- 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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- 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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- 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 its 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 referrals. Simply visit referrals.tucows.com.
If you wish to transfer a .CA domain -
Please visit the following page for a referral to one of our .CA Resellers: http://referrals.tucows.com/index.cgi?prod=ca
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.
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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- 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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