All posts by 2020media

2020Media is a leading UK web host offering Linux and Windows website hosting. The company specialises in WordPress, Joomla and Drupal support.
Domain Names

Domains consultation

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

This week 2020Media attended the London ICANN consultation on new top level domain names (gTLDs) at RIBA. The event was well attended, with many people flying from all over Europe and beyond to have their say.

ICANN is seeking people’s views on the introduction of potentially hundreds of new top level domains (.eco, .city, etc) especially with regard to protecting brand names.

Many big brands have resisted the idea of new domains entirely, but having accepted they will happen, are now attempting to ‘reserve’ their names and trademarks so they can’t be registered by anyone apart from themselves.

In recent ccTLD launches, there’s been quite a high price put on domains in the so-called Sunrise period by the registries, and this is something the brands want to avoid.

On the other hand, trademarks exist in classes, they are not global (so Apple Records and Apple Computers can both have trademark on ‘Apple’, in their respective business areas). So if a new domain is launched, why should the man in the street not register apple.eco, providing they don’t start passing themselves off as an Ipod reseller.

Technical

How to reset Joomla and WordPress passwords

Joomla

Using any MySQL admin tool, (PHPMyAdmin), run the following query, entering your own choice of password:

UPDATE jos_users SET password = MD5("new-password") WHERE  jos_users.username = "admin";

If you’re using a different username to admin, change as appropriate.

If this doesn’t work, try changing jos_users to mos_users.

WordPress

If you know your username and the email account in your profile, you can use the “lost password” function –

If you can’t use this method, here’s how to do it in MySQL.

Using any MySQL admin tool, (PHPMyAdmin), run the following query, entering your own choice of password.

UPDATE wp_users SET user_pass = MD5("new-password") WHERE wp_users.user_login = "admin";

Notes: You must have access to your database. If you don’t, pass these instructions on to someone that does.

Domain Names

New Domains – London Event

ICANN, the top level body responsible for the internet, is holding a consultation in London this July.

The consultations will facilitate on-going discussions with the Internet community regarding workable solutions to some of the outstanding, overarching issues, particularly trademark protection and malicious behavior, on the proposed new tranche of domain name extensions.

All events are free of charge and you can find out more and signup at the ICANN website

Technical

Telehouse West Progress

The construction of the newest central london datacentre, Telehouse West, is well underway.

We don’t have to visit  the datacentre very frequently, but when we do we’ve been taking the odd photo of the construction work. As you can see, the progress of the build has been impressively fast.

telehouse-west-progress

Once complete, this datacentre will be one of the Greenest around. Waste heat (and there’s a lot of that in a datacentre)  from the $180 million Telehouse colocation facility will be used in a district heat network for the local Docklands community. It also features solar cells on the roof to help with the massive electricity costs.

They have provided a live feed from two webcams so you can watch diggers and cranes all day if you want.

Domain Names

ICANN updates

ICANN has approved a new contract for it’s registrars.gradlogo

One addition that caught my eye was the curious wording regarding requiring domain registries to use ICANN accredited registrars. Up to now it’s been a requirement that anyone running a top level domain has to offer that domain only through ICANN registrars. They’ve now clarified this as follows

ICANN has ordinarily required gTLD registries under contract with ICANN to use ICANN-accredited registrars, and ICANN will during the course of this agreement abide by any ICANN adopted specifications or policies requiring the use of ICANN-accredited registrars by gTLD registries.

I find the wording rather tortous. It’s NOT saying they WILL require registries to use ICANN registrars. It’s leaving it open to future amendments and policies.