I'm struggeling somewhat understanding the Expiration related output for a whois
query of a .com
domain. In particular I don't really get the meaning of the Registrar Registration Expiration Date
field.
Here is an example (shortened):
$ whois example.com
Whois Server Version 2.0
Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.
Domain Name: example.com
Registrar: CRONON AG
Sponsoring Registrar IANA ID: 141
Whois Server: whois.cronon.net
Referral URL: http://www.cronon.net
Name Server: NS.STRATOSERVER.NET
Name Server: NS2.STRATOSERVER.NET
Status: ok https://icann.org/epp#ok
Updated Date: 12-sep-2016
Creation Date: 12-sep-2011
Expiration Date: 12-sep-2017
[...]
Domain Name: example.com
Registry Domain ID: 1111111
Registrar Whois Server: whois.cronon.net
Registrar URL: http://www.cronon.net
Updated Date: 2011-09-12T00:00:00Z
Creation Date: 2011-09-12T00:00:00Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2016-09-12T00:00:00Z
As you can see the Registrar Registration Expiration Date
is in the past, but the Expiration Date
is in the future. The domain in question is still active. After talking to Strato they insist they have renewed the registration and there is nothing else to do, but the fact that the Registrar Registration Expiration Date
is in the past is leaving me somewhat worried (and they won't comment on the Registrar Registration Expiration Date
).
Even if I accept their assurances for my own education I'd still like to know what this field means.