Domain Transfer Guide: Hover → OpenSRS

This document explains how to transfer your domains from Hover to OpenSRS, with special attention to DNS/nameserver handling.

Preparation

Before initiating the transfer:

1. Check domain status

   • Make sure your domain is at least 60 days old (ICANN rule). If not 60 days old, move on to another domain and transfer this one later.
   • Ensure the domain is unlocked for transfer in Hover. This is the padlock icon on the Hover Domains list - click to disable.
   • Confirm that the registrant contact email is valid—you’ll receive approval emails during the transfer. Set the registrant contact email to help@myweb.care if it's not already.

2. Obtain the EPP/Auth code

   • Log in to Hover.
   • Go to Domains → select the domain → click "Authorization Code - Retrieve".
   • Copy the Authorization (EPP) code.

3. Review expiration dates

   • Transfers include a 1-year renewal, which adds to your current expiration (unless already at the 10-year maximum).

Handling DNS and Nameservers

How you handle DNS during transfer depends on which nameservers your domain is currently using in Hover.

Case A: Using University PC Care nameservers or any other external nameserver

• ns1.universitypccare.com
• ns2.universitypccare.com
• Anything other than *.hover.com

No additional steps required.
Your DNS is already hosted outside Hover, so transferring the domain won’t affect your DNS setup. Everything will continue to resolve normally after the transfer.

Case B: Using Hover nameservers

• ns#.hover.com (e.g., ns1.hover.com, ns2.hover.com)

You must migrate your DNS records to OpenSRS.

1. Export DNS records from Hover

   • Log in to Hover.
   • Go to Domains → select the domain → DNS.
   • Download or copy the full DNS zone file (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, etc.).

2. Import DNS into OpenSRS

   • Log in to your OpenSRS control panel.
   • Go to DNS Management for the domain (available once the transfer is complete).
   • Add all of the records you exported from Hover.
   • Double-check for special records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, etc.).

3. Switch nameservers

   • In OpenSRS, update the domain to use the OpenSRS nameservers.
   • Confirm propagation using a tool like whatsmydns.net.

⚠️ Important: If you skip this step, the customer's website and email may stop working once the Hover nameservers are no longer authoritative after the transfer.

Special considerations for how OpenSRS handles DNS records

This section is only relevant if you are migrating the nameserver from Hover's nameservers to OpenSRS's nameservers.

OpenSRS has a couple of limitations on how DNS records are managed:

1. The maximum record length for any string (in any DNS system) is 255 characters. Other DNS providers get around this by using multi-string records, where a record can be broken up into multiple <=255 character double-quoted strings. Unfortunately, OpenSRS does not properly support multi-string records. This should only be a potential issue for DKIM records, which can easily exceed the limit. You will either need to do one of the following, depending on what is easier:
   • If we have access to their email suite (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, etc), we can regenerate their DKIM key to be a 1024-bit key, which will fit into the character limit for OpenSRS
   • Otherwise, you will need to migrate their DNS to our nameserver, which does support multi-string records
   • See this forum post for additional context
2. To create CNAME records in OpenSRS you must:
   • Create a subdomain
   • On the subdomain, create a CNAME record
3. To create a DKIM key, such as google._domainkey.example.com, you must:
   • Create a subdomain: google._domainkey.example.com
   • Create a TXT record on that subdomain

Initiating the transfer in OpenSRS

1. Log in to your OpenSRS reseller portal.
2. Start a new Domain Transfer.
   • Domain transfers are initiated as if you are creating a new domain.
   • Start a new domain registration by clicking the "+" button and searching for the desired domain name
   • On the list of search results, your domain should appear and update with a "Transfer?" link
   • If instead the domain says "Not Transferable..." then you either made a typo, or the domain is not unlocked for transfer in Hover
   • Click "Transfer?" to continue to domain registration
3. Continue with domain registration:
   • If this is the first domain associated with a particular customer in OpenSRS, create a new registrant user for them using their domain name (minus the TLD - i.e. example.com would have username example)
     • Use the customer's contact information where possible, except that the email address should be help@myweb.care
   • If this is not the first domain associated with a particular customer in OpenSRS, attach this domain to their existing user
4. Pay for the transfer (includes a 1-year renewal).
5. Approve transfer emails: You will receive an email at the registrant address you entered (help@myweb.care) in the SupportPal Ticket System. Use the domain transfer key you retrieved earlier from Hover to complete this step.
6. Once done with verification, the domain status in the domain list in OpenSRS will change to "Transfer in requires registry action...", and now you must wait for this step to complete - this step may take several days to complete

Verifying After Transfer

• Check WHOIS: Confirm the registrar now shows OpenSRS.
• Check nameservers:
  • If University PC Care or other external nameservers → done.
  • If OpenSRS nameservers → confirm DNS records imported correctly.
• Test services:
  • Verify website loads.
  • Send/receive email.
  • Confirm any subdomains, VoIP records, etc. are working.

Best Practices

• Keep a backup of all DNS records before starting any transfer.
• Monitor email during the transfer window (approval and completion notices are time-sensitive).
• Allow 24–48 hours for DNS propagation if nameservers change.

Support

• Hover Support: help.hover.com
• OpenSRS Support: opensrs.help