Hopefully someone can help because I'm lost and confused :D

I have a co.nz domain registered with Register.com. Unlike .com registrations, I do not have access to changing DNS.


Has anybody had experience dealing with this situation? If so, could you please advise how to sort it out. Thanks

You can only change the DNS if you own a Top Level Domains at register.com, you have to email them and ask them to manually change the dns for you if your domain is a regional domain.

Thanks Quill. Is that register.com specific or is it the same for most registrars?

I will mail them and see what happens. Any idea what I do with the Change IP feature that is available to be changed? Or should I leave this alone?

Only for Register.com, they suck on this part, don't they? I got a .cc domain with them and have to email them twice in order to change the nameservers. They have a pretty comprehensive faqs, you might want to read them first.

I got lost around about FAQ number 1435 :D

I like them because whenever I change DNS, it's pretty quick and definitely reliable. Thanks again.

Message from Register.com after I tried to get them to change the DNS:

"Unfortunately, the dns changes submitted to the .nz registry were unsuccessful. In order for the changes to go through successfully the zone files need to be set up on both name servers. Please contact your web hosting company or dns administrator and have them activate the zone files. Once you receive confirmation that the name servers are responding please reopen this ticket and we will resubmit the changes. Have a nice day.

Thank you for using Register.com, the First Step on the Web(TM)."


How do I get my host to set up the zone files if they don't know what they are? Any hosts out there with experience with this? Thanks

It simply means that the dns at your host needs to be configured with your domain before Domainz (ie the NZ registry) will point their root servers at it. Domainz's automated registration system reaches out across the net to check for correctly configured primary and secondary dns servers. It won't register a domain without them.

I've had some trouble with this issue in the past using overseas (ie non-NZ) hosts with .nz domains. Its never been a problem once I explained it to the host. If you get into a chicken and egg situation with the host saying 'this is impossible' then you need a different host.

Although it can be a hassle at times, I think its a good idea. It keeps the dns clean by preventing 'lame domains' which point nowhere.

Ross
(A kiwi in the USA)

My host uses HSphere. I added my new .co.nz domain via the HSphere interface and have no idea if this effectively means that my host is configured with my domain or not.

If I move my domain to a different registrar, will I still be saddled with this problem? Anybody know how I can do this for free? My domain is only 3 months into a 12 month period.

Man !! I wish things were just simple :dunce:

I'm not familier with HSphere so I don't know the answer. If it has correctly configured primary and secondary dns servers then yes you are ready to go.

You can go to www.domainz.net.nz and register the domain yourself. You don't really need register.com. You get some additional services from register.com if you want them like email forwarding and url redirection which means that you are then using register.com's dns, mail and web servers but it sounds like you have all that so you may as well go direct to Domainz.

The registrar (or the purely 'registar' part of someone like register.com) has no part to play in day to day operations. If you move to different dns servers (ie a different host) then Domainz's automated system will once again check for correctly configured dns servers when you attempt to move and not allow it until things are configured properly.

I hope I haven't confused you more!

Cheers
Ross

Now I'm royally confused. However - I pointed my IP at my host via register.com's interface and now it works like a charm :)

Surely if I got to Domainz, I have to pay them? I already paid Register.com so I don't want to pay double.

Thanks

Peter

That's good that its working. I don't know how much you paid register.com but they must pass a chunk of it on to Domainz. Either that or you can now expect to get a bill in the mail from Domainz, I'm not sure how it works through a 3rd party like that.

The direct costs at Domainz is $44 NZ per year with an additional $30 NZ registration fee for the first year. I've registered several domains through their automated system.

Cheers
Ross