Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Domain Names : GoDaddy domain manager: host association prohibits operation

[Master Bo]

Now I begin to think that certain registrars are overreaching their station.

OK, simple situation. I have a domain, say, example.com.
I use the following glue records ('host names'):

ns1.example.com
ns2.example.com

to provide NS to sites hosted under reseller account. When I move some sites elsewhere, naturally, I wish to change the ns1/ns2 records.

However, that's not that easy. GoDaddy's domain manager silently does nothing, when I try to remove a glue record, and informs me with email:

"Error: host association prohibits operation"

Translating into English: there are domains using those glue records, and thus deletion and/or changing the records isn't allowed. All you domains are belong to us.

OK, and I am offered to change all the NS records of all the domains first. If I have ten of them, I may consider myself lucky. What if I have 100? 1000? All at different registrars and not under my control? What if I simply can't find what domains are using them, what if domain owners won't or can't change?

Methinks GoDaddy's answer will be this: bad luck, use other domain name as base for your nameservers.

I understand the change may destroy sites using the mentioned records. But I should be warned, perhaps several times, of that, not forbidden to do it. In my situation nothing will be destroyed.

And if the above is ab-so-lutely impossible, why not to inform me of the list of domains using the nameservers in question? "Go find ye domains thyself, that's thy sacred quest now".

GoDaddy reputation in my eyes has been significantly damaged today. I didn't think Registrar Knows Better what to do with the domain.

If they offer no other solution, I think the domain will soon be hosted at another registrar. Nothing personal. I just don't waste many hours of my life looking for dozens of domains, without any guarantee that the change is possible at all.

[quantumphysics]

GoDaddy reputation in my eyes has been significantly damaged today

They had a reputation?

[Master Bo]

Originally Posted by quantumphysics

They had a reputation?

Everyone has.

[Gabe_GoDaddy]

Hi Master Bo,

I am very sorry to hear about your frustration.

The message you received from the Go Daddy Domain Manager...

"Error: host association prohibits operation"

...is a message from the registry. All domain registrars have to abide by these rules.

That said, I think we can help. If you PM me with the name servers in question, we may be able to escalate the issue and manually check with the registry for the domains currently using your name servers. Please understand not all registries have this functionality, so it may not be possible. We will certainly do our best to assist you.

[GORF]

Originally Posted by Gabe_GoDaddy

The message you received from the Go Daddy Domain Manager...

"Error: host association prohibits operation"

...is a message from the registry. All domain registrars have to abide by these rules.

Gabe, can you elaborate on the error and the circumstance that would cause it? Is it simply caused by changing the IP associated with a nameserver?

With every registrar I have ever used, I can change the IPs of a registered nameserver at any time. That allows me to acomplish migration of a bunch of sites from one server to another (as the OP stated).

[Master Bo]

Hello Gabe.

Originally Posted by Gabe_GoDaddy

I am very sorry to hear about your frustration.

The message you received from the Go Daddy Domain Manager...

...is a message from the registry. All domain registrars have to abide by these rules.

1. Does it mean it opens wide possibilities for DoS-type setups - i.e., I create a domain, use the named glue records and safely ignore all requests to change them, thus preventing glue records owner from deleting them altogether?

In real-life situation a check would be assumed, to make sure the used nameservers are authoritative. If not, the mentioned domain shouldn't lock the operation.

2. If I am told there are domains using the mentioned nameservers, I expect there should be tools to know what ones. Otherwise, see 1) above, I can be trapped in a situation when I can't remove those records.

Originally Posted by Gabe_GoDaddy

That said, I think we can help. If you PM me with the name servers in question, we may be able to escalate the issue and manually check with the registry for the domains currently using your name servers. Please understand not all registries have this functionality, so it may not be possible. We will certainly do our best to assist you.

Thanks for your assistance. I'll PM the mentioned names, but I admit I expected assistance from your Support team.

That said, I found that amusing: when I asked whether I should transfer my domain from GoDaddy to have the situation fixed, I was provided with directions of transferring domains away.

Which leave me really amazed, since I expected from Support means to handle the problem, not to get rid of me along with the problem.

[Collabora]

You cannot re-name or remove nameservers if another domain in the GD system is set to use those nameservers. You can view all of your domains and nameservers in a single view within Domain Manager's grid view

1. Log in to your Account Manager
2. Next to Domains, click Launch.
3. From the Tools menu, select Customize my domains grid
4. Add the Nameservers column to the grid
5. Click OK.

Now you can check to see if nameserver is being used for another domain. You will need to change that domain's nameserver before you can change the name of your nameserver

[Master Bo]

Originally Posted by Collabora

... Now you can check to see if nameserver is being used for another domain. You will need to change that domain's nameserver before you can change the name of your nameserver

Thanks. I managed to figure that out myself, although the above piece of advice I expected from Support person.

The problem remains how to find domains outside my control, using the same glue records.

[Collabora]

That is indeed a tough one then. Maybe this will help: http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/pro...html?loc=en_US

[Master Bo]

Originally Posted by Collabora

That is indeed a tough one then. Maybe this will help: http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/pro...html?loc=en_US

Thanks, I'll look into it ASAP.
My domains at GoDaddy do not use the glue records in question, yet I am not allowed to delete the records.

[Gabe_GoDaddy]

Hi Master Bo,

Thanks for sending the information. We are looking into it right now for you and will let you know as soon as we have additional information.