Record of WHOIS shows who is in charge for a domain name and other key information. In addition to the owner and contacts for a domain name, WHOIS records show the domain names status. Each domain record has at least one status code but multiple statuses are permissible. Status codes are useful to determine why your domain isn’t working, whether your domain is locked to prevent unauthorized domain transfers, and when a domain will be dropped. You can find out any domain’s status by performing a WHOIS lookup on the domain.

Domain name status codes vary by the type of protocol used by the official registry. There are two general registry protocols:

• Registry Registrar Protocol (RRP) Status
• Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Status

Registry Registrar Protocol (RRP) Status

There are eight different status codes or values in the Registry Registrar Protocol (RRP) developed by NSI/Verisign. The two largest registries (.COM and .NET) and some country code Top Level Domains (TLDs) use these status codes.

ACTIVE: The official Registry sets this status. An Active domain can be modified by the registrar and it can be renewed. The domain will be included in the zone if the domain has been delegated to at least one name server. This status is very common.

REGISTRY-LOCK: The official Registry sets this status. The domain cannot be modified or deleted by the registrar. The registry must remove the LOCK status for the registrar to modify the domain. The domain can be renewed. The domain name will be included in the zone if the domain has been delegated to at least one name server. This status is not that common and is sometime used in disputes or during Redemption.

REGISTRAR-LOCK: The sponsoring registrar sets this status. The domain cannot be modified or deleted or transferred. The registrar must remove REGISTRAR-LOCK status to modify the domain. You can typically change the Registrar Lock status through your registrar’s account management interface. The domain can be renewed and will be included in the zone. Status is very common. It’s used to prevent unauthorized transfers and often enabled by Registrar by default.

REGISTRY-HOLD: The official registry sets this status. The domain cannot be modified or deleted by the registrar. The registry must remove the REGISTRY-HOLD status for the registrar to modify the domain. The domain can be renewed. The domain will not be included in the zone. Not a very common status but use before a domain is set to delete and when a domain is subject to a legal dispute.

REGISTRAR-HOLD: The sponsoring registrar sets this status. The domain cannot be modified or deleted. The registrar must remove REGISTRAR-HOLD status to modify the domain. The domain can be renewed. The domain will not be included in the zone. Typically denotes non-payment, expiration, or a domain subject to a legal dispute.

REDEMPTIONPERIOD: The registry sets this status when a registrar requests that the domain name be deleted from the registry and the domain has been registered for more than 5 calendar days (if the delete request is received within 5 days of initial domain registration it will instead be deleted immediately). The domain will not be included in the zone. The domain cannot be modified or purged; it can only be restored. Any other registrar requests to modify or otherwise update the domain will be rejected. A domain will be held in this status for a maximum of 30 calendar days.

PENDINGRESTORE: The registry sets this status after a registrar requests restoration of a domain that is in REDEMPTIONPERIOD status. The domain will be included in the zone. Registrar requests to modify or otherwise update the domain will be rejected. The domain will be held in this status while the registry waits for the registrar to provide required restoration documentation. If the registrar fails to provide documentation to the registry within 7 calendar days to confirm the restoration request, the domain will revert to REDEMPTIONPERIOD status. The domain status will be set to ACTIVE only if the registrar provides documentation to the registry within 7 calendar days to confirm the restoration request.

PENDINGDELETE: The registry sets this status after a domain has been set in REDEMPTIONPERIOD status and the domain has not been restored by the registrar. The domain will not be included in the zone. Once in this status all registrar requests to modify or otherwise update the domain will be rejected. The domain will be purged and dropped from the registry database after being in this status for 5 calendar days. Once deletion occurs, the domain is available to be registered by anyone on a first come, first served basis.

Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Domain Status Codes

The .ORG, .BIZ, .INFO and .NAME registries use EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) multiple domain status values unique to each registry. EPP domain status codes are typically more intuitive to understand than RRP codes. Each of the EPP Registries have slightly different terms, however given the statuses used are fairly clear – e.g. Client Delete Prohibited meaning you can’t delete the domain. Domains in EPP Registries have a normal operating status of “OK” or “Active.” Other additional status codes describe pending operations and restrictions regarding the domain. They are easy to understand without further explanation. There are about 22 different EPP Status codes.

In EPP, the word CLIENT typically refers to registrar in the RRP system (e.g. CLIENT LOCK is REGISTRAR-LOCK) while the absence of CLIENT or the use of the word SERVER usually refers to Registry (e.g. LOCKED or SERVER LOCK is REGISTRY-LOCK) .

The table below shows the EPP Domain Status and its equivalent RRP Domain status.

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Many thousands of domains are cancelled each day. Every day, thousands of short, memorable and highly brandable domain names are not renewed by their original registrants. There may be several reasons for domain expiration which lead to domain cancelled and available for re-registration. Sometimes owner of the domain forgot to pay renewal fees, they might no longer interested in domain.

Most of the best domains are pre-ordered through specialist domain catching services. If not they are available to register by anyone, but here again many are registered within seconds of release. How to know when a domain is going to be cancelled?  This graphic gives you an idea of the steps involved and will help you understand what you need to do to protect before someone else grab your valuable domain names.

Days indicated are not always followed by all registrars. For example, some names expire, but are not deleted from the registry for days or months afterward. Others are removed right away. Best way to protect your domain names from cancellation is enable auto-renewal feature. This is feature is easy to find inside any registrar domain control panel.

Active
Domain is initially registered for 1-10 years. Registration and expiry dates visible in WHOIS. Status is ACTIVE. Domain cannot be transferred for first 60 days between registrars. In this period domain owner is free to transfer domains to other user account with same registrar, also known as Domain Push. Domain Push is instant and it only require few authorization steps. Original registrant receives renewal notices as expiration date approaches. Renew a domain that is about to expire, or set up a domain to auto renew.

Expired
If the domain name passes expiry without renewal registrar status becomes REGISTRAR HOLD No response from registrant. Registrar may send delete command to the registry at its discretion. Shortly after the domain name goes past its expiration date the domain name will be deactivated. All domain services including the web page and email will no longer work. The domain may be renewed during this period. Renew an expired domain. The domain can still usually be renewed but may be deleted by the registrar at any time from 0-45 days after entering this state.

Redemption Grace Period
Domain has technically expired and usually enters the REDEMPTION PERIOD status unless the registrar has sold the domain at an auction, or wants to keep it. This period lasts exactly 30 days and your domain can be rescued for a premium sum by your registrar only direct from ICANN. Premium sum to rescue domain cost a lot, so do not let your domains reach this point.

Pending Delete
Counting from the Updated Date shown in WHOIS after 30 days the domain will enter PENDING DELETE for 5 days before being dropped and released by the central registry. It cannot be rescued at this point and your only option is to use a drop catch service or take a chance that no-one will re-register it and wait.  Domain can be registered by anyone, first come first serve; if the domain is valuable or has lots of traffic it will be snapped up by drop catchers in seconds after it has dropped. Consider drop catch service provided by Snapnames.com, Pool.com, Namejet.com, GoDaddy.com and recently Name.com

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Its weird but to claim your blog you need to copy code and post it in your blog. The code copy-pasted at the begining of this post, because claim code must be found in your RSS or Atom feed.

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Ever wonder to know a web address that doesn’t end in .com .net or .org? Here is complete list of domain extensions with their explanation. Domain extensions are mainly categories as Generic top level domains (gTLD) and Country code top level domains (ccTLD).

Generic top level domains (gTLD)

.com represents the word “commercial,” and is the most widely used extension in the world. Most businesses prefer a .com domain name because it is a highly recognized symbol for having a business presence on the Internet.

.net represents the word “network,” and is most commonly used by Internet service providers, Web-hosting companies or other businesses that are directly involved in the infrastructure of the Internet. Additionally, some businesses choose domain names with a .net extension for their intranet Websites.

.org represents the word “organization,” and is primarily used by non-profits groups or trade associations.

.biz is used for small business Web sites.

.info is for credible resource Web sites and signifies a “resource” web site. It’s the most popular extension beyond .com, .net and .org.

.mobi (short for “mobile”) is reserved for Web sites built for easy viewing on mobile devices.

Generic top level domains (gTLD) with Operating Registry

Country code top level domains (ccTLD) and Operating Registry

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