Knowledge base

This guide explains how to order and use a Mail Service and Web Hosting offered for free with each domain name registered with Infomaniak.

 

Introduction

• For each domain name registered or transferred to Infomaniak, you can benefit from a free email address that provides access to Mail Infomaniak and a 10 MB web space for a basic page
• It is also possible to have a free Mail Service while having a paid Web offer, or vice versa

 

Activate the Starter Offer

Prerequisites

• Own a domain name with Infomaniak (a DNS zone alone is not sufficient) (if needed, order or transfer a domain)
• Depending on the desired type (mail or web), you must not have a corresponding product already associated with the domain name within any existing Infomaniak Organization

To order a Starter Mail Service or Starter Web Hosting included with each domain:

1. Log in to Infomaniak Manager (manager.infomaniak.com) from a web browser like Brave or Firefox
2. Click on the ‍ icon at the top right of the interface (or navigate using the left sidebar menu, for example)
3. Select Domains (in the Web & Domain section)
4. Click on the name of the relevant item in the displayed table
5. Click on the blue Connect a service button (also accessible in the Actions section or via the ⋮ icon on the right of the interface:
   
6. Once on the page to connect a service, choose Create an email address
7. Click on the search field
8. Click on Order and follow the wizard in the Infomaniak Shop to complete the order
   
9. Similarly for creating a basic web page, click on Create a website and follow steps 7 & 8 above:
   ‍‍

Using a Starter Product

You can then create the desired email address on your Starter Mail Service.

To use the 10 MB web space and create a basic web page on your Starter Web Hosting, use:

• the page editor
• or the FTP file manager to manage your HTML pages
• or any FTP application

 

Upgrading a Starter Offer

• Modify a mail offer (click here)
• Modify a web offer (click here)

This guide explains how to upgrade a free Mail Starter offer to a more comprehensive and enhanced paid offer.

Indeed, by purchasing a domain name from Infomaniak, you get 1 free email address and a basic 10 MB web space. In just a few clicks, it is possible to upgrade these offers to benefit from an enhanced experience.

 

Modify the free Mail offer
 

To modify the Starter offer:

1. Log in to the Infomaniak Manager (manager.infomaniak.com) from a web browser like Brave or Firefox
2. Click on the icon ‍ at the top right of the interface (or navigate through the left side menu, for example)
3. Choose Mail Service (universe Collaborative Tools)
4. Click on the action menu ⋮ on the right of the item in the displayed table
5. Click on Modify the offer
    
   
    
    
6. Adjust the number of email addresses to add to the Mail Service using the order wizard, pay to complete the offer change

This guide details the allowed and valid characters when you need to create a domain name (maximum of 63 characters) with Infomaniak.

 

International Standards

The characters permitted in a domain name are determined by the technical standards set by the regulatory body for domain names, typically the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) globally, and by national or regional regulatory bodies, such as the Domain Name Regulatory Authority in France (AFNIC) for .fr domains in France.

In general, the allowed characters in a domain name include:

• letters of the alphabet (a to z)
• numbers (0 to 9)
• the hyphen (-), but hyphens are allowed provided they are not placed at the beginning or end

There are also domain extensions that allow the use of accented characters or other special characters. These rules may vary depending on the specific domain extension (like .fr, .com, .net, etc.) and the policies set by the relevant regulatory bodies.

 

Accented Characters?

It is possible to purchase a domain name containing an accent on a letter from Infomaniak (é for example).

The encoding method that allows the inclusion of non-Latin characters, such as accented, Cyrillic, Chinese, etc., in domain names is called Punnycode. It transforms Unicode characters into a readable ASCII form for computer systems.

This means that a domain name containing non-ASCII characters is transformed into an ASCII string starting with xn--.

This transformation is reversible, allowing software to interpret and display the original domain name correctly.

 

And the Dot?

A domain name is structured into several labels separated by dots. For example: example.com, where com is the TLD (top-level domain) and example is the second-level domain.

Dots are reserved to separate different parts of a domain name, such as between the second-level domain and the TLD. You cannot purchase a domain with a dot at the beginning or end of a label, nor as an isolated character within a label.

A domain name may be in one of several states:

"Active" or "OK"
The domain name is declared in DNS and the domain is active and unlocked. All administrative and/or technical operations may be performed.

"Registrar-Lock / Registry-Lock" or "clientTransferProhibited"
The domain name is declared in DNS. The domain is active but locked in order to protect it, against fraudulent transfer requests in particular.

"Registrar-Hold / Registry-Hold"
This status is set when the domain is expired (not renewed). The only possible operation is then renewal. Administrative and/or technical operations are not possible.

"RedemptionPeriod"
This status occurs if the domain has not been renewed. See this FAQ (click here).

"PendingRestore"
This status appears during a restore request. The registrar has 7 days to inform the registry of all information required for the domain to be restored.

"PendingDelete"
This status follows the RedemptionPeriod status after 30 days if no request is made to restore the domain. The name will be deleted within 15 days before becoming available to the public.


In the case of a .fr domain: 

"Active"
The domain name is declared in DNS (and is fully operational).

"Frozen"
The domain name is declared in DNS but no administrative and/or technical operation is possible. Possible reasons: see Article 6.1 of the AFNIC Charter.

"Bloqué"
The domain name is no longer declared in DNS; it is no longer operational and no administrative and/or technical operations are possible. Possible reasons: see Article 6.2 of the AFNIC Charter.

This guide details the actions to take as a priority if you see no difference on your website after making changes to it, compared to its version before the changes. These tips are also valid if you encounter issues when using Infomaniak's product interface.

What is cache?

During your browsing, a web browser stores the data you've visited in a reserved space. This is done to avoid repeatedly requesting data from the server, which saves time and resources.

Your cache can contain a lot of data, and sometimes the browser gets confused. This can cause websites to display incorrectly or show an outdated version.

Clearing the cache ensures that you have the most up-to-date version of the page or folder you're viewing.

Clearing the web browser cache

Safari

Select your macOS version to read the corresponding Apple help (click here).

Google Tools (Chrome, Android, etc.)

Read the Google help (click here).

Firefox

Read the Mozilla help (click here).

Edge / Internet Explorer

Read the Microsoft help (click here).

This guide explains how to retry the transfer of a domain name to Infomaniak in case of failure.

Manually Retry Domain Transfer

When a domain name transfer fails, you will receive an email with the possible reason for the problem.

The message also contains a link to retry the transfer request without paying the transfer fees again.

In case of an issue:

1. Log in to the Infomaniak Manager (manager.infomaniak.com) from a web browser like Brave or Edge
2. Click on the icon at the top right of the interface (or navigate through the left side menu)
3. Select Domains (in the Web & Domain universe)
4. Click on the name of the relevant object in the displayed table
5. Follow the instructions carefully displayed in red at the top of the page

This guide explains how to link a domain name to the Synology NAS you rent from Infomaniak.

Associate a Domain

To link your domain name to the Synology:

1. Log in to the Infomaniak Manager (manager.infomaniak.com) from a web browser like Brave or Edge.
2. Click on the icon in the top right corner of the interface (or navigate through the left sidebar menu, for example).
3. Select Synology (in the Cloud Computing universe).
4. Click on the name of the relevant object in the displayed table.
5. Click on Link a Domain Name (in the Associated Domains section).
6. Enter a domain name.
7. Repeat the process if necessary for your other domains.

This guide concerns any messages you may receive mentioning terms like WDPR (WHOIS Data Problem Report System) and WHOIS, which refer to notifications and policies associated with managing domain names on the Web.

 

WDPR (WHOIS Data Problem Report System)

WDPR, or WHOIS Data Problem Report System, is a system established by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). This system allows users to report problems with WHOIS data. Here are the key points of this system:

• Reporting Issues: Users can report inaccuracies or incorrect data in the WHOIS information of a domain; common issues include outdated contact addresses, incorrect phone numbers, or fraudulent information.
• Reporting Process: To report a problem, users must fill out a form available on ICANN's website; this form requests details about the observed issue and the relevant WHOIS information.
• Problem Resolution: Once an issue is reported, ICANN takes steps to investigate and resolve the inaccuracy; this may involve updating the WHOIS information by the relevant registrar.
• WHOIS Information: The information available via WHOIS includes the domain holder's name, contact address, phone number, and email address; this information is public and accessible to anyone performing a WHOIS lookup.
• Privacy: Although WHOIS information is public, many registrars like Infomaniak offer WHOIS privacy services; these services mask the personal information of the domain holder, displaying the contact details of the privacy service instead.
• Updates: It is essential for domain holders to keep their WHOIS information up to date; ICANN requires that the information be accurate and complete: incorrect information may lead to the suspension or cancellation of the domain.

 

Emails Mentioning WDPR and WHOIS

Emails mentioning WDPR and WHOIS follow specific guidelines to inform domain holders of the next steps and necessary actions:

• WHOIS Problem Notification: An email informing that a problem with the WHOIS information has been reported; this email will contain instructions on how to check and correct inaccurate information.
• Update Reminder: An email reminding domain holders of the importance of keeping their WHOIS information up to date, often sent periodically to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Resolution Confirmation: An email confirming that changes or updates made to the WHOIS information have been successfully completed, following a problem report.

These emails are essential to ensure that information related to domain names remains accurate and up to date, which is crucial for the security and effective management of domains. They also help protect domain holders against potential issues, such as missed notifications or legal actions due to inaccurate information.

By carefully following the instructions and reminders contained in these emails, domain holders can avoid service interruptions, domain losses, and other complications associated with managing domain names on the Web.

This guide is intended for people who know how to manually edit the DNS zone of a domain name. It explains how to set up zone delegation for a subdomain.

Setting up Zone Delegation

For this:

1. Log in to the Infomaniak Manager (manager.infomaniak.com) from a web browser like Brave or Edge
2. Click on the icon at the top right of the interface (or navigate through the left side menu)
3. Choose Domains (universe Web & Domain)
4. Click on the name of the relevant object in the displayed table
5. Click on DNS Zone in the left side menu
6. Click on the Advanced View tab
7. Click on the + button
8. Enter the desired subdomain (for example, test to get test.domain.xyz)
9. Now you can edit the DNS zone of the delegated subdomain

This guide explains how to add or modify one or more CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) records in the DNS zone of a domain managed on the Infomaniak Manager.

Type CAA

A CAA record allows you to specify a certification authority authorized to issue certificates for a domain.

Add a CAA Record

Refer to this guide (click here) to learn how to manage records in a DNS zone.

Adding CAA for Sectigo SSL Certificate Validation

In the case of Sectigo SSL certificate validation, follow the generic guide above but specifically enter the following data:

• Choose issue for certification authority
• Flag: 0
• Specify sectigo.com