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Below is an index of commonly used terms. Please click on the term to display its definition.
domain name
To uniquely identify all computers on the Internet, every computer is assigned
a unique IP Address. IP stands for Internet Protocol and these addresses are
normally expressed as a string of numbers (eg. 217.27.61.137). domain names
were developed to avoid having to remember the IP addresses of all of the web
sites we visit. Through the use of domain name Servers,
easy-to-remember domain names are automatically translated to their
corresponding IP addresses, allowing computers on the Internet to communicate
with each other. domain names typically have several levels, separated by a dot
(ie. a full stop). The right-most level is usually known as the top-level
domain, or TLD, and is often represented by a country code, such as .nz. Within
.nz, a range of second-level
domains, or 2LDs, have been created for specific uses (eg. .co.nz for
commercial users and .school.nz for schools). Some 2LDs are subject to
moderation and have a restricted usage. InternetNZ,
the party delegated to manage the .nz name space, maintains a register
of third-level domains for the general public to use on a 'first come, first
served' basis.
domain name Commissioner (DNC)
The Office of the domain name Commissioner (DNC) is an operational office of
InternetNZ. The DNC is responsible for the ongoing development and
monitoring of the competitive registrar market and the environment for
registering and managing .nz domain names. This includes responsibility for the
authorization of registrarsand the handling of disputes and
complaints.
domain name Server (DNS)
A domain name Server, or DNS, accepts requests from programs, or other DNS, to
convert domain names into IP addresses. When a web
address is typed into a browser, the browser's first step is to convert the
domain name into an IP address so that the browser can find the computer where
the web page is located. To do this, the browser has a conversation with a DNS,
which in turn may contact other DNS, all of which are part of the worldwide
DNS System
. In DNS terminology, a domain name is said to be 'delegated' to an IP address.
Although DNS is simply a generic term for a name server, it is often also used
to refer to the DNS System as a whole, or to a specific DNS (ie. the .nz DNS is
often just called 'the DNS').
DNS System
Many thousands of DNS link together to form the most active
distributed database in the world, known as the DNS System. A relatively small
number of high-level "root" DNS handle the several hundred top-level domains
(eg. .nz, .uk, .com). A request for a .nz domain name (eg. dnc.org.nz) is
referred by the root DNS to the .nz DNS. The .nz DNS, which is managed and
operated by NZRS and
updated regularly from the
register every day, will refer the request to one of countless other
DNS that exist within hosting
companies. It is therefore important that the name server (DNS) details for
individual domain names in the register are kept up to date. Missing or
incorrect name server details will make a domain name unusable for a web site,
email address, or any other purpose.
Hosting
The term hosting can refer to a variety of Internet-based services. In the
context of .nz, the term usually refers to the hosting of a domain name in a
particular DNS through an arrangement between a hosting
company and a registrant. This is necessary before a
domain name can be used on the Internet. The term hosting is also used when
companies, or organizations, host people's web sites or email accounts on their
computers. This type of hosting falls outside the responsibility of .nz and the
DNC. Enlighten Domains can provide you Hosting for your web site and
Email services through our sister company,
Enlighten Hosting
. Hosting of your DNS is automatically on the Enlighten Domains DNS servers,
unless otherwise stipulated when registering the domain.
InternetNZ
InternetNZ (The Internet
Society of New Zealand), is a non-profit society established in 1995 to
foster coordinated and cooperative development of the Internet in New Zealand.
InternetNZ is an independent body that is not allied to any particular section
of the industry and is open to anyone who wants to influence Internet
evolution. InternetNZ has been assigned responsibility for managing the .nz
name space by ICANN, the
non-profit corporation formed to assume responsibility for domain name system
management. To carry out this function, InternetNZ established the office of
the DNC
.
Moderation
A limited number of second-level domains, or 2LDs, have been created for .nz
(eg. .co.nz, .net.nz, .org.nz, etc). Some of these 2LDs have a restricted usage
(eg. .mil.nz, .cri.nz, .iwi.nz, .govt.nz), whereby proposed domain names are
scrutinized for their suitability by a moderator appointed by
InternetNZ. Moderated domain names can only be registered by
registrars approved by the moderator of the 2LD, but afterwards can be
transferred for management by any registrar. More information may be found in
the InternetNZ policy for
Second Level Domains
.
.nz Registry Services (NZRS)
.nz Registry Services (NZRS) is the trading name of New Zealand domain name
Registry Ltd. It was established by InternetNZ with
the sole purpose, and exclusive right, to operate and manage the .nz
register and DNS. NZRS deals exclusively with
authorized registrars and has no contact with
registrants or the general public. Its primary function is to ensure
that the Shared Registry System
is operational 24 hours a day, under the terms of a service level agreement it
has with InternetNZ.
Register
The .nz register has two purposes. It is the authoritative record of .nz
domain names and the right to use those names, and it is the source of
name server information for the .nz DNS. For every domain
name, the register records the name and contact details of the
registrant, the registrant's appointed administrator, and the entity
responsible for the technical functioning of the domain name. It also records
the Status of the domain name (eg. Available, Active, or Pending Release), the
initial Registration Date, and the final date of the current registration term
(the Billed Until Date). To enable the domain to be delegated to an
IP address, the register lists the name servers (DNS) where the domain
is hosted (note: to be delegated in the DNS, a domain name must have at least
two name servers assigned to it). The .nz register is owned by
InternetNZ and operated and managed under contract by NZRS.
Physically, it is the major component of the SRS
database.
Registrant
A registrant is the person, or entity, that holds the right to use a
third-level domain within the .nz name space (eg. dnc.org.nz). The registrant
of every .nz domain name is recorded in the .nz
register
.
Registrar
A registrar is an entity authorized to access the .nz register
to register and maintain domain names on behalf of registrants.
Authorization to be a registrar is granted by the DNC after
strict criteria are met, following which an agreement for connection to the
SRS is signed with NZRS. A list of
authorized registrars
is maintained on this site.
Registry
The registry is the entity that maintains and operates the .nz register
on behalf of InternetNZ. Currently, it is the company
known as NZRS
.
Shared Registry System (SRS)
The Shared Registry System, commonly referred to as the SRS, is the computer
system implemented to manage the .nz register. The term
is also sometimes used to encompass the general environment and business rules
of .nz, where multiple registrars are authorized to
register .nz domain names. The SRS was purpose-built by InternetNZ
and is now owned and operated by NZRS
. It was developed on an "open source" software platform and uses an XML
interface protocol. Enlighten Domains rebuilt this application on a Microsoft
platform.
Unique domain Authentication ID (UDAI)
The Unique domain Authentication ID, or UDAI, is a randomly generated unique
identifier that is required to authenticate requests to transfer domain names
from one registrarto another. A UDAI is generated
when a domain name is registered.
WHOIS
The term WHOIS commonly refers to an electronic facility to query the details
of a specific domain name in the .nz register. All .nz
WHOIS queries are subject to terms that forbid the use of multiple queries to
download part, or all, of the register for a targeted contact campaign or any
other purpose (refer to the WHOIS
Policy on this site for more details). A WHOIS query can be issued by a
number of means. Most people will prefer a user-friendly version available
through a web site, similar to the domain search function at the top of this
page. Alternatively, the more technically-minded can issue a command to the
WHOIS server directly through their computer console (eg. whois -h srs.net.nz
dnc.org.nz). Authorized registrars can issue WHOIS
queries directly on the SRS through an XML transaction.
Un-cancelling a domain
Domains that are cancelled due to non-payment of accounts may be
un-cancelled within 90 days of the cancellation date. Un-cancelling a domain
includes a standard 12 month registration at your normal domain price and a $25
+ GST administration fee.
Only .co.nz .org.nz .net.nz .ac.nz .gen.nz .school.nz .maori.nz .geek.nz domains can
be un-cancelled. If you require your domain(s) to be un-cancelled please email
admin@enlightendomains.com
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