This is the acceptable use policy for our EPP service. As with our acceptable use policies generally, our linking principles apply.

Introduction

As detailed in our Automaton AUP, we have experienced a number of problems in the past that have required us to prevent or limit certain functionality of our registrar systems.  Our EPP service has the same controls in place.

Many of the limits given here are combined with certain limits on the Automaton and the Web Domain Manager.  Exceeding limits on one system will trigger a block on all systems.

General use of our EPP service

There are generally no specific limits set on the level of use of EPP commands, other than the specific limits on the use of the create, check and delete commands set out below.

Notwithstanding the above, it is not acceptable to use the EPP service, or knowingly or recklessly permit others to use the EPP service:

1. so as to interfere with the use of the EPP by other customers or authorised users;
2. in a manner which does, or is designed to, harass or cause a denial-of-service to any other user of the EPP service; or 
3. in a manner which causes or is likely to cause an interruption or degradation of, interference with, or disproportionate burden on the operations of the EPP service, regardless of whether such interruption, degradation, interference or burden is the result of the registrar’s actions or those of a third party over which the registrar has no control.
   

If, in Nominet’s reasonable opinion, a registrar is using the EPP service in such an unacceptable manner Nominet will take such steps as it deems appropriate to stop the unacceptable use including, but not limited to, suspending, restricting or terminating the registrar’s access to or use of some or all of Nominet’s registrar systems.

Use of create command on already registered names

The acceptable limits are set per registrar, per rolling 24 hours and apply to the create command attempted on names that already exist. In addition these are aggregated with the Automaton create operations and Web Domain Manager create operations on domain names registered to other tags. The limit is:

• The combined number of EPP create commands on names that already exist and Automaton create operations attempted on names that already exist must not exceed 1,000 in any 24 hour period.

If exceeded, all tags for that registrar will be blocked from making any new registrations for 24 hours, but the domain check operation, modifications and queries (for domains on their tag) will be permitted.  The registrar will be notified of the block in the EPP create response.

If the requests do not cease as a result then we may block all access for that registrar. The block will be automatically lifted upon expiry of the 24-hour period.

 

Use of check command

In order to protect our systems, we impose a limit on the number of check commands in a 24 hour period. The check command is limited to 5000 requests and is measured from midnight to midnight. If the limit is exceeded, the check command is automatically disabled and will remain so until the following midnight.

Use of the delete and investigation lock operations

The instructions for use of the delete and investigation lock operations clearly state their intended use.  Any other use of these commands is misuse and may lead to blocking and/or having the commands selectively blocked, disabled or withdrawn.

In order to protect our systems we impose a limit on the sum total of delete and investigation lock operations on new registrations.  The delete and investigation lock operations are limited to 5 or 5% of uninvoiced registrations, whichever is higher, within the following effective period:

• From the 1st of the month to the 7th of the month, the limits are calculated back to the beginning of the previous month.
• From the 8th of the month to the end of the month, the limits are calculated back to the beginning of the same month.  (This means domain names deleted or locked between the 1st and 7th are counted in two consecutive months)

If this limit is exceeded, the delete and investigation lock operations are automatically disabled for new registrations on that tag.  These operations will remain disabled until:

• the registrar has registered enough domain names to permit further operations under the 5% limit or
  
• midnight on the 7th of the following month when the limit is automatically reset.

If you need to delete or lock more domain names than the limit allows, then please contact us at hostmaster@nominet.org.uk.

Linked tags

This policy is covered by our standard anti-avoidance clause, which may mean that we link tags together when calculating the above limits.

Simultaneous connections

Each tag is limited to six simultaneous connections to the EPP service.  The IP addresses used by each tag must be set in advance through our online service.  If more than six connections are opened then the oldest connection will be forcibly closed.