every 24 hrs. 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
we host, 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.
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- 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.
Me.com, me.net, me.org) just to protect their interests. Now,
.com, .net, and .org names (the generic Top Level Domains) can
be used for any purpose.
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- Does OpenSRS
register in any other top level domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk,
etc.)?
Currently, OpenSRS offers registrations in the .com, .net, .org
gTLDs, and the .co.uk, .org.uk, and .ca ccTLDs through its Registration
Service Providers.
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- 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. Currently, these are .com, .net, and .org.
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.
Currently, OpenSRS offers registrations in the .com, .net, .org
gTLDs, and the .co.uk and .org.uk ccTLDs through its Registration
Service Providers.
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- 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.
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