Blue Reef Virtual Servers: Support: Server Add-ons: CGI Library: Lookup Domain Name Availability. Also, peruse tutorials, faqs, manuals, and more!

Domain Name Availability

Offering clients a way to check domain name availability is an essential part of a web hosting company's web site. Checking the availability of only the three-most common top-level domain names (.com, .net, and .org) is not adequate. A utility to check the availability for all top level domain names may be necessary. This form will allow you to do that.

HTML Source for the Domain Availability Form
The HTML source below represents a simple lookup form. This form can be customized for your Virtual Server by adding graphics, changing text, and adding other personal touches.

<html>
<head>
<title>Domain Name Availability</title>
</head>
<body>
<h3>Domain Name Availability</h3>
Please use the following form to check the availability of a domain name. The domain name can end in any of the international top level domains, not just those serviced by the InterNIC. Simply enter the domain name (i.e. internic.net, nominet.org.uk, nic.ch, etc) into the entry field below and select the "Lookup" button. <p>
<center>
<form method=POST action="/cgi-bin/Scriptorium/iwhois/lookup.pl">
<input name="name" size=24 maxlength=72>
<input type="submit" value="Lookup">
</form>
</center>
<p>
</body>
</html>

Installing the domain name availability CGI
To install the lookup CGI on your Virtual Server you will need to do the following:

Download the Lookup Form
You will need to download the Lookup Form HTML source and store it somewhere in your "~/www/httpd/htdocs" directory structure. Feel free to customize the form, add graphics, etc. But be sure that the variable name for the input field is not altered.
Untar the Domain Name Availability CGI source code
1. Telnet or SSH to your Virtual Server.
2. Change directories to your home directory (type "cd" and hit return)
3. type:
  tar -xvf /usr/local/contrib/iwhois.tar
  This will install the lookup.pl and util.pl files into your "www/cgi-bin/library/iwhois" directory.
Request the "iwhois" executable
Contact the iwhois Installation Desk and request installation of the "iwhois" executable. The iwhois executable must be installed by a member of the Blue Reef staff. Be sure you include information to help us identify which account you would like the iwhois executable installed; information such as your Customer ID and the Account ID or the Account Login ID is helpful.
Customize the Appearance of the Lookup CGI
Two subroutines in the util.pl file are used to print out header and footer information. These functions are print_header_info and print_footer_info. Feel free to modify these functions such that the CGI outputs pages that are in synch with the motifs of the rest of your site.

Once you have completed the installation successfully, you will have a working query form like the one shown below (go ahead and test it).

Please use the following form to check the availability of a domain name. The domain name can end in any of the international top level domains, not just those serviced by the InterNIC. Simply enter the domain name (i.e. internic.net, nominet.org.uk, nic.ch, etc) into the entry field below and select the "Lookup" button.

SEE ALSO:

InterNIC Whois Lookup Tool

Getting your own Name Server

Installing CGI Scripts

CGI Security Issues

CGI Scriptorium

About Perl

Perl Modules

Server Side Includes

Mime Types

About Apache Server

BOOKS TO HELP YOU:

The Domain Name Handbook; High Stakes and Strategies in Cyberspace
$31.96

CGI Programming 101
$24.95

CGI Programming With Perl
$26.36

Web Security:
A Step-by-Step Reference Guide
$23.96

Official Guide to Programming With CGI.pm
$27.99

Javascript Bible,
3rd Edition
$34.99

Core Web Programming
$34.39

Apache:
Web Server Directives Guidebook
$15.95