Webservice for checking if domain is registered?

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Posted by firehawk1010, 01-08-2009, 01:41 PM
Are there any webservices that exist which I could use to check to see if a domain name given exists/is registered?
Posted by Mike - Limestone, 01-08-2009, 04:59 PM
Hmm, I usually just use the whois at http://registrar.godaddy.com/. It will tell you if the domain is available, and it lets you get "more info" (whois) if the domain is taken. Or did you mean some kind of automated service that your programs can tie into? -mike
Posted by firehawk1010, 01-08-2009, 05:46 PM
basically yeh, a webservice API/SDK that I can integrate into my ASP.NET Website, so when I call the webservice, it will tell me if the domain name given is registered or not (available) example, if you go to 123-reg.co.uk, and you enter a domain name, it will bring you back a list of which domains are available/not registered (like .co.uk, .com, .biz etc..)
Posted by webenthusiast, 01-09-2009, 07:29 AM
I think you best bet would be to check out either http://www.hotscripts.com or http://webscripts.softpedia.com/dyn-search.php and search for a whois script. There are free and commercial ones.
Posted by hanru, 01-10-2009, 12:36 PM
We use the API from Enom. You can easily sign up as a sub-reseller for free and then get credentials to access their API. We implemented the API using asp.net on our site, but you can use any language...
Posted by firehawk1010, 01-10-2009, 07:14 PM
thanks, we are using ASP.NET also. gonna check it out. i think what my client wanted was to have a service that is like fasthost where you can check for availability of a domain but also continue to purchase the domain all through the same "house" but fasthost are apperently terrible and charge a lot to use their API
Posted by onlinesolutions, 01-12-2009, 08:56 AM
thanks, we are using ASP.NET also. gonna check it out. i think what my client wanted was to have a service that is like fasthost where you can check for availability of a domain but also continue to purchase the domain all through the same "house" but fasthost are apperently terrible and charge a lot to use their API whmcs is a complete billing system with a domain checker and api support for many domain reseller accounts for automatic registration. it works for us you shuld check it out they have free trials and are giving away free enom domain reseller accounts valued at 1000USD
Posted by HivelocityDD, 01-12-2009, 11:52 AM
There are plenty of registrars those support domain lookup and hosting management using their APIs. APIs are usually SOAP/XML based or POST APIs (name value pair). Some of them are Enom, Directi, Opensrs, Online NIC, PlanetDomain etc. You may need to go for a reseller account with these registrars to manage the hosting. Many of the billing software provide plugins inbuilt with these registrars. ClientExec, WHMCS etc Hope this helps ...
Posted by firehawk1010, 01-12-2009, 12:42 PM
thanks! lets see what my client says - again much appreciated for this.
Posted by firehawk1010, 01-12-2009, 12:54 PM
PS - the only bad thing with enom from what I am seeing is that you cannot register other domains apart from .com we need domains like .co.uk, or maybe .gov but definately .co.uk. any ideas?
Posted by webenthusiast, 01-12-2009, 01:11 PM
I am not sure why you are having that issue. I know I can register .org and .co.uk with my enom reseller account.
Posted by Kalriath, 01-12-2009, 08:10 PM
There's no way you'll be able to register government addresses via a commercial registrar. You'd need to contact a government department for those - though I don't know which it'd be for you.
Posted by protecweb, 01-12-2009, 08:19 PM
If your confident in coding ASP.Net then why not directly query TLD whois servers yourself via your app? As for registering many types of domain extensions then you will need one or two (or maybe even more) registrar reseller accounts that cover all the ones you need. For example you could use Enom and Nominet and code your app around the two. As mentioned for government domains (US or UK etc), these are generally done manually through a specific organisation. Government domains dont come with automation as they go through manual validation checks before they are allowed to be registered.
Posted by firehawk1010, 01-12-2009, 08:39 PM
sure i understand.... ok going to enom... 1) how much is the reseller account? 2) how do I use it in terms of hooking with their servers?
Posted by protecweb, 01-12-2009, 08:51 PM
http://www.enom.com/pricing.asp http://www.enom.com/resellers/overview_api.asp
Posted by webenthusiast, 01-13-2009, 02:10 PM
As was mentioned you cannot register .gov through a commercial registrar. I was thinking .org for some reason. Sorry for the confusion.

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