Registrar Interface

Relevant primarily to registrars and registry operators managing registrar relationships.

EPP server

FRED includes an Apache module that acts as a translation and validation layer between the public EPP endpoint and the internal registry. It converts and validates EPP XML requests and responses, and provides an additional security boundary between the registry core and the publicly accessible interface. Granular access controls are supported, including deny lists, IP address ranges, and SSL certificate requirements.

Encryption of registrar communication

SSL encryption can be enforced for all requests to the EPP server.

Registrar session management

The registry can be configured to limit the number of parallel EPP sessions allowed per registrar, helping to prevent resource exhaustion and enforce fair use across registrar accounts.

Poll messages

FRED implements an extension to EPP called poll messaging, allowing registrars to receive notifications about registry events that were not triggered by their own actions. This includes time-based events such as domain expiry and deletion of idle objects, as well as events triggered by other registrars (such as transfers) or by the registry itself (such as the results of contact merges).

Registrar credit

FRED includes an optional credit system that assigns a configurable cost to EPP operations such as domain creation and renewal.

Pricing customisation

The amount of credit consumed by each EPP request type is configurable, giving registry operators fine-grained control over the cost model applied to registrar operations.

Registrar certification

FRED supports registrar certification management. This certification is an incentive programme designed to encourage best practices across the DNS ecosystem. Certification covers areas such as IPv6, DNSSEC, technical support, and security. It gives registrars a structured path to demonstrate competence, motivates full use of registry capabilities, and provides domain registrants with a basis for evaluating registrar quality. Certification can then be issued and displayed, for example, on the registry operator or registrar websites.

CLI EPP client (eppic)

FRED includes eppic, a command-line EPP client built on the epplib Python utility library. It is suitable for registrars that lack the resources to develop their own EPP client, and is also useful for registry administrators and internal registrars who need to perform manual or automated tasks against the EPP interface.