This document provides an overview of the OpenSRS Reseller Control Panel. We recommend that you read the entire document before attempting to provision domains.
Please direct any questions to the OpenSRS Support Center.
OpenSRS (Open Shared Registration System) is the provisioning service for domains. The Reseller Control Panel is a web-based system that’s very easy to use and allows you to accomplish many things such as domain name registration and domain name transfers. Full access to OpenSRS through the API (Application Program Interface) takes some time to implement. The interface allows you to use the system until you move to a system based on the API.
For information on implementing the API-based OpenSRS system, see /en/support/solutions/articles/201000063416
Before you begin
This document assumes that you have registered as an OpenSRS Reseller on the OpenSRS web site located at https://signup.opensrs.com/account
Note: There is a one-time, non-refundable Reseller activation fee.
Shortly after submitting the completed registration form, you will receive an email acknowledging your registration and confirming your username and password.
Once your profile is activated, you are automatically enabled to act as a Reseller for all gTLDs, ccTLDs, Managed DNS Service, and Digital Certificate (SSL) products and services that are currently available through OpenSRS.
Our two environments: Live and Test
To facilitate risk free learning and testing of the OpenSRS system, OpenSRS maintains two environments, commonly known as Live and Test. The Test environment (sometimes referred to as Horizon) mirrors the Live environment in nearly every way, and is the ‘proving grounds’ where you can gain proficiency before entering the Live environment to register actual domain names.
The OpenSRS test environment
The Test environment has been made available to allow you to experiment with OpenSRS and gain an understanding of how it functions. It is different from the Live environment in the following ways:
- Registrations processed in the Test environment are not actually processed into the public root registry. Domain names registered in the Test system are not real or functional on the Internet.
- Registering domain names in the Test environment uses credits in the Test system; however, they do not cost real money.
- The Test environment will likely not recognize your nameservers – use ns1.systemdns.com and ns2.systemdns.com when you specify nameservers in the Test environment.
- In the Test environment, you can register names that are not actually available. The Test environment only conducts lookups against previous registrations that were processed through it. While you cannot register a name twice (even amongst Resellers), you can register names in the Test environment that you cannot register in the Live environment.
- You cannot transfer domains within the Test environment.
- Billing and Payments functions are not available in the Test environment.
To log in to the Test environment, point your web browser to https://manage.test.opensrs.com/ and use the logon credentials that you chose when you registered as an OpenSRS Reseller.
The OpenSRS live environment
You can use your username and password to access the Reseller Control Panel, which is where you provision domains. If you have entered funds into your Live OpenSRS account, you can begin registering domains right away.
Point your web browser to https://manage.opensrs.com and use your username and password to log in.
Your first steps with the Reseller Control Panel
There are a few tasks you should accomplish when you first log into your Reseller account such as entering in your contact information. These options are contained within the Domains > Settings section of the Control Panel.
Technical Contact Information
Your Technical Contact Information (including nameserver information) is needed for all domain registrations and transfers processed through the OpenSRS system. Your clients provide Administrative and Billing contact information for their domains, but as the Reseller, you supply the Technical Contact information.
The section specifies who the default Technical Contact information will be for registrations that you process. The Technical Contact is the person who should be contacted for any domain issues at your company.
Manage End-user Contact Settings
This section is used to designate what information you want to display when someone looks up a domain at tucowsdomains.com.
Default Nameservers Settings
The section is where you configure the default nameservers to use for new domain name registrations. Alternatively, you can choose to have the nameservers default to the Parked Page system. In the Test environment you should use the nameservers ns1.systemdns.com and ns2.systemdns.com.
Billing and Payments
The Billing and Payments section is found in the drop-down Settings menu at the top right corner of the Resellers Control Panel. Use this section to check your balance, add funds, specify the threshold for your low account balance warning (in the Settings tab), view transactions, and more.
Using the Reseller Control Panel
The Reseller Control Panel is where you begin when registering domain names or ordering services. It contains many options all on one page; however, it becomes easier to navigate when you begin using it frequently for similar operations.
Below you will find a list of frequently used functions in the Reseller Control Panel for registering, managing, or making limited changes to domain names.
Registering a domain name
We recommend that you first attempt to register domain name using the Test system at https://manage.test.opensrs.com/. This is free, and allows you learn the registration process without costing you any money.
There are two steps to registering a new domain name: look to see if the domain name is available, and then submit a new domain registration order. These steps are explained below.
Step 1: Performing a new domain lookup
In the Domains section of the Control Panel, click the + icon to bring up the Add a Domain window. You can enter a name or keywords and click Search to look for available domains. You can specify the type of name suggestions you want to see when you search by checking the boxes for:
- gTLDs: Global top-level domains - this searches all gTLDs for your name/keywords and returns their status (available, taken, etc.).
- Popular ccTLDs: Returns results for .au, .ca, .cc, .co, .es, .eu, .me, .nl, .tv, .uk, and .us.
- More ccTLDs: Returns results for all other country code top level domains.
If the domain you want is available, you may click Register Now? to take you to the next step, completing the Domain Registration Form. At this point, you could initiate a transfer if the domain you want is taken but not locked.
Step 2: Completing the Domain Registration Form
The following chart explains the items in the Domain Registration Form.
When you submit the order, you return to the main menu where you can see a confirmation message at the top of the screen. Any error messages also appear there.
Useful options
There are a few options that are useful when first using the Reseller Control Panel. Their uses are highlighted below.
Domain Quick Filter
The Domain Quick Filter is visible immediately when you enter the Domains section of the Reseller Control Panel. If you see the statement, Your results are currently being filtered, you can see which filters are currently being used by clicking the View Filters link. If the results are not being filtered, all domains registered in your account will appear.
The Quick Filter, using the Advanced Filtering button, allows you to view domains by gTLD, ccTLD, Verification Status, Brand, Status, Creation and/or Expiration Date, and a variety of domain settings (such as Domain Locking, Auto Renew, etc.). Once you are viewing your filtered domains, you can make changes one-by-one or in bulk.
Managing Registered Domains
As a reseller, you can use the control panel to manage your domains. End users can use https://manage.opensrs.net using the username and password you specified in the domain order to modify contacts, change nameservers, and perform domain management.
You can access the Manage Web Interface at these locations:
OpenSRS Test system: https://manage.test.opensrs.com
OpenSRS Live system: https://manage.opensrs.com
OpenSRS Storefront
A Storefront is a public-facing website that you can brand and configure. It allows customers to register domain names and pay for them with a credit card. You can configure your Storefront in the Settings menu at the top right corner of the Control Panel. Information on how to use Storefront is available within the Storefront interface and also at https://help.opensrs.com/hc/en-us/sections/200550563.
Support
For more information about OpenSRS see the OpenSRS website at http://opensrs.com.
Additional information is available on the OpenSRS documentation web page located at http://www.opensrs.com/site/resources/documentation. The following guides are recommended:
- For complete information about the OpenSRS system and business processes, please review the Reseller’s Guide to Domain Name Registration and Management.
- For our detailed client API, please review the OpenSRS API Specification for XML.
If you have questions, you can contact the OpenSRS Support Center. We also maintain a list of independent contractors who can help install, customize, and configure the API system to run off your own web server. Contact OpenSRS Sales for more information. Contact details for OpenSRS Sales and the OpenSRS Support Center are located at http://opensrs.com/contact.
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