Questions

1. How do I change contact information on my Domain?
2. I lost the password to manage a domain!
3. How do I change my Name Servers?
4. What does "Unable to verify existance of nameserver" mean?
5. How can I perform a bulk DNS update?

6. HELP! I've deleted all my name servers!
7. How do I create a name server based on this domain?
8. How do I delete a name server I created using manage?
9. How do I change the IP address of my name server?
10. How do I change the host name of my name server?

11. How do I register a ccTLD name server?
12. How do Domain Profiles work?
13. How do I move domains between Profiles?
14. How do I move a domain from my main profile to its own?
15. How do I create a Sub User account for my domain?

16. How do I delete a Sub User?
17. What is domain locking?
18. How do I lock/unlock my domain name?
19. Can I prevent my contact information from displaying in the whois?

Answers

1. How do I change contact information on my domain?
   
   Each link on the main screen corresponds to a field in the WHOIS output. Click on the link to the field you wish to update. You will be presented with a page where you can edit the information in each field.
   
   Ensure the Admin Email address is kept up to date. This is the only way to recover a lost login/password.
   
   For information on how to modify the Organization Name for a .CA domain please click here.
   
   For .co.uk & .org.uk domains only:
   Nominet requires that changes in domain ownership be handled between the registrant and Nominet directly. The Reseller can assist the registrant, but OpenSRS does not get involved with this process.
   
   The registrant will need to complete the transfer form on the reverse of the Domain Name Certificate and submit a letter of authorization on company letterhead. Full instructions are given on the transfer form itself. In addition, the person or business the registrant is transferring the Domain Name to must sign the form and submit a letter of authorization on their own letterhead. The two signatories of the letters must be different people.
   
   If the registrant has misplaced their Certificate for the Domain Name, and they want to transfer the registration to another holder, they may request a transfer form from Nominet. Please contact them directly for the correct procedure.
   
   
   

2. I lost the password to manage a domain!
   
   Your OpenSRS Reseller can email the login information to the Admin Contact or Owner Contact email address on file. If the Admin Contact/Owner Contact email addresses are invalid for any reason, the only remaining option is to send us a fax on company letterhead (if possible) signed by Domain owner. Please include the domain name, the new Admin Contact Email address and a copy of a government issued photo ID (Drivers License, Passport, etc). Please use the following form.
   
   Fax Number: 1-416-531-2516 Attn: OpenSRS Support
   Please Email support@opensrs.org so we know to look for your fax.
   
   For .ca domains only:
   Once we receive the fax we will start the modification process with CIRA, who will then send confirmation emails to both the OLD and NEW email addresses requesting confirmation of the change. For the changes to be made, the admin contact must select reply-to-all when replying to the emails (from the NEW admin contact email address) and state that they accept the changes. Since this is a manual process, it will generally take about two weeks to complete.
   
   
   

3. How do I change my Name Servers?
   
   Click on Manage Name Servers, you will see your current name servers listed. Always add the new nameserver first using "Adding New Name Servers"
   
   You only have to add the hostname. The IP is handled automatically.
   
   Then, you can remove the old name server by clicking the remove check box to the right and clicking "Save Configuration". Please note this action does not delete the name server entry, it removes it from this domain only.
   
   This procedure assumes that the nameservers in question are valid registered Internet nameservers. Some registries such as .us, .info, .biz, .name, .org and .cc maintain their own databases of registered, valid name servers, rather then going by the VeriSign .COM/.NET Registry database. If you are receiving "unable to verify existance of name server" error messages, it's likely due to the name server not being found in their database. You can add your name servers to the various registries through the "Add Nameserver to All Foreign Registries " link in the resellers interface. If you are not an OpenSRS Reseller please contact your reseller to have the name servers added.
   
   Please note that the name servers IP addresses will only show up when you use a name server based on the same TLD. For example, the IP address will show up when you use a .org name server (ex: ns1.example.org) on a .org domain (ex: tucows.org). Not displaying the IP has no effect on the resolution of the domain name, it is strictly cosmetic.
   
   
   

4. What does "Unable to verify existance of nameserver" mean?
   
   If you are receiving "Unable to verify existance of name server" error messages when trying to add name servers, it's likely due to the name server not being found in the registry database. You can add your name servers to the various registries through the "Add Nameserver to All Foreign Registries " link in the resellers interface. If you are not an OpenSRS Reseller please contact your reseller to have the name servers added.
   
   
   

5. How can I perform a bulk DNS update?
   
   An unsupported version of the Manage Interface has been set up at https://saleng.tucows.com/cgi-bin/opensrs/mod/opensrs-client-2.0.1-multiDNS/cgi/manage_LIVE.cgi that will allow you to perform a bulk DNS update on 50 domains at a time. All the domain names must be in the same management profile in order to use this interface.
   
   
   

6. HELP! I've deleted all my name servers!
   
   If you have deleted your name server settings, or wish to add more, you can use the "- Adding New Name Servers -" section below the list of DNS. Enter just the name of the DNS, not the IP address, and click on "Add Name Server." The DNS will be added to the list directly above.
   
   
   

7. How do I create a name server based on this domain?
   
   Click on the "Manage Name Servers" section and at the bottom of the page, you will see a link called "If you want to create or modify a name server which is based on {your domain} click here."
   
   Here you can register a name server based on the domain. All name servers must have an unique IP and must be set-up and running for at least 24 hours before you register them here. Type the prefix for your name server and its IP address and click Create Name Server. We suggest that you do not use the prefix "www" or "mail" as this may cause a problem with lookups. Use a known convention such as "ns1"
   
   If you are receiving "Unable to create nameserver: Registry error, nameserver creation failed [Attribute value not unique]" this means that the IP address you entered is already in use by another name server You will either have to select another IP address or remove the IP from the existing name server.
   
   
   

8. How do I delete a name server I created using manage?
   
   In the Manage Name Servers section, and at the bottom of the page, you will see a link: "If you want to create or modify a name server which is based on {your domain} click here."
   
   You can only delete name servers that are not in use by any domains. You will only see a Delete button next to a DNS entry if it is not in use by an OpenSRS domain. Unfortunately, OpenSRS does not have the ability to give you a list of what domains a name server is listed on.
   
   If the Delete button is available, click it and you will receive an "Are you sure?" Click yes and the DNS will be deleted from the root registry.
   
   Please be aware that we can't check to see if the DNS is in use by non-OpenSRS domains. If it is, you will get an error directly from the root registry.
   
   
   

9. How do I change the IP address of my name server?
   
   In the Manage Name Servers section, and at the bottom of the page, you will see a link: "If you want to create or modify a name server which is based on {your domain} click here."
   
   Simply change the old IP to the new one and click Save Configuration. All name servers must have unique IPs. If you're getting a registry error, it likely means that IP is already in use.
   
   This change will be automatically applied to all domains using this name server and will take 24-72 hours to fully propagate.
   
   
   

10. How do I change the host name of my name server?
    
    In the Manage Name Servers section, and at the bottom of the page, you will see a link: "If you want to create or modify a name server which is based on {your domain} click here."
    
    Simply change the old host name to the new one and click Save Configuration.
    
    This change will be automatically applied to all domains using this name server.
    
    
    

11. How do I register a ccTLD name server?
    
    Most Registries keep their own list of valid nameservers. Each Nameserver host record must be added before it can be used.
    
    All Resellers can do this via the "Add Nameserver to All Foreign Registries " link on the Resellers Web Interface.
    
    Please be aware that ccTLD nameserver IP addresses are not required by the registry and are not displayed by our system. This does not affect the operation of the nameserver.
    
    
    

12. How do Domain Profiles work?
    
    In order to speed up registrations and make managing domains easier, OpenSRS has a system called "Domain Profiles". A profile is simply a username and password associated with a domain or domains which gives access to a Web-based interface to manage these specific domains.
    
    When registering or transferring domains, instead of typing all the same information repeatedly, the RSP can use the profile of an existing OpenSRS-registered domain as template for the new registration. The domain information (Administrative contact, Billing Contact, Technical Contact, and nameservers) for the two domains will be exactly the same.
    
    On a manual registration using the "Quickstart" Web interface, for instance, this system can be used to recall a previous registrations information as follows:
    Go to http://resellers.opensrs.net
    Log in with your Reseller username/password.
    Select "Place Order Manually" or "Place Transfer Manually".
    
    On the domain registration template, you can recall a previous profile's associated information by entering the profile domain/username/password in "Retrieve Order Information" for either new registrations and registrar transfers.
    
    From the Full Access scripts based on reg_system.cgi, use the "Existing client" option when registering a domain, and type in the profile information in the fields that follow.
    
    Domains that are created or transfered using the same profile can be managed together in the Management Web Interface.
    
    This is where the domain/username/password combination are entered to gain secure access to the management Web interface. Here the end-user can change contact info for all domains in the same profile. They can also easily switch between different domains using "Manage Another Domain" link.
    
    It is important to remember that anyone with the profile login information can change all info for all domains in the profile, including ownership. Guard this information carefully.
    
    
    

13. How do I move domains between Profiles?
    
    Log into the Manage Interface and click on the "Manage Profile" link. From there, click on the "Change Ownership of Domain" link and fill out the username & password of the existing profile you want to move this domain to. Click on the "Move to existing profile" checkbox and then under "Previously Registered Domain", enter in a domain name that is already in the existing profile. Click on the "Change Owner" button and the domain will be instantly moved into the existing profile.
    
    Note: If you have multiple domains in the same profile that you wish to move to an exisitng profile, you may select the "Move all domains associated with this profile" checkbox.
    
    If you have multiple domain names in *seperate* management profiles that use the same username & password you can click here to use an unsupported CGI to bulk merge them into one management profile.
    
    
    

14. How do I move a domain from my main profile to its own?
    
    To break a domain out of it's profile, click on the "Manage Profile" link and then click on "Change Ownership of Domain". Enter in a new username/password and click on the "Change Owner" button. The domain will be instantly moved into it's own profile and use the new username and password.
    
    
    

15. How do I create a Sub User account for my domain?
    
    A Sub User is an additional login to your domain that you can create and grant limited access. This is helpful if you'd like to give a login to your Web Host or ISP to manage your Name servers/etc.
    
    Go to "Manage Profile", then "Create/Manage a Sub-User". Select a username, password and choose what areas that this sub-user will be allowed to edit. Sub-users are never allowed access to the "Manage Profile" section.
    
    There can only be a single sub-user per domain and a sub-user can only manage the domain it was created for, not the profile it is in (if it is part of a larger group profile of your domains).
    
    
    

16. How do I delete a Sub User?
    
    Click on the "Manage Profile" link and then on the "Create/Manage a Sub-User" link. At the bottom of the page you will find a "Delete Sub-user" button.
    
    
    

17. What is domain locking?
    
    Domain Locking is designed to prevent domains from being transferred away without the domain owner's express consent. It also prevents nameserver changes when enabled.
    
    
    

18. How do I lock/unlock a domain name?
    
    Domain names can be locked/unlocked through both the Resellers Web Interface and through the manage.cgi (version 2.52 and higher) installed on your server.
    
    To lock/unlock a domain from the Resellers Web Interface, simply log in, enter the domain name into the "View Domain" field and click on the query button. This will bring up a page with the domain's contact information and you'll find the locking options near the top of the screen.
    
    More information on domain locking can be found in our Name Locking Guide.
    
    Domain names cannot be locked/unlocked from the public Management Interface. If you are a domain owner please contact your OpenSRS reseller for information on how to lock/unlock your domain name.
    
    
    

19. Can I prevent my contact information from displaying in the whois?
    
    All domain owners are required to have full and valid contact information listed in the whois database. This is part of the registration agreement and failure to do so can result in having your domain name deleted.