You may occasionally see a warning notice within the control panel of a hosting package stating, ‘domain not registered’.
Although this might sound alarming, it doesn’t always mean the domain is not registered.
If you have created a hosting package using a domain reference, and the domain name is not registered, this acts as a polite reminder that the live domain will not be accessible via the web but will remain accessible via the hosting package’s temporary URL.
How to Confirm if the Domain is Registered #
To confirm whether the domain name has been registered, use a WHOIS lookup tool. If the domain name has been registered, there are a few more things to check:
- Third-Party Nameservers:
- If the domain name is using third-party nameservers, this will result in the warning notice being prompted within the control panel.
- DNSSEC Enabled:
- If DNSSEC is enabled on the domain name, it prevents the platform from running a DNS check on the domain name, which will result in the warning notice prompt. This can also be checked by using a WHOIS lookup, where you should see something like this:
DNSSEC: Signed. DNSSEC can be disabled from the domain registrar, whether that be CP CLOUD HOSTING or another domain provider.
- If DNSSEC is enabled on the domain name, it prevents the platform from running a DNS check on the domain name, which will result in the warning notice prompt. This can also be checked by using a WHOIS lookup, where you should see something like this:
- Domain Status – clientHold:
- If the domain status is set to:
Domain Status: clientHold https://icann.org/epp#clientHold, it means that the domain registry has deactivated the domain’s DNS. This can also be detected by running a WHOIS lookup. If this status is present, you should contact your domain provider.
- If the domain status is set to:
