Domain Name Setup and Registration Help

J

jetlee

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Hi Guys

Just need some input from someone whos been there done that. Previously this setup was done when buying the hosting package, but this is a little different (for me), and I would love some input.

The Picture :
I bought a Debian vps from DMEHosting (hosted in Germany) for a little project I am busy with. Till now the development of the webapp has been done on my lan, and I have recently deployed it to the VPS, and can confirm that using the IP address provides perfect results. I have now begun the domain setup and registration phase and am running into problems and am getting frustrated with the support responses from DMEHosting, and am just wanting some feedback in case I have missed out on something here..

The Current progress and situation :
- I have checked the whois.co.za domain, and have sent the registration email off to the registrar, the name is still available
- I included the DMEHosting nameserver addresses as supplied by DMEHosting
- I then got a response saying FAIL - nameserver does exist for this domain. I expected that they would do the setup their side, and after they had confirmed the purchase was made and that they had setup their servers, that I would set up the dns etc on my side for this to all come together.
- It became apparent that they were unable to complete registration until the zone entries were configured on the nameservers. So I logged onto the KVM control panel and added the DNS entry (have checked and I have A entries and others), I also configured a reverse DNS for testing puproses (dont know if thats relevant - just added for completeness).
- I have checked the DNS settings (I assume a "dig") using the nameservers provided to .co.za registrar, and they both respond with the correct (same) IP address
- I have retried the .co.za domain registration email process, and it still fails with the same error.
- I then contacted .co.za registrar, and they say the hosting provider does not have a PTR record ..
- I have now been backwards and forwards, and am getting generic type responses from DMEHosting support like, "Have you added the DNS entry", "We cant find any registration information for your .co.za domain name"

Now I am starting to think I might have missed something .. does anybody have a solid answer on what could be wrong here ?? or am I being a dumbass ?

Thanks
Jet
 
jetlee said:
Hi Guys

Just need some input from someone whos been there done that. Previously this setup was done when buying the hosting package, but this is a little different (for me), and I would love some input.

The Picture :
I bought a Debian vps from DMEHosting (hosted in Germany) for a little project I am busy with. Till now the development of the webapp has been done on my lan, and I have recently deployed it to the VPS, and can confirm that using the IP address provides perfect results. I have now begun the domain setup and registration phase and am running into problems and am getting frustrated with the support responses from DMEHosting, and am just wanting some feedback in case I have missed out on something here..

The Current progress and situation :
- I have checked the whois.co.za domain, and have sent the registration email off to the registrar, the name is still available
- I included the DMEHosting nameserver addresses as supplied by DMEHosting
- I then got a response saying FAIL - nameserver does exist for this domain. I expected that they would do the setup their side, and after they had confirmed the purchase was made and that they had setup their servers, that I would set up the dns etc on my side for this to all come together.
- It became apparent that they were unable to complete registration until the zone entries were configured on the nameservers. So I logged onto the KVM control panel and added the DNS entry (have checked and I have A entries and others), I also configured a reverse DNS for testing puproses (dont know if thats relevant - just added for completeness).
- I have checked the DNS settings (I assume a "dig") using the nameservers provided to .co.za registrar, and they both respond with the correct (same) IP address
- I have retried the .co.za domain registration email process, and it still fails with the same error.
- I then contacted .co.za registrar, and they say the hosting provider does not have a PTR record ..
- I have now been backwards and forwards, and am getting generic type responses from DMEHosting support like, "Have you added the DNS entry", "We cant find any registration information for your .co.za domain name"

Now I am starting to think I might have missed something .. does anybody have a solid answer on what could be wrong here ?? or am I being a dumbass ?

Thanks
Jet
Click to expand...

I could be wrong (but i'll risk looking like a dumbass to try and help), but this sounds to me like the problem is with the nameservers. I think you need to double check that the correct nameservers are being used (typos do happen), if the name servers are correct, log into your Cpanel (or whaterever they are using) and make sure that you have atleast a A record with the correct IP in the data field, and * (asterisk, wildcard if you want to get technical) as the record name. Also make sure that there is a A record with the correct IP in data field and @ as the record name. That should be enough to test the website.

Other than that I cannot see any other problem. Or DMEHosting did not setup the server correctly.

Cheers mate
 
Did you actually register a .co.za domain yet? Your post is vague on this.
 
teraside said:
Did you actually register a .co.za domain yet? Your post is vague on this.
Click to expand...

I have sent the request to the registrar .. who are waiting for nameservers to be set up correctly. From what I can tell, this is an email automated process, once it resolves my nameservers correctly, they will continue with the registration .. unless I am horribly mistaken ?

I was under the impression, that filling out the form and mailing it to the registrar IS the registration process .. am I incorrect ?
 
icyrus said:
If uniforum say the PTR record is the problem then it seems you are going to have to pressure your host to rectify it.

You can check with dig if you follow the instructions on this site:
http://www.admon.org/howto-use-dig-check-ptr-record/
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, Ill try it and see what happens .. btw, is this something all registrars will complain about, or is it a specific .co.za thing ??
 
jetlee said:
I have sent the request to the registrar .. who are waiting for nameservers to be set up correctly. From what I can tell, this is an email automated process, once it resolves my nameservers correctly, they will continue with the registration .. unless I am horribly mistaken ?

I was under the impression, that filling out the form and mailing it to the registrar IS the registration process .. am I incorrect ?
Click to expand...

Uhm...no. If you do a Whois and you see the domain name is available, it's not registered.

You can register the domain here: http://www.cozareg.com/ which is much easier. You pay the R50 for the year etc. and the domain is active. When registering you supply the domain nameservers etc.
 
Registering .co.za domain names has in the past been quite complicated. We are currently one of the few companies in South Africa that is able to use the new EPP system to register .co.za domain names. Please contact me if you would like us to assist.
 
icyrus said:
If uniforum say the PTR record is the problem then it seems you are going to have to pressure your host to rectify it.

You can check with dig if you follow the instructions on this site:
http://www.admon.org/howto-use-dig-check-ptr-record/
Click to expand...

Also, is the PTR record for the nameserver .. not my host ... because I did add a reverse DNS on my own control panel .. but I assume that is not the issue .. ?
 
jetlee said:
Thanks for this, Ill try it and see what happens .. btw, is this something all registrars will complain about, or is it a specific .co.za thing ??
Click to expand...

I couldn't say as I generally have the same processes for registering any domain:
- set up the DNS records through my SliceHost interface
- send the registration request to whichever registrar

I can say however that Uniforum's process is quite byzantine.

For other domains though try Hover: https://www.hover.com/

teraside said:
Uhm...no. If you do a Whois and you see the domain name is available, it's not registered.
Click to expand...

He is following Uniforum's process but the registration is failing at the name server stage. Once that is sorted it will proceed without problems.
 
jetlee said:
Also, is the PTR record for the nameserver .. not my host ... because I did add a reverse DNS on my own control panel .. but I assume that is not the issue .. ?
Click to expand...

Do the dig ptr results for your address look correct?
 
icyrus said:
He is following Uniforum's process but the registration is failing at the name server stage. Once that is sorted it will proceed without problems.
Click to expand...
Cool :) If he is following the process. That's what I was trying to find out.
 
icyrus said:
Do the dig ptr results for your address look correct?
Click to expand...

actually not .. and interestingly neither do the dig records for the nameserver..

OK, well I will follow up again with the hosting company, and hopefully get this resolved, Im glad that I confirmed all of this, I was concerned that I was missing a fundemental step in the process .. but it appears as though this is not the case.

Once resolved, Ill post my resolution here for completeness .. thanks for all the help.
 
Never mind

searched for a new available .com domain name, had it registered and propogated in 60 seconds..

Am so dissapointed with Uniforum .. sometimes being South African is just plain embarrassing, we have some of the best IT guys in the world here (I know, Ive worked with some), and we get saddled with a legacy of crud at the registrar .. what a joke.

Anyway .. done and dusted now .. .com .info and .net .. 60 seconds .. beats .co.za for over 2 weeks and counting..
 
jetlee said:
Never mind

searched for a new available .com domain name, had it registered and propogated in 60 seconds..

Am so dissapointed with Uniforum .. sometimes being South African is just plain embarrassing, we have some of the best IT guys in the world here (I know, Ive worked with some), and we get saddled with a legacy of crud at the registrar .. what a joke.

Anyway .. done and dusted now .. .com .info and .net .. 60 seconds .. beats .co.za for over 2 weeks and counting..
Click to expand...

Well you can do it with a .co.za. You just used the old system, many ISPs (like domaincheap.co.za) use the new epp system where its just like a .com or something.
 
ghoti said:
Well you can do it with a .co.za. You just used the old system, many ISPs (like domaincheap.co.za) use the new epp system where its just like a .com or something.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, I did not try domaincheap.co.za .. but I did try http://www.cozareg.com/ , and that gave the exact same result .. so after that I decided to ditch it.. perhaps I shouldve tried domaincheap, but really .. it was too little too late ..

How can the Uniforum process be so bad (when they are the ones "in charge" of the registrations), that registrars using this "EPP" system (probably provided by Uniforum) have the ability to do it, but joe public cannot ... smacks of moneymaking scandal to me ..
 
jetlee said:
Fair enough, I did not try domaincheap.co.za .. but I did try http://www.cozareg.com/ , and that gave the exact same result .. so after that I decided to ditch it.. perhaps I shouldve tried domaincheap, but really .. it was too little too late ..

How can the Uniforum process be so bad (when they are the ones "in charge" of the registrations), that registrars using this "EPP" system (probably provided by Uniforum) have the ability to do it, but joe public cannot ... smacks of moneymaking scandal to me ..
Click to expand...

Naah, you can create your own system and connect to the new EPP system with Uniforum. Its what we all being wanting for years already. Finally Uniforum has implemented it and pretty much anyone can become an accredited registrar if you have the time and resources. Im so glad I dont have to use the legacy system any more. Now I can change my .co.za domain servers anytime I want :D
 
Someday, in the distant future, all people asking for assistance will copy-paste error messages. Until then... :D
 
jetlee said:
Fair enough, I did not try domaincheap.co.za .. but I did try http://www.cozareg.com/ , and that gave the exact same result .. so after that I decided to ditch it.. perhaps I shouldve tried domaincheap, but really .. it was too little too late ..

How can the Uniforum process be so bad (when they are the ones "in charge" of the registrations), that registrars using this "EPP" system (probably provided by Uniforum) have the ability to do it, but joe public cannot ... smacks of moneymaking scandal to me ..
Click to expand...

the difference between the co.za process an the .com process is that with the .com process you have to use EPP and can't go directly to the registry. And yes, the EPP system provided by UniForum requires some technical competence - generally the 'joe public' will not know about xml schemas and SSL handshakes.

If you're looking for a list of accredited registrars, you can go to http://www.registry.net.za/accredited_registrars.php ie. you have plenty of options here.
 
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