EPP will initially be launched into a beta environment to provide a safe 'sandbox' database for registrars to test their systems without fear of affecting data on the 'live' registry.

Overview

The beta database will provide each registrar with a set of fictional domains, accounts, and contacts. The dataset is provided solely for testing purposes, and registrars are free to alter the data, and register new domains and accounts. The dataset will be reset daily, discarding any changes and additions made. Two beta servers will be available, a secure EPP server using SSLv3 and a plain-text server. Both servers will connect to the same beta database. The secure EPP server provides server authentication and data encryption but does not require SSL client authentication.
 

How to register for the EPP testbed

• Log into the Online Service.
• Sign up for the testbed service at Registrars->EPP (fill in the form at https://secure.nominet.org.uk/tags/epp-beta.html after logging in to online services).
• Enter a password for use in EPP login commands.
• Specify the IP address from which you will connect to the EPP service.
• Your new dataset will NOT be available immediately - it will be set up during the next daily reset cycle.
• These details can be changed at any time, and will be reflected on the testbed server only after its next reset cycle.
  

How to connect to the EPP testbed server

• Obtain an EPP client (We have no plans to provide one).
• In order to verify the identity of the secure server you will need the 'Verisign Class 3 Public Primary Certification Authority' root certificate available free from www.verisign.com (the certificate is also distributed with most web browsers).
  
• Connect to the secure server at testbed-epp.nominet.org.uk, port: 700.
• Connect to the plain-text server at testbed-epp.nominet.org.uk, port: 8700.
• Connections can only be made from the IP address specified above.

Dataset

Objects existing in the live registry, such as domains and registrant accounts, are NOT replicated in the testbed. Only a clone of your registrar account, and a clone of each tag which is registered to use EPP, will appear in the dataset, with ID values  not matching those in the live register. Aside from this, all information in the testbed will be fictional. A set of domains will be created on each tag, covering a variety of different states grouped together under a series of registrants (TAG will be replaced by your tag-name):

Simple registrant (LTD)

Domain	Nameservers	Notes
adriana-TAG.co.uk	ns1.ariel-TAG.co.uk

Multiple registrant

banquo-TAG.co.uk	ns1.benedick-TAG.co.uk	Shared nameserver
beatrice-TAG.co.uk	ns1.benedick-TAG.co.uk ns1.beatrice-TAG.co.uk (IPv4) ns2.beatrice-TAG.co.uk (IPv6)	Multiple nameservers

Double registrant (SCH)

Two separate registrants with identical account details.

caliban-TAG.sch.uk	ns1.caliban-TAG.sch.uk	Billing field set to 'th'
claudio-TAG.sch.uk	ns1.caliban-TAG.sch.uk	Billing field set to 'bc'

Suspensions registrant (IND)

demetrius-TAG.co.uk	ns1.demetrius-TAG.co.uk	Suspended
duncan-TAG.co.uk	ns1.demetrius-TAG.co.uk	Suspended, in renewal period

Expiry registrant (PLC)

ganymede-TAG.net.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires in 181 days
ganymede-TAG.co.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires in 179 days
ganymede-TAG.plc.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires in 2 days, auto-bill=3
hermione-TAG.co.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires in 2 days, auto-bill=4
hermia-TAG.plc.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires in 2 days, next-bill=3
horatio-TAG.co.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires in 2 days, next-bill=4
juliet-TAG.plc.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires
lysander-TAG.co.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	Expires in 2 days, payment pending
macbeth-TAG.plc.uk	ns1.ganymede-TAG.net.uk	>2 years old, renewed

DNA registrant

macduff-TAG.co.uk	ns1.macduff-TAG.co.uk	In renewal period, Do Not Renew set
mercutio-TAG.co.uk	ns1.macduff-TAG.co.uk	Do Not Cancel set

Registration registrant

oberon-TAG.co.uk	ns1.oberon-TAG.co.uk	New, paid for
oberon-TAG.org.uk	ns1.oberon-TAG.co.uk	New, unpaid

Changing EPP logon details & option fields

Your EPP password for the testbed (and the associated IP address) can be changed via the Online Service. Such changes will be reflected in the testbed after the next daily reset cycle. Changes to the Automaton Options (e.g. Nameserver Consolidation) will likewise not be reflected immediately.

Changes made within the testbed to your EPP password will affect only the testbed, and will persist only until the next reset cycle. No data in the testbed will be copied to the live register.

Uniqueness

The testbed environment is as close to the live environment as possible. Consequently, any (fictional) domain created in the testbed must have a unique name. In order to avoid potential name conflicts with other tags, it is suggested that you append your tag-name to the key of any domains you request.

Whois

A whois server is available for the Testbed to assist with testing. The testbed server is at testbed-whois.nominet.org.uk. Usage limits of 100,000 requests per day are in force.

Notifications

To generate registrar change notifications on the testbed, a clone of all tags on the testbed has been provided - all connection IP addresses are the same. This tag can be used to transfer a domain name to your tag and generate a notification. The name of the cloned tag is generated as follows:

• If the tag name has less than 16 characters, the cloned tag is the same as the original with a trailing '_'. For example, if the tag is 'EXAMPLE', the cloned tag is 'EXAMPLE_'.
  
• If the tag name has 16 characters, the final character has been replaced with a '_'. For example, if the tag is 'EXAMPLE-WITH-16C', the cloned tag is 'EXAMPLE-WITH-16_'.