Definitions
- What are the launch phases of a new TLD?
There are several launch phases that occur before a new top-level domain (nTLD) officially launches and is available to the public for registration. The phases depend on the central registry that is launching the TLD, but typically they include: Sunrise period: This period allows trademark holders the opportunity to secure their trademark on the new TLD. Landrush period: This period typically offers registrations at a premium price or to a special group (also usually at a premium price). Early Access period: This is a special period usually available right before a new TLD officially launches. Typically, prices are premium, but they get lower each day of the period. General Availability (GA): Once a new TLD is GA, it has officially launches and is available to the public for registration. Please note that some new TLD offer pre-orders before their GA launch. Pre-orders simply allow the registrant to try and register the domain they want right when GA starts.
- What is General Availability?
General Availability (GA) period is the period after a new top-level domain (nTLD) is officially launched to the public. During this time, domain registrations are simply done on a first come, first serve basis. Any TLD listed on our TLD prices page is in GA. What are the launch phases of a new TLD? What is Sunrise period? What is Landrush period? What is Early Access period?
- What is a Last Chance Auction?
Dynadot's Last Chance Auction is a 7-day relist auction for domain names that have previously auctioned off at Dynadot, but did not successfully change hands due to various reasons, such as fraud or abuse. This might be your last chance to capture great domain names that have received bids in the past. Due to the nature of these names, please note that domains purchased from Last Chance Auctions will not be renewed, and will retain their original expiry date. If you want to bid on a Last Chance Auction domain: Auctions last for 7 days, and you can bid anytime during that period. If a bid is received in the last 5 minutes of an auction, the end time will be extended by 5 minutes. There is no limit to the number of times an auction may be extended before the auction's final "end time" is set. You may place a proxy bid for higher than the current minimum bid. If someone else places a bid, the system will automatically bid for you until your max proxy bid amount is reached. If you are the highest bidder when the auction ends, you have 3 calendar days to pay for the auction. Once you pay, the domain is moved into your Dynadot account. To bid on an auction, first create a Dynadot account if you do not have one. We require at least $5 account spending before you can participate in our Last Chance Auctions. You can prepay $5 into your account and use the account credit to pay for your first won auction, or any other purchase with us. Domains won in our Last Chance Auction will be placed in an "Auction Lock" status for about 15 days.
- What is forward status code? What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect code?
The forward status code is the response code sent to a web browser visiting your site if your domain is set to Dynadot domain forwarding. The code tells the web browser that the domain should be forwarded to another location. Which redirect code should I use? Either code, 301 or 302, can be used to forward your web page. A typical visitor to your website will not notice a difference. The different codes are mainly used for search engine optimization (SEO). The 301 redirect code would tell a search engine that it should use the "forward to" page in its search results. For example, dyandot.com should be 301 redirected to dynadot.com, since we want dynadot.com to show up in the search engine results, not dyandot.com. The 302 redirect code would tell the search engine to check back later to see which website should be used in its results. This would be useful if you are temporarily forwarding to another site while you are creating your actual site.
- What is domain forwarding?
Domain forwarding is the process of making one domain name redirect all domain visitors to another domain. This is not to be confused with other redirections implemented through HTML or script, which usually redirects one specific web page to another page on that domain or to a different website. When a user attempts to visit a domain utilizing domain forwarding, the user is sent to the URL that the domain forwarding is set to, and the original domain name entered by the user does not stay in the address bar. Instead, that selected URL that the domain is forwarding users to is displayed. Types of Domain Forwarding: There are three common types of domain forwarding: standard domain forwarding, stealth forwarding, and email forwarding. Standard domain forwarding: Process of sending a user that arrives at a domain to a selected new domain, forwarding the user. That selected domain appears in the user’s address bar. Domain forwarding has no effect on email forwarding. Stealth forwarding: The same process as regular domain forwarding applies to stealth forwarding, with the user being forwarded to a new, specified domain. The difference is that the original domain URL will remain in the user’s address bar, despite the user being on a new domain. To set up stealth forwarding, visit our help page. Email forwarding:The process of allowing received emails on your domain’s email address to be sent to an additional, specified email address. To set up email forwarding, visit our help page. Dynadot provides all three forwarding types free of charge through your account control panel for all domains you register or transfer to us. Domain forwarding is available on any domain in your account. How do I set up domain forwarding? Setting up domain forwarding or stealth forwarding is easy. Simply log into your Dynadot account and manage the DNS settings for any domains under your account. Select the ‘Forwarding’ setting located in the top drop-menu and enter the destination you want your users to be forwarded to. From there, save your settings and forwarding will be set up. For a step-by-step guide and video on how to setup domain forwarding, visit our domain forwarding setup page.
- What is a premium .TV domain name?
A Premium .TV domain is a .TV domain that is designated as "premium" by the Central Registry, Verisign. These domains were reserved by Verisign, so any registration attempts for these domains were originally blocked. Verisign has since opened up these valuable domains for registration, but at a higher initial registration price than normal .TV domains. Initial registration prices vary depending on the premium .TV domain name and in some cases also apply to renewals and transfers. Renewals The renewal price for many premium .TV domains will be the same as any normal .TV domain. However, the renewal fee for certain premium .TV domains will be higher. The Central Registry decides which. If a domain is registered for multiple years in the initial registration, the additional years will cost the same as the first year premium price. Transfers Premium .TV domains can be transferred. If you want to transfer away from Dynadot, check the .TV transfer price with the receiving registrar. If you are transferring in to Dynadot, you will see the cost reflected in your shopping cart. Grace Deletions The grace period for all premium .TV domain names will be the same as regular .TV domains. Please note that premium prices are subject to change per the Registry. This applies to registration, renewal, and transfer pricing. Premium .TV domain names are NOT the same as premium domains. "Premium domains" are domains that are currently registered while premium .TV domains are .TV domains that were held back from registration by the central registry. This is also known as "registry premium domains."
- What are Whois contact records?
Contact records are collections of contact information created to be displayed in the public Whois directory. Please note that if you do not want your contact record information to be available in the Whois directory, you will need to add domain privacy (this can be added with a registration or transfer, or added to a domain in your Dynadot account as long as domain privacy is allowed). When you first create your account, your account information is used to create your Whois contact record. However, from then on it is separate from your account information and must be updated separately from your account information (i.e. when you update your account information, it does not affect your Whois contact record). Find out more about the difference between account information and contact records. You can edit your contact record as well as create a new contact record within your Dynadot account. You can also select a default Whois contact record to use with future domain registrations and transfers. Find out how to see which contact records your domains are using for the Whois directory. Please keep in mind that all contact records must contain accurate information as stated in our Service Agreement.
- What is a subdomain?
A subdomain is a subset of a domain name. A domain name typically consists of a top-level domain (TLD) also known as a domain extension (such as .COM) and a second-level domain (SLD). For example, our domain name is dynadot.com with "dynadot" as our SLD and .COM as our TLD. An example of a subdomain would be example.dynadot.com with "example" being the subdomain. Please note that a subdomain is not the same as a third-level domain.
- What is a change ownership request?
A change ownership request is when one or more domains are moved from one Dynadot account to another Dynadot account. This process is offered to all Dynadot customers for free. The current owner can initiate what is known as a domain push of the domain. If you want to move multiple domains at once, (known as a bulk change ownership request), you would also need to be the current owner. Bulk change ownership requests can only be done through domain push. We do not support bulk domain pulls. NOTE: A change ownership request is not a domain transfer. If you need to move a domain to us from another domain registrar, please visit the domain transfer page to initiate a transfer order. *Custom DNS settings do not carry over when a domain is moved between Dynadot accounts* Please note: New accounts are unable to push domains at this time.
- What is a domain renewal?
A domain renewal extends your ownership of your domain name by another year or more. When you register a domain, the registration typically only lasts 1 year (though some domains offer registrations up to 10 years if you choose). This means that you have to renew the domain on a yearly basis if you want to remain the owner of that domain. Learn more about the domain life cycle See our renewal prices What is a domain registration? What is a domain transfer?