CentralNic Labs

• Skip Navigation
• EPP
• mod_epp
• Perl libs
• PHP libs
• Preppi
• mod_whois

EPP Status Codes

CentralNic's EPP server implementation is based on the following Internet RFCs:

• RFC 4930 (Extensible Provisioning Protocol)
• RFC 4931 (Domain Name Mapping)
• RFC 4932 (Host Mapping)
• RFC 4933 (Contact Mapping)
• RFC 4934 (Transport Over TCP)
• RFC 3735 (Guidelines for Extending EPP)
• RFC 3915 (Domain Registry Grace Period Mapping)
• RFC 4310 (Domain Name System (DNS) Security Extensions Mapping)

These RFCs defined a range of status codes for objects provisioned by EPP servers. These status codes are primarily applicable to domain names.

This document explains what each status code means, and how it is implemented in our registry system.

Client-assigned vs. Server-assigned

Status codes fall into two categories: client-assigned codes are managed by the registrar, whereas server-assigned codes are managed by the registry.

Client-assigned codes are enforced by the registry on behalf of the registrar, and can be arbitrarily added to or removed from an object by the registrar. Conversely, server-assigned codes may only be added to or removed from an object by the registry. They take precedence over client-assigned status codes.

List of Client-assigned Status Codes

• clientHold: This status allows a registrar to remove a domain name from the DNS - if, for example, payment has not been received from the registrant. This status has no effect on the registrar's ability to update, transfer, delete or renew the domain - the only effect is on the domain's presence in the DNS.
• clientTransferProhibited: This status code instructs the registry to reject any requests from other registrars for the object to be transferred into their sponsorship. This status has no effect on the registrar's ability to update, delete, or renew the domain.
• clientUpdateProhibited: This status code instructs the registry to reject any requests to update the details of the object by the registrar. The purpose of this status is to provide a "safety lock" that must be explicitly opened before a object can be updated.
• clientDeleteProhibited: This status code works in a similar way to clientUpdateProhibited - it instructs the registry to refuse any request to delete the object. The object may still be deleted by the registry if it expires.
• clientRenewProhibited: This status code instructs the registry not to automatically renew the domain name upon expiry. The registrar may still renew the domain name at its discretion. This status is equivalent to the "Declined Renewal" status on non-GRS domain names.

List of Server-assigned Status Codes

• serverHold: This status code indicates that the registry has chosen to remove the domain name from the DNS for a financial, legal, or operational reason.
• serverTransferProhibited: This status code indicates that the registry will refuse any requests to transfer or release the object to another registrar. If a domain name has been placed in a "registry lock" then this status will appear alongside the serverUpdateProhibited, serverDeleteProhibited and serverRenewProhibited codes.
• serverUpdateProhibited: This status code indicates that the registry will refuse any requests to update the object. If a domain name has been placed in a "registry lock" then this status will appear alongside the serverTransferProhibited, serverDeleteProhibited and serverRenewProhibited codes.
• serverDeleteProhibited: This status code indicates that the registry will refuse any requests to delete the object. If a domain name has been placed in a "registry lock" then this status will appear alongside the serverUpdateProhibited, serverTransferProhibited and serverRenewProhibited codes.
  
  Occasionally, our system may place a domain name on this status in order to avoid confusion in the billing system - if we are expecting payment from a registrar for a domain name (that is, the domain is in a pending payment batch) we will prevent deletion of the domain name so that there isn't a mismatch between the value of the batch and the funds received. We can normally arrange a credit for domains deleted after receipt of payment upon request.
• serverRenewProhibited: This status code indicates that the registry will refuse any requests to renew the object. If a domain name has been placed in a "registry lock" then this status will appear alongside the serverUpdateProhibited, serverTransferProhibited and serverDeleteProhibited codes.
  
  We may occasionally apply this status code to a domain name if for technical or policy reasons, we cannot allow the domain to be renewed. A domain name on this status will go onto the pendingDelete status five days after expiry.
• pendingDelete: This status code indicates that the registry has received a request to delete the domain name, and that the domain is scheduled for deletion as per the registry's life cycle. Registrars may restore the domain using the Redemption Grace Period system. Domains that have this status code may not be renewed (unless as part of an RGP process), transferred or updated.
• pendingTransfer: This status code indicates that the registry has received a request to transfer the object to another registrar, and that this request is currently pending action by the losing registrar.
• inactive: This status code indicates that:
  1. a domain name has no delegate name servers
  2. a host or contact object is not associated with any domain names
• linked: This status code indicates that a host or contact object is associated with at least one domain name. This status will always appear with serverDeleteProhibited.
• addPeriod: This status code indicates that a domain name has been registered, but that the registry has not yet received payment for the registration. Domains that have this status code may be deleted by the registrar for a credit of the registration fee. This is the status code used to indicate the "Add Grace Period". The presence of this status code does not prevent any updates to the domain by the registrar.
• autoRenewPeriod: This status code indicates that a domain has been automatically renewed by the registry upon its expiry date, and that the registry has not yet received payment for the renewal. The registrar will receive a credit note if a domain name on this status code is deleted. The presence of this status code does not prevent any updates to the domain by the registrar.
• renewPeriod: This status code indicates that a domain has been renewed by the registrar, and that the registry has not yet received payment for the renewal. The registrar will receive a credit note if a domain name on this status code is deleted. The presence of this status code does not prevent any updates to the domain by the registrar.
• ok: This status is shown on objects that have no other status codes. It is never shown alongside any other status codes.

List of Currently Unsupported Status Codes

• transferPeriod
• redemptionPeriod
• pendingRestore

Click here for engineering and software development jobs at CentralNic