iWhois - Domain Name Availability CGI

Offering clients a way to check domain name availability is an essential part of a web hosting company's web site. However, checking the availability of only the common top level domain names (.com, .net, and .org) is not adequate. A utility to check the availability for any top level domain name is necessary. This ability can be easily provided with a small form and CGI script. The lookup form and CGI source are presented in two sections below.

Installation

To install the lookup CGI on your Virtual Private Server you will need to do the following:

1. Install the Lookup Form

   You will need to download the Domain Name Availability form HTML source and store it somewhere in your ~/www/htdocs directory structure. Feel free to customize the form, add graphics, etc. But be sure that the variable name for the input field is not altered.

2. Install the CGI

   Connect to your Virtual Private Server via SSH or Telnet and run the following command:

   % vinstall iwhois

3. Customize the Appearance of the CGI

   Two subroutines in the util.pl file are used to print out header and footer information. These functions are print_header_info and print_footer_info. Feel free to modify these functions such that the CGI outputs pages that are in synch with the motifs of the rest of your site.