Accessing the OpenSRS System

OpenSRS resellers can connect to the platform in two ways: Quick Start for manual, web-based management, or Full Access for automated, API-driven integration. This article explains the difference, helps you choose the method that fits your business, and shows you where to find the Live and Test environments.

About OpenSRS system access

Once you register as an OpenSRS reseller, you can act as a reseller for every TLD OpenSRS offers, along with Hosted Email, SSL certificates, and Publishing services. How you choose to connect depends on your registration volume, your approach to customer support, and how much process automation you want.

Choose your access method

Both methods give you the full capabilities of the OpenSRS system — they differ in how you place and manage orders. Use the comparison below to decide which fits your firm.

Quick Start access

Quick Start is a web-based solution that lets you enter orders manually through the Control Panel. Because the process is manual, you are responsible for collecting and distributing order information to your customers. There is no code development required, which makes Quick Start the faster way to get your business running — you can use it until your client integration is configured.

Quick Start is well suited to resellers who:

• Offer personal, high-touch management of their customers.
• Register fewer than 150 products per month.
• Manage products on behalf of customers and order each domain or SSL certificate individually.
• Are willing to manage through the OpenSRS-supplied online interface.

To get set up, follow the steps in the OpenSRS Quickstart Guide.

Full Access

Full Access is a customizable solution for resellers who host their own provisioning system. It automates order processing through an Application Programming Interface (API), so you can incorporate ordering directly into your website and process products in real time.

Full Access is well suited to resellers who:

• Offer Internet services as a core business or gateway product.
• Register more than 150 products per month.
• Require automated ordering and product management, often in bulk.
• Prefer to let end users manage products through a custom interface on their own site.

To connect over the API, generate an API key and whitelist your server's IP addresses. For building your own tools, see the OpenSRS XML API specification.

Live and Test environments

OpenSRS maintains two environments. The Test environment mirrors the Live environment in nearly every way and acts as a proving ground where you can gain proficiency before registering real domain names.

Live environment interfaces

• Reseller Control Panel (RCP) — Manage domains, email, trust, publishing, and other reseller account settings.
• Reseller Web Interface (RWI) — The original OpenSRS management interface. Most functions have moved to the RCP.
• Mail Administration Console — Administration console for OpenSRS email services: MAC A and MAC B.
• Manage Web Interface (MWI) — End-user domain management interface.

Test environment interfaces

• Test Reseller Control Panel
• Test Classic Reseller Interface

Next steps

• Set up Quick Start — Walk through initial configuration in the OpenSRS Quickstart Guide.
• Connect over the API — Generate an API key and whitelist your IP addresses to enable Full Access.
• Explore the Control Panel — Learn the layout in the OpenSRS Management Interface guide.

Questions? Contact OpenSRS Support.