EMZETT.WHOIS and domain transfer: Changing registrar
In short: WHOIS/RDAP shows details about a domain; when changing registrar you transfer the domain with an auth code without the website having to go down.
In more detail: A domain is registered through a registrar (for example IONOS, Strato, Namecheap, INWX) with the registry of the ending (DENIC for .de). You pay annually for its use and can move it to another registrar if price or service does not suit you.
In Depth
WHOIS and RDAP
With whois example.com or on the registry’s site you see registrar, registration and expiry date, name servers and partly contact data. Since the GDPR personal data is mostly redacted or replaced by forwarding. The successor protocol RDAP delivers structured data (JSON). Helpful to check whether a domain is free or who owns it.
Moving a domain (transfer)
- At the old registrar unlock the domain (transfer lock) and request the auth code (EPP code).
- At the new registrar start the transfer with the code and pay.
- Confirm: the registry or old registrar asks by email.
- After a few days (up to 5–7 days depending on the ending) the domain has moved. For many endings the domain is extended by a year.
Avoiding outages
The DNS records (website, email) must stay unchanged. Switch name servers only when everything is set up at the new provider, or use an external DNS service (for example Cloudflare) so that a registrar change does not touch the DNS zone. Check that email, certificates and verifications (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) keep working.
Important notes
A domain is locked for transfer for 60 days after registration (for some endings). Expiring domains go into deletion after a grace period and can be registered by others: automate renewal and set reminders. Secure the registrar account with two-factor, because whoever takes it over takes your domain.