AuthInfo
AuthInfo is a password stored at DENIC that is required to move a domain under .de to another provider . The change procedure is also known as CHPROV ( English change provider , change provider ' ).
An earlier switch procedure was known as connectivity coordination ( KK for short ). The expression of a KK request was derived from this , which was also used by German providers for other top-level domains , although the administrative offices ( NICs ) each have their own names (mostly domain transfer ) and often completely different technical processes for such a domain Had process.
Responsibility structures of providers and DENIC
DENIC eG is organized as a cooperative, i. In other words, it was founded by Internet providers as the central administration office for the top-level domain .de in order to take over the administration for these providers.
The providers offer the "registration of a .de domain" service both directly on the market and to resellers, who in turn contact customers directly and possibly also to resellers.
A domain owner has either registered a domain directly with a DENIC member or with a provider who in turn is a direct or indirect customer of a DENIC member.
Technical process
CHPROV procedure via AuthInfo
Since December 9, 2008, DENIC eG has been offering this now only permitted provider change procedure. It is based on the transmission of a password, the AuthInfo. This AuthInfo is only valid for this specific process and relates to a specific domain.
The first advantage of the new procedure is the faster process of changing providers. Since an AuthInfo is only known to the current domain owner, a provider change with AuthInfo can be carried out immediately without additional confirmation from the domain owner by his old provider. Another advantage is the ability to change ownership at the same time when changing provider. For example, spelling mistakes at the domain owner can be corrected immediately without a separate order from the domain owner or the domain can be transferred to the new owner in one step after a sale.
As a rule, the AuthInfo is deposited with DENIC via the DENIC member who is currently managing the domain (AuthInfo1). Alternatively, any other DENIC member can apply for an AuthInfo to be deposited (AuthInfo2). The AuthInfo2 is generated by DENIC eG and sent to the domain owner by registered mail. The transfer can also be made to a member other than the one who requested the AuthInfo2.
Asynchronous process
Before the introduction of AuthInfo, an asynchronous method was used, which was operated in parallel until February 1, 2010. The change process was started with a KK application to the new provider.
According to DENIC guidelines, the provider should check whether the customer is authorized to do so. This was to be assumed if the entry of the Admin-C of the domain is identical to the customer data.
If the provider was a direct DENIC member, he would send the order to DENIC via the electronic interface ( PGP -signed email) or the realtime registry interface (RRI for short). If he was not a member, he passed the order on to his superordinate provider who, if necessary, directed him “up” in the tree structure until he reached a DENIC member.
Based on the KK application, DENIC notified the DENIC member previously responsible for the domain. This provider, for its part, informed its customer (direct customer or provider without DENIC membership) of the KK application and waited for a statement as to whether the application could be accepted or whether it should be rejected. The provider then forwarded the answer back to DENIC, which acted accordingly.
If the customer was silent, the previous provider rejected the KK application in case of doubt. If, on the other hand, the provider failed to respond for five working days, the domain was automatically moved by DENIC. All those involved received a notification that the move had been completed.
The possible answers to a KK application were:
- ACK is the short form for "acknowledged", and meant acceptance of the KK / change of provider.
- NACK is short for "not acknowledged" and meant a rejection of the KK / change of provider.
- LATEACK is short for "late acknowledged". If a provider had already rejected the change and received the domain owner's consent to the change late, he could still agree to the KK application up to 90 days later. The LATEACK was abolished when the new AuthInfo procedure was introduced on December 9, 2008.
Other Domain Management Authorities (NIC) procedures
Historically, the NICs of other top-level domains often have completely different structures and processes.
Examples are the domains .ch and .li , which are managed by SWITCH . For a long time in Switzerland, anyone interested in a domain only received an account directly from SWITCH for managing their registered domains, and they had to obtain the necessary name servers and other services such as HTTP or SMTP separately from a provider of their choice. If such a domain owner wants to change providers, they only have to enter the new name servers for their domain with SWITCH, but do not submit any application. However, Swiss providers are now also taking on the registration of new domains with SWITCH.