Whois2 Limits

danielcoates · Jan 11, 2014

I have a question about whois2 limits, according to 'Nominet's Acceptable Usage Policy' you can do a maximum of 100 queries per second with a maximum of 100,000 per rolling 24 hours.

According to my maths this is equal to 100,000 / 86,400 = 1.15 queries per second, if my maths is correct, and I am performing 1 query per second, how come I keep getting banned?

Darren · Jan 11, 2014

1000 queries per IP every 24 hours.

danielcoates · Jan 11, 2014

So WHOIS2 is also bound by the Whois query rate of 1,000 queries, per IP per 24 hours? So in order to make a query every second I would need to alternate between 87 different IP's?

Darren · Jan 11, 2014

WHOIS2 Acceptable Use Policy

The acceptable use requirements are (for WHOIS2 gateways):

The maximum query rate is 100 queries per second with a maximum of 100,000 queries per rolling 24 hours.

For the clients accessing the gateway service the limits are given in the WHOIS acceptable use policy.

Lookup information is aggregated from all gateways and the WHOIS in order to calculate usage for clients.

This policy includes our standard anti-avoidance clause.

...

danielcoates · Jan 11, 2014

Darren said:
...

So what's the point of WHOIS2? And an answer would be nice, rather than just highlighting, and hinting.

RobM · Jan 11, 2014

Whois2 is to provide to your clients. When you make a lookup you have to pass the IP address and not be the enduser.

Darren · Jan 11, 2014

The WHOIS2 service enables WHOIS gateways/proxies to query the WHOIS database without being blocked for excessive use. It must only be used as a gateway for end users who are making a live WHOIS query. It is designed in such a way that our anti-abuse mechanisms can recognise and block users who try to abuse our systems by using multiple gateways.

It operates in a different way to the WHOIS protocol by including the address and hostname of the user who has made the request via the gateway. It allows the operator of a WHOIS proxy to provide a higher volume service than they could by querying the ordinary WHOIS.

The service is available on a subscription only basis. When you subscribe you will need to provide Nominet with the IP address of your gateway.

http://registrars.nominet.org.uk/registration-and-domain-management/query-tools/whois2

danielcoates · Jan 11, 2014

RobM said:
Whois2 is to provide to your clients. When you make a lookup you have to pass the IP address and not be the enduser.

Thank You, That answers my question. So to be able to check that many domains I would be looking at the DAC, something reserved for TAG Holders.

Sorry for sounding a little dumb here

RobM · Jan 11, 2014

Yes you would use your dac but that doesn't provide contact details (not that you should be using the whois to store contact details).

danielcoates · Jan 11, 2014

RobM said:
Yes you would use your dac but that doesn't provide contact details (not that you should be using the whois to store contact details).

I wasn't looking for contact details, neither was I storing the information, just checking expiry dates, and registration status.

RobM · Jan 11, 2014

I didn't mean you personally I meant 'you' as in 'general people'

Anyway DAC is the best bet for bulk lookups. 432,000 per rolling 24 hours.

tifosi · Jan 11, 2014

It's interesting to note the misconceptions some people have- especially the ones entering the market in recent times - regarding the whois, whois2 and the dac.

whois2 was introduced many moons ago when the more public facing registrars were starting to struggle with an increasingly popular internet. It is meant as a client-facing whois solution to provide quick access to whois data. There have been changes in restrictions over time to stop abuse - including no doubt some that aren't mentioned to stop repeated calls for the same domain.

The dac was introduced - 2004/5 from memory from the beta testing days which I and a few older members remember - as a fast access method to a limited subset of the whois data (whereas whois/whois2 is all the whois data). It was never meant as a 'dropcatching solution' though use for that was not proscribed.

Just been interesting over the years to hear the gripes about these when the facts haven't been clear. And the DAC is not available to tag holders, it is available to full Nominet members only (at an additional annual cost) - though these tend to be one and the same.

S