A couple of things to know about how we handle registrations at VDBS. We offer this service to our friends and customers but do not offer this service to the general public. The reason is that I want to know who my customers are. This is not a profit center for VDBS but run at a break even level.
We do offer personal service when you need it. If you have any problems or questions please just ask, email first if it isn't an emergency or call me if it requires instant attention.
Here are some things that you should know about the VDBS registry service and domain registration in general.
In the old days (back in the last century) all domain registrations used to be made at Network Solutions. That was acquired by Verisign and then the system was somewhat opened to competition, more top level domains (like .us) were added and more players joined the game. Today NSI/Verisign is still the biggest and also separately operates the root servers for .com/.net/.org. They have used their historic position to dominate the field, charge the top prices and increasingly offer poorer service.
It was one of these instances that caused me to wake up and learn that I could take my small collection of domain names and save a lot of money by using Tucows/OpenSRS as a wholesale provider and I entered the registry business in May of 2001. Since then I've saved myself and friends hundreds of dollars. (And deprived Verisign of that profit which makes me happy - don't mess with me, I try to get even.)
The validity is a registered name makes absolutely no difference in how it works on the internet. The choice of a registrar does make a difference in the ease of changing nameserver information and any assistance that you might need over a domain registration issue. My goal is to provide a low cost and any service that you might need.
The cost picture of the registration business is publicly available, The cost to a wholesale provider like Tucows/OpenSRS is $6.00 for a .com/.net/.org name per year. They charge us $10/year for these. We also offer .us/.ca/.co.uk/.tv/.info/.biz registrations and perhaps more in the future. Rates and rules for these vary.
Whatever I make from the registry is used to cover the cost of keeping a deposit account with Tucows/OpenSRS. All transactions are paid for my me when they occur, registrations and renewals. For this reason when a domain is registered or renewed, you owe me for it, even if there is a typo.
You will see the Tucows and/or OpenSRS name as well as Visual Database Systems from time to time in any notifications from the registry. They are not known for sending spam so if you see email from them, you should read it.
You access the registry from http://registry.vdbs.com and enter the maintenance area the same as when you registered with us. There are a couple of help pages now on the registry home page that my be useful such as how to change a name server. Agree to the terms and conditions then click the big button. Then chose the second item, "Manage a domain that you have registered with us". Also see the section on locking below.
You specify the nameservers for your domain here. If you are using VDBS as your name server provider, you need to contact me for assistance in changes to these.
You are welcome to use our nameservers,
ns1.vdbs.comThey are maintained with good stability and well geographically separated for high availability. If you are using them, be sure to use all three in your registration records. Also be sure that I am aware that you intend to use them so that I may set you up appropriately. Same for email and web server if you need it from VDBS.
I set all domains registered with me to auto-renew 30 days before their expiration date. I am obligated at that time. If you don't want this to happen or want a name to be allowed to expire, YOU MUST LET ME KNOW IN ADVANCE. Once it is renewed, you owe for an additional year. You will see a notice form the registry when a name is renewed and shortly afterwards get an email from me with another e-invoice. I try to avoid having to mail invoices since they are slow and cost more to process. Plus, we ARE in the computer world or we wouldn't be owning a domain name, right?
You will probably see renewal offers from other registries via email and letter mail. Some are disguised as invoices. Please toss these in the trash -- they are really attempts to get your registration transferred to them. A number of these are under investigation by the US Postal Service for mail fraud. If they come by email they are spam. If you get an offer you don't understand, ask me.
Our attempt to solve the unwanted transfer problem and prevent domain name hijacking is...
I try to keep all names "locked". This is a simple switch in the registry setting that you can toggle using your username/password. The lock prevents accidental registry transfer. Before any changes can be made in the domain registration, you must sign to http://registry.vdbs.com. There is a help page referenced from the opening page that shows the easy steps needed to change the lock when you make any changes in the registered information. Be sure to set the lock again when you are finished with necessary maintenance.
We will never prevent you from transferring away from our registry but you must unlock the domain before this can happen. This may sound a bit complicated but it is for your own protection. Let me know if you ever need any assistance.
Should you lose your registration password, I can have the password and username emailed to the Admin contact email address that is shown in the registration. I can not see the password from my end. For this reason it is...
Your obligation as a domain name owner for correct contact information
When you registered your domain, you agreed to keep current and valid contact information in your whois record. This is especially true for the Admin Contact email address. I also need to know how to contact you should the need arise. Unfortunately the Whois records are a popular place for spammers to harvest email addresses since they are in electronic format and mostly "real". To meet the legal requirement of having valid information but protecting your privacy, I have no problem if you want to use my information as the registrant in it's place and I can act as your agent. Be sure that you inform me of this should you chose to do so. For legal purposes, you may wish to have a signed document between us showing you as the real owner if you feel the name is especially valuable.
If your Admin Contact email address is no longer accessible by you and you forget your username/password, you are considered a problem and need apologize and plead with me for assistance. We have our ways but they are not fast, easy or simple. There is no good reason for you to be in this situation. You have been warned.
The bottom line is service. Let me know what I can do if you need it,
John Blakney [email protected]
Visual Database Systems