Domain Name Status Codes

Domain Name Status Codes

Whois records displays the detailed information for who is responsible for a domain name and other key information. In addition to the registrants and contacts for a registered domain name, WhoIs records display the status of a domain name. Each domain name has at least one status code but multiple statuses of a domain name are permissible. Status codes determines the reason as to why the domain name isn’t working, whether the domain is locked for unauthorized domain transfers. You can determine 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 common registry protocols:

* Registry Registrar Protocol (RRP) Status
* Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Statu
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Registry Registrar Protocol (RRP) Status Codes

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

ACTIVE: In this status the domain can be modified and can be renewed by the Registrar. The domain will be included in the zone, if the domain is updated with atleast one name server.

REGISTRY-LOCK: The Official Registry sets this status. In this status, the domain cannot be modified or deleted by the registrar. To get access to this domain for modifiication, the registry must remove the LOCK status. The domain can be renewed. The domain will be included in the zone, if the domain is updated with atleast one name server. This status is not that common and is sometime used in disputes or during Redemption.

REGISTRAR-LOCK: The Registrar for the domain sets this status. The domain can not be modified or deleted or transferred by the Registrant/Owner. The registrar must remove REGISTRAR-LOCK status to modify the domain. The domain can be renewed and will be included in the zone. Status is very common. It is used to prevent unauthorized domain transfers.

REGISTRY-HOLD: 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. This status is used before a domain is set to delete and when a domain is subject to a legal dispute.

REGISTRAR-HOLD: 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. The status denotes non-payment, expiration, or a domain subject to a legal dispute.

REDEMPTIONPERIOD: The Official Registry sets this status when a registrar requests that the domain name be deleted from the registry. The domain can still be obtained if the additional fees is paid along with the renewal fees for the domain name registration. 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 update the domain will be rejected. A domain will be held in this status for a maximum of 30 calendar days.

PENDINGRESTORE: 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. The domain will be held in this status while the registry waits for the registrar to provide required restoration documentation. 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: 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. The domain will be removed from the registry database after being in this status for 5 calendar days. Once deletion occurs, the domain is available to be re-registered by anyone.

Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Domain Status Codes

Newer domain extensions or suffixes like .BIZ and .INFO use Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) status codes.

The .ORG, .BIZ, .INFO and .NAME registries use EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) multiple domain status codes unique to each registry. EPP domain status codes are typically more hard to understand than RRP codes. Each of the EPP Registries have slightly different terms.
E.g. Client Delete Prohibited means you can’t delete the domain they are easy to interpret without further explanation.

There are about 22 different EPP Status codes.

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.  In EPP status code, the word CLIENT refers to REGISTRAR in the RRP system.

For e.g. CLIENT LOCK is REGISTRAR-LOCK and the absence of CLIENT or the use of the word SERVER usually refers to Registry like LOCKED or SERVER LOCK is REGISTRY-LOCK.

Note :  It is important to understand that in the case of locked status of  a domain name at the registries,  several EPP status values combine to make a single RRP status.

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