WHMCS and ZACR Technical Accreditation?

[hugov01]

If I buy Outlook, Mark Crispin does not put me through a accreditation check to make sure that the email client I'm using conform to his IMAP protocol standards before he lets me use Outlook.

Why then if you buy WHMCS with a plugin for registering domains through ZACR do you need to pass the Technical Accreditation test?

I understand that if you are building a system from scratch you would want to test your system in a sandbox environment, but to me this step feels like a unnecessary roadblock if you have WHMCS.

Or there some WHMCS plugin that I missed that let you pass the ZACR test?

 

[Domains.co.za (Wayne)]

Excuse the simplistic analogy
What you are saying, is that you want to build a car from different manufacturers and then drive it on the road without testing or being roadworthy and saying that it should just work or be fine.

The fact that you buy WHMCS and a ZACR plugin does not make you a Registrar. In theory, it will allow you to potentially register .za domains once you are an accredited Registrar, that has passed a technical accreditation (making sure your systems can actually perform all Registry/Registrar functions not just registration.

All Registrars should know all policies (legal, technical and other) before becoming a Registrar, you can see these on the Registry website: https://www.registry.net.za/

My 2cents worth
Dont become a Registrar, too much hassle if you're small, rather become a domain reseller of a Registrar and let them handle all that

 

[hugov01]

Excuse the simplistic analogy
What you are saying, is that you want to build a car from different manufacturers and then drive it on the road without testing or being roadworthy and saying that it should just work or be fine.

The fact that you buy WHMCS and a ZACR plugin does not make you a Registrar. In theory, it will allow you to potentially register .za domains once you are an accredited Registrar, that has passed a technical accreditation (making sure your systems can actually perform all Registry/Registrar functions not just registration.

All Registrars should know all policies (legal, technical and other) before becoming a Registrar, you can see these on the Registry website: https://www.registry.net.za/

My 2cents worth
Dont become a Registrar, too much hassle if you're small, rather become a domain reseller of a Registrar and let them handle all that

No, what I'm saying is you buy the car (WHMCS). Why do you need to build a whole separate system to pass the test if you are going to use WHMCS as your production system?

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

No, what I'm saying is you buy the car (WHMCS). Why do you need to build a whole separate system to pass the test if you are going to use WHMCS as your production system?

WHMCS is like the road you drive on to get from point A to point B. And your ZACR plugin is a bridge connecting two destinations.

You need to register your details and understand the technical and legal requirements involved to use the bridge.

If you have WHMCS along with a plugin that integrates with the ZACR EPP system, there’s nothing stopping you from completing the accreditation process and paying the fee.

Btw, which plugin included with WHMCS provides integration with the ZACR EPP system?

 

[Jade @ Absolute Hosting]

Btw, which plugin included with WHMCS provides integration with the ZACR EPP system?

This is the important part, what whmcs registrar module has been purchased?

My suggestion to the OP is to get a registrar module from an existing registrar and use that as a reseller.

Unless you have more than 100 or so domains it’s not viable to go the registrar route.

Typically a registrar develops their own integration into the registry’s system and this is why the registry requires accreditation - to prove that the registrar can integrate with the registry and adapt as the registry’s systems change without relying on the registry for support.

 

[hugov01]

WHMCS is like the road you drive on to get from point A to point B. And your ZACR plugin is a bridge connecting two destinations.

You need to register your details and understand the technical and legal requirements involved to use the bridge.

If you have WHMCS along with a plugin that integrates with the ZACR EPP system, there’s nothing stopping you from completing the accreditation process and paying the fee.

Btw, which plugin included with WHMCS provides integration with the ZACR EPP system?

Thank you. I think this is the issue for me. I've yet to find a WHMCS plugin that allows you to enter the OTE test credentials to complete the test steps via WHMCS.

Plugins we have tested:

Cozaepp
EPP Registry
Gateway SRS Version: v4.0.119
ZA Domains (v3.0)

Most of them only allow live credentials, or they are a reseller platform but allows registrars as well.

I understand that a registrar would want to develop their own system for the integrations but is this needed if you are going to use WHMCS with a plugin. Does WHMCS not cater for all the requirement?

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

Thank you. I think this is the issue for me. I've yet to find a WHMCS plugin that allows you to enter the OTE test credentials to complete the test steps via WHMCS.

Plugins we have tested:

Cozaepp
EPP Registry
Gateway SRS Version: v4.0.119
ZA Domains (v3.0)

Most of them only allow live credentials, or they are a reseller platform but allows registrars as well.

I understand that a registrar would want to develop their own system for the integrations but is this needed if you are going to use WHMCS with a plugin. Does WHMCS not cater for all the requirement?

WHMCS doesn’t have a native registrar module for ZARC.

The available free modules on GitHub are most likely outdated and won't work.

If you’re looking to resell domains, I’d recommend first considering a reseller module with providers like Domains.co.za or Absolute. Reselling domains alone isn’t particularly lucrative, as the profit margins are quite low.

if you’re set on getting accredited with ZARC there is a another company offering a module. Its not free, but the monthly subscription cost is minimal. That module will allows you to use your own ZACR credentials, eliminating the need for a middleman like domains, za domains etc.

 

[hugov01]

Thanks. So I went ahead and built a website to simulate all of the tests needed to pass the accreditation test. Why did I need to go through all of this effort to build the "fake" site and then use WHMCS in my production environment?

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

Thanks. So I went ahead and built a website to simulate all of the tests needed to pass the accreditation test. Why did I need to go through all of this effort to build the "fake" site and then use WHMCS in my production environment?

Why don't you ask ZACR?