Registering Domain Names Through the RWI

The Reseller Web Interface (RWI) is the OpenSRS web client that mirrors the registration API. It is the recommended interface for resellers who need to register many domains quickly, script-test against the API surface, or work with TLDs that expose additional registry fields. This article walks through registering a domain in the RWI.

Note: For the standard single-domain registration workflow used by customer-facing teams, see Register a Domain Name in the Control Panel. The two interfaces register against the same registry back end — the difference is workflow density and field exposure.

How the RWI differs from the Control Panel

The RWI presents one screen per API call rather than a guided wizard. You enter the same registrant data, but every field that the API accepts is visible — including TLD-extension fields, registrant identifiers, and order modifiers. This makes the RWI faster for experienced resellers and useful for diagnosing why a Control Panel registration failed validation.

Before you begin

• Sign in to the RWI with your reseller username and password.
• Confirm your reseller balance covers the registration. Premium and aftermarket fees may apply on top of the list price.
• Have the registrant's full WHOIS data ready in the format expected by the registry (especially state/province codes for .us, CIRA legal type for .ca, and registrant identifiers for .au and .eu).
• Decide on the registration term and nameserver configuration before you begin — the RWI does not save partial entries between screens.
• Review TLD-specific rules in TLD Policies.

Step 1: Check domain availability

From the RWI top menu, choose Domains > Lookup Domain. Enter the domain name and submit. The RWI returns a status of available, taken, reserved, or premium, along with the current list price.

Tip: To control which TLDs appear when you use the bulk lookup form, configure your TLD display list. See Specifying the gTLDs and ccTLDs to Display in Availability Search Results.

Step 2: Start a new registration

From an available result, click Register. Alternatively, from the top menu choose Domains > Register New Domain and enter the name manually. The registration form opens with all required fields visible on a single page.

Step 3: Enter registrant contacts and TLD extensions

Complete the Owner, Admin, Technical, and Billing contact blocks. The RWI does not auto-copy contacts; either fill each block or use the Same as Owner shortcut where the form provides it.

If the TLD requires extensions, those fields appear below the contact section. Common examples:

• .ca — CIRA legal type, language preference, and (for organizations) trademark or business number.
• .au — eligibility type and ABN, ACN, or other registrant identifier.
• .us — nexus category and application purpose.
• .eu — registrant country of residence.

Warning: Submitting incorrect TLD-extension data is the most common cause of registration failures in the RWI. The registry rejects the order and the reseller balance is refunded, but the customer-facing flow looks like a generic error. Validate extension fields against the registry policy before submission.

Step 4: Set registration period, nameservers, and order options

Select the registration term in years. Choose one of the nameserver options:

• Default OpenSRS nameservers — the domain resolves to OpenSRS parking immediately.
• Custom nameservers — enter up to 13 hostnames manually.
• Park — register without DNS resolution.

Order options include auto-renew, WHOIS privacy (where the TLD allows it), and lock domain transfers. Select the options that match your customer's preferences.

Step 5: Submit and verify the order

Click Submit Order. The RWI returns the registry response, including the order ID, the new expiry date, and any post-registration tasks (such as registrant verification email delivery). Record the order ID in your customer-management system.

Note: For internationalized domain names, see Internationalized Domain Name Registrations before you submit — the RWI accepts both Unicode and Punycode (ACE) input but the registry stores only Punycode.

Use the RWI for bulk registrations

From Domains > Bulk Tools, upload a CSV of domains and contacts to register in one batch. The RWI returns a per-row status report so you can identify and retry failed lines. Bulk registration is the fastest way to onboard a portfolio acquisition or to register a family of TLDs around a brand term.

Next steps

• Switch to the Control Panel for day-to-day single-domain work once registrations succeed. See Register a Domain Name in the Control Panel.
• Configure DNS. Add the customer's A, MX, and CNAME records under Domains > Manage > DNS.
• Set renewal and privacy preferences. Confirm auto-renew and WHOIS privacy match the order options you selected.
• Review premium and aftermarket flows. See Purchasing an Aftermarket Premium Domain when the lookup returns a premium price.

Questions? Contact OpenSRS Support.