The registry Knock Knock Whois There (KKWT) has finished replacing the operator of its .BLOG domain name zone. The domain with about 200,000 registered names was moved from Nominet to CentralNic. At first, it was announced that the entire handover would take about three hours to complete, but reality proved different. According to KKWT sources, the delay was caused by an unexpected database error. Therefore it took 18 hours to complete the handover. Names in the .BLOG domain name zone were available during this period of time, and the delay did not therefore affect the operation of websites, created in the relevant domains, according to Domain Incite. During the 18-hour downtime, it was impossible to conduct .blog registrations, renewals, transfers and general domain management at the registry level.
CentralNic already handles very large top-level domains (TLD), including .XYZ, a new TLD. But the simultaneous transfer of an estimated 200,000 domain names under its jurisdiction became the largest ever incoming handover for the company. Quite possibly, the delay was caused by inadequate experience of such operations. It should be noted that a standard Registry Agreement between technical operators and ICANN stipulates maximum possible deadlines when domain names cannot be managed for technical reasons. If this deadline exceeds 24 hours a week, ICANN promptly hands over the relevant domain name zone to another operator. Although this clause was not violated, the contract also notes that monthly downtime should not exceed 14 hours. And this is probably what happened. No information about possible ICANN sanctions is currently available.
