Zone Files

[Blake]

Well this may sound a bit of a newbie question but I'm wondering what would be the purpose behind downloading and viewing zone files? I understand it lists all/most of the domains and there information but what is the motive for domainers to view this information? I have access to about 25 extensions worth of zone files.....but fail to see the importance of this I guess.....

Looking for someone who has a bit more advanced knowledge on this to help explain what on can garner from these zone files. Just a basic explanation would do fine I suppose heh...

Thanks again to anyone who has some basic knowledge on this matter as so far I don't see the advantage of having these files as of yet....

Cheers to all for helping me understand this area of domaining

 

[Dotmainer]

to start, you can view how many LLL or LLLL are unregistred (i know all .com's are) but in other extensions not
.. or compare ext. ... example: most attractive words are in most ext. registred

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[Brujah]

data mining and extrapolation

 

[jmcc]

The full zonefiles for 25 extensions or something like DRT's zonefiles? Zonefiles can be very useful but many domainers don't have the technology (databases/servers etc) or programming skills to use them well. It is possible to use zonefiles to detect domain trends, predict drop dates, generate lists among other things. For landrush scenarios, it is possible to build target lists of the most valuable domains. I do know a thing or two about zonefiles so ask away.

Regards...jmcc

 

[tonecas]

the zone files gives you a snapshot of the domain space. the lack of a domain in a zonefile doesn't mean however that it is not registered, as far as i know.

this gives you a quicker method of scanning domains than doing Whois lookups.

like jmcc said it is also helpful for predicting drop/expiration dates.

i use mainly Whois lookups but i'm considering adding zone files to my tools. i think i will bother you a few times jmcc

regards,
tonecas

 

[Expron]

I use the zone files to find domains that drop under the radar. For example,

1.) There's domains that are dropped & become available again because the owner simply hit "delete" at his/her registrar while there was still time left on the reg.
2.) Domain tasters - it still happens a lot & there's thousands of domains tasted & dropped daily.
3.) Trademark or legal litigation - these domains are removed from the Zone file instantly & become available again.
4.) No nameservers - or invalid whois details. After the warnings, Verisign will drop these names.
A.) Hosting & parking companies examine & compare how many domains in the zone have the most nameservers.
B.) AntiqueDrop data - my area of expertise.

Today's zone files overall give you a 35-36 days heads up of the drop lists. Also comparing the files on a fast processing server will yield a nice list of "difference" domains which are 1-4 above & avail for hand reg.

I agree with jmcc about the trends & landrush / etc. Some just monitor the exhaustive data into manageable chunks.

Others also use the zone to query whois servers & compile mailing lists. With almost 80 million domains in the .com zone alone, there's alot that can be done.

Most people take a daily cycle & process the list in approx 12 hours. If anyone wants a free unix/linux script let me know, it's quite clever & can process the zone in about an hour or two on a regular P4 server.