Uniforum Hell

[andres101]

How was Uniforum put in charge of the co.za domain? Is there some type of election or review process that can be used to get someone else to handle the co.za domain registrations? Or to force them to update their ancient process? Have they not heard of forms or CGI. Perhaps even something like ASP or PHP.

It is a ridiculous process to get anything done. You give them enough information and their server rejects the request saying you provided too little. You give them more information and their server rejects it because you provided too much information.

Example:
You use their update form generator and change the "U" to a "D" (delete request) and you submit the request. You would expect this to work, but no, your email gets rejected because your mail server does not have a reverse DNS record. WTF? Who checks for a RDNS record?

206.223.136.196 does not like recipient.
Remote host said: 550 Client host rejected: cannot find your hostname, [x.x.x.x]

Ok, so I log into Gmail and send from there. This time at least their server accepts the email, but they reject the request because it contained both CNAME's and IP addresses.

Entering check-stage...
You have specified both Nameserver and CNAME information
Your application is ambiguous. Only one of the above may be provided.

Keep in mind that:
a) When I registered this domain, their stupid process required that I provide both the CNAME and nameserver information
b) I am trying to delete a domain. What more information do you need other that a 'D' (delete request). Why are you even checking the nameservers?
c) I used their update form generator

Every time I fire off an email to coza-admin, one quote goes through my head:
You gotta ask yourself one question: Do you feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?

 

[bk.ru]

Yeah, people have being complaining for years about the shoddy backend Uniforum offers. Seems like a little monopoly so that a handful of people can live in comfort instead of putting some of the MILLIONS it makes back into a new infrastructure.

Also expect some very rude staff. Everyone of them speaks to you as if they are doing you a favor.

The system is the same one I started using 8 years ago and its just as pathetic. I am sure Orange or another Uniforum rep will try justify their k4k system, but at the end of the day, its not what the South African ICT public want, but Uniforum is just as African as any other monopoly.

I have always dreams of a managed web based system from them, but I guess personal profit and laziness are more important than functionality to some people.

 

[andres101]

They do actually make changes to their system. Once I get a form that actually works, I save it for re-use later. But the same form does not always work!

Any idea how they came to be in charge of the co.za domain? Any chance of setting up a competitor?

 

[Turiko]

No chance, as it is the SA guavamint wants to wrestle control away from them over the co.za TLD

 

[warwickw]

My biggest issues with them and their archaic system :

1) Why do they check that the name servers exist before approving the domain? No international registrar does this, and it just causes untold frustrations.
2) Why can't I sync the domain expiry dates or renewal dates.? I'd love to just pay once or twice a year, and not 12 times, for all my domains.
3) Their manual procedure sucks nothing quick about it. Definately nothing manual about it.

Ideally the system needs to be updated urgently to be in accordance with international standards, ie the email update/application procedure canned and replaced with a secure website.

 

[threegee]

I've been dealing with Uniforum for well over 16 years now, once you understand their quirky system it does work flawlessly. They do DNS server checks for very valid reasons if you have a thorough knowledge of DNS you will understand why.

I would much rather have Uniforum continue to be the authority for .co.za I shudder to think of the horrid mess that the SA government will make of .co.za they seem unable to get much else right.

 

[server-admins.net]

have to agree with you threegee, although they could vastly improve their system.

An API would assist ISP's in managing all aspects of domains, including billing etc.

 

[andres101]

welcome to MyADSL server-admins.net

if they published an API, I bet someone will develop a proper interface within days/weeks.

I have a pretty good understanding of DNS and I have no idea what the reason for the checks are. so what if I haven't updated my DNS records yet. in fact, many dns servers won't accept your domain unless your whois records list their servers. catch 22.

what is the reason for the DNS validity checks and why is this necessary in SA on co.za domains but not for any other country or domain?

I guess TIA...

 

[server-admins.net]

thanks for the welcome andres101

as far back as i remember, Uniform's excuse for the DNS checks was to prevent "spam registrations"

But at the end of the day, they needn't care or should they?
It costs them nothing for bogus domains and those that register legitimate domains pay them.

the problem here is they can do what they want and there is nothing we can do about.

I recall years ago when dealing with them actually used to be a pleasant experience, and if you required assistance they were able to and willing to help.

Try phone them now, you're better off getting telkom to answer your COZA issues.

 

[RSkeens]

andres101,

I know exactly how you feel - being a provider that has to deal with their nonsense on a regular basis, it is definitely not fun.

I have quite a few stories about them, but that's another case

The day they actually pay 1% of their profits for a control panel to be programmed will call for celebration.

 

[threegee]

I most certainly agree that their system could do with lots of improvement. The reason for their checks is to make sure your DNS server is correctly configured with your zone, you will not believe how many lame delegations exist worldwide because the international registrars' simply accept your nameservers regardless of whether they are configured properly or not. Uniforum's checks are most certainly NOT ridiculous by any means or standard. Get a "thorough" knowledge of DNS and you will understand why they do this.

As stated earlier I've been dealing with them for 16+ years and if you understand their system there is no "nonsense" as you put it. If you think Uniforum is going to change their system, think again. Learn to work the way they want you to work.

As for API's I wrote my own API almost 13 years ago to deal with registrations, renewals, billing etc ... very easy if you know how.

 

[RSkeens]

As stated earlier I've been dealing with them for 16+ years and if you understand their system there is no "nonsense" as you put it.

I have nothing against their DNS checks or against their strict methodology at all.

I have had problems with them when their mail server was down. I phoned them and the lady who basically whispers on the other end eventually puts me through to their technician.

The technician tells me that he is aware it is down, so I tell him fine - may I please fax a domain name update through to him?

No

May I use an alternate e-mail address?

No

May I tell him the details over the phone?

No

Am I correct in saying that domain name registrations and updates can still be completed, but the mail server is just down?

Yes

Can you believe that for service? If that isn't nonsense for you, then by all means be happy with it.

 

[mike@]

Registry / Registrar Split

Uniforum are aware of the problems and are proposing a move to establish a registrar group with direct access (most likely EPP) to the registry system (subject to proper policies in place).

Many of the old rules will stay unless you can show a compelling technical reason to remove them.

Stop moaning and join the process!

By the way - I have seen the Uniforum financials - no one is living comfortably or siphoning off the funds. They are tucked away and being used for education, training, systems upgrades and the like. Please don't throw personal accusations like that around without any justification!

M

(and no - I am not a Uniforum rep)

 

[server-admins.net]

I disagree that we should stop moaning, in fact do the opposite as this is the best way to get things changed, and change is good.

RavenServers brought up a good point, in which he attempted to register a domain and their mail severs were down. Mail should not be the only method of registration. At least have an on-line form that submits the info to their database in situations like these.

 

[Freshy-ZN]

Uniforum are aware of the problems and are proposing a move to establish a registrar group with direct access (most likely EPP) to the registry system (subject to proper policies in place).

Many of the old rules will stay unless you can show a compelling technical reason to remove them.

Stop moaning and join the process!

By the way - I have seen the Uniforum financials - no one is living comfortably or siphoning off the funds. They are tucked away and being used for education, training, systems upgrades and the like. Please don't throw personal accusations like that around without any justification!

M

(and no - I am not a Uniforum rep)

Yawn, Uniforum have been proposing or promising or intimating a new system for years now. Why the hell should we stop moaning about a pathetic excuse for a domain registrar??

Uniforum need to wake up and realise the 90s are long over because thats when their system seems to have been developed.

 

[Lourens]

Well, I am not totally satisfied with the way they do things and it was quite a surprise to find the new form that they use. It make things easier now that I do not have to submit the ip's with the name servers - it makes updates to new servers better.

 

[w1z4rd]

You can go back years on this forum with people complaining often about the SAME problems. It just pisses us off that we dont have access to more modern systems.

 

[wm0000]

I've been dealing with Uniforum for well over 16 years now, once you understand their quirky system it does work flawlessly. They do DNS server checks for very valid reasons if you have a thorough knowledge of DNS you will understand why.

I would much rather have Uniforum continue to be the authority for .co.za I shudder to think of the horrid mess that the SA government will make of .co.za they seem unable to get much else right.

I agree. Their system is "different" to say the least but it works pretty much all the time if you know how to use it... and insisting on authoritative DNS is a good idea IMO. (Probably not popular with all though and I can understand why).

I used to hate it until we wrote our own tool for registering and renewing domains. It was a lot of work but since we host a ton of .co.za domains, it was worth the effort.

 

[satsoft]

If it aint broken why fix it?
Good wm0000 we done the same if someone can't help do it yourself.

Since 1996 I have no complaints about Uniforum the system might be old, but it works.
Lets keep our registrar out of Government hands unless everyone want more red tape to cut trough to deliver a service.
If you have trouble submitting registrations or changes check your DNS records and form formats that has been mostly where the trouble is, PLUS having Uniforum run a sanity check on your DNS records before accepting changes is not a bad thing, we're all human.

It's very easy to code your own PHP or ASP frontend to submit forms.
You can run a procmail service on your mail server with a dedicated mailbox to process incoming tickets etc from Uniforum and automate everything yourself, hey then you're in control, it's exiting!

 

[Equinox]

Its not like they're changing where the hoops are every 3 months. Once you've got to grips with how the system works, its plain and simple.