The database cleanup rolls on. The last processes this round started last week on the night between Thursday 21 and Friday 22 June.
On Monday 2 July 3000 domains will be removed from the DNS, and we expect extra traffic for you and us. It will be relatively easy to restore a domain: In addition to the regular zone file updates between 7 and 9 AM and between 3 and 5 PM, we will if needed run additional updates at 11 AM and 1 PM. Please contact us via phone or email if there is urgent need to reactivate a domain.
The domains affected by the database cleanup will be removed from the DNS every Monday throughout July and August. We recommend that you log on to the registrar web and check the status file for 'invalid-registrant process' to see which of "your" domains are at risk of deletion. The "quarantine date" column tells you when any given domain will be removed from the DNS. If you see domains you know to be vital to your client, do check with them that they're aware.
A few statistics:
Number of deletion processes currently running: ca 30.800
Number of emails sent: 33.557
Number of letters sent per 25 June: 8557
Rough estimate of failed emails: 25%
Returned letters so far: 24%
Change of holder: In May and June we have had rougly five times as many changes of holder as May and June last year.
The number of errors and returned letters are significantly better than in 2007, when 70% of the emails failed and 43% of the letters were returned. The numbers are temporary, we will know the final results over the summer.