Incorrect WHOIS report

Discussion in 'Domain Names' started by verocloud, Jan 22, 2020.

0
  1. #1
    Hi,

    I'm checking site host.co.za , it's obviously not free (there is no website though), but:

    whois.net states that it is available
    www.veroservers.com/whois states it is registered and provides all registration details

    Why is that?
     
    verocloud, Jan 22, 2020 IP
  2. GabrielD

    GabrielD Peon

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    3
    #2
    I see a website that it's under construction: host.co.za
    The fact that is registered it's normal. Someone bought it and started to build something on that domain, but not finished yet.
     
    GabrielD, Jan 22, 2020 IP
  3. Yasins

    Yasins Active Member

    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    56
    #3
    @verocloud

    Hello,

    It was registered since 1997.
    You can check whois details here: https://www.whois.com/whois/host.co.za
     
    Yasins, Jan 23, 2020 IP
  4. GabrielD

    GabrielD Peon

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    3
    #4
    Indeed, whois.net says that host.co.za is available.
    Cannot explain why.
     
    GabrielD, Jan 23, 2020 IP
  5. verocloud

    verocloud Active Member

    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    11
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    70
    #5
    At least veroservers.com never let me down. Thanks guys.
     
    verocloud, Jan 23, 2020 IP
  6. Jeremg

    Jeremg Peon

    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    3
    #6
    WHOIS servers (especially the third party kind) are not a reliable way to check the availability of a domain name.
    Usually, most TLD registries (for ex here: the .za registry) will have their own WHOIS server.

    Third party WHOIS services like veroservers.com need to query the official WHOIS of the registry in question. But most of them then "cache" this information. So if a domain has been registered after the caching took place, it could show up as available while it is in fact taken.

    Here is the most reliable way to check the official WHOIS of a domain name. It's totally overkill for 99% of queries but if you want to be ABSOLUTELY sure, this is the way.

    1- find who is responsible for the Top Level Domain on iana.org (IANA is the technical arm of ICANN, the operator of the DNS root of the internet).
    go to https://www.iana.org/, and then click "database of top level domains". This gives you a list of all TLDs.

    2- go to the TLD you want to check. for ex: .ZA is zadna.org.za

    3- from there, you should usually be able to find a link to their official WHOIS.
    ex: for .ZA, the official WHOIS is https://www.registry.net.za/whois/

    There you go :)
     
    Jeremg, Apr 21, 2021 IP
  7. verocloud

    verocloud Active Member

    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    11
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    70
    #7
    That's correct way to check WHOIS info, but https://www.veroservers.com/whois does exactly that, just in automated manner. Without any caching involved.

    Whois.net doesn't seem to work anymore at all.
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2021
    verocloud, Apr 21, 2021 IP
  8. Jeremg

    Jeremg Peon

    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    3
    #8
    @verocloud I didn't meant to point finger at Veroservers of course. I know that some WHOIS query providers do cache results but if you don't, it's great. Good to know :)
     
    Jeremg, Apr 21, 2021 IP
  9. verocloud

    verocloud Active Member

    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    11
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    70
    #9
    If you want to have something working correctly, have to build it yourself.

    This topic is more than one year old if any.
     
    verocloud, Apr 21, 2021 IP