
Nomulus is a free, open-source, and extensible registry framework developed by Google. It's designed to manage and maintain large-scale registries with ease.
Nomulus is built on top of a modular architecture, allowing developers to easily extend and customize its functionality. This makes it a highly adaptable solution for various use cases.
One of the key features of Nomulus is its ability to handle large amounts of data, making it suitable for registries with millions of records.
What is Nomulus
Nomulus is an open-source software package for top-level domain registry operators. It was created by Google with contributions from Donuts Inc.
Nomulus runs on Google Kubernetes Engine and is written primarily in Java. This makes it a scalable and cloud-based service for operating top-level domains (TLDs).
The software is responsible for tracking domain name ownership and handling registrations, renewals, availability checks, and WHOIS requests. It's the authoritative source for the TLDs it runs, meaning it's the go-to place for all things related to domain name management.
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Nomulus can run any number of TLDs in a single shared registry system using horizontal scaling. This means it's designed to handle a large volume of TLDs without compromising performance.
Here are some of the key features of Nomulus:
Nomulus is available under the Apache 2.0 license, which means it's free and open-source. This makes it accessible to anyone who wants to use it to operate their own TLDs.
Getting Started with Nomulus
To get started with Nomulus, head to the install guide for the necessary instructions.
The code is available for viewing, including the Main HTTP server and the EPP proxy. You can also find other documentation and Javadoc resources online.
If you're thinking of running a production registry service, introduce yourself and your use case to the user group. This is a great way to connect with others who may be facing similar challenges.
To report issues or make contributions, use GitHub issues and pull requests.
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Capabilities
Nomulus is a highly capable platform that can handle a wide range of tasks related to domain name management. It supports the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP), which is the standard format for communication between registrars and registries.
With EPP, you can easily register, renew, check, update, and transfer domain names. This protocol is a game-changer for anyone involved in domain name management.
Nomulus also provides a DNS interface that allows you to handle different DNS providers. This interface is pluggable, meaning you can easily switch between different providers if needed. If you're using Google Cloud DNS, you'll need to understand its capabilities and provide your own multi-AS solution.
The platform also includes a WHOIS protocol that returns ownership and contact information on registered domain names. This is a crucial feature for anyone who needs to verify domain ownership or contact information.
In addition to WHOIS, Nomulus also supports Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP), which returns structured, machine-readable information about domain name ownership. This is essentially a newer version of WHOIS, and it's a great feature for anyone who needs to access domain information in a standardized format.

Here are some of the key capabilities of Nomulus:
- EPP: Supports registering, renewing, checking, updating, and transferring domain names
- DNS interface: Supports different DNS providers, including Google Cloud DNS
- WHOIS: Returns ownership and contact information on registered domain names
- RDAP: Returns structured, machine-readable information about domain name ownership
- Registry Data Escrow (RDE): Exports ownership information to a third-party escrow provider
- Premium pricing: Supports configurable premium registration and renewal prices
- Billing history: Records a full history of all billable events
- Registration periods: Supports Qualified Launch Partner, Sunrise, Landrush, Claims, and General Availability periods
- Brand protection: Blocks registration of domains using trademarked names
- Registrar support console: Provides a self-service web console for registrars
- Reporting: Supports external and internal reporting
- Administrative tool: Performs full range of administrative tasks
- Secure storage of cryptographic keys: Provides a keyring interface for plugging in custom implementations
- TPC Proxy: Translates raw TCP traffic to and from HTTP
These capabilities make Nomulus a powerful platform for managing domain names. Whether you're a registrar, a DNS provider, or a trademark holder, Nomulus has the features you need to manage your domain names efficiently.
Getting Started
To get started with Nomulus, you'll want to check out the install guide. It's a great resource to help you get up and running.
The source code for the Main HTTP server and the EPP proxy are also available for viewing. This can be helpful if you're looking for a deeper dive into the code.
You can find other documentation and Javadoc resources online. These can be useful for troubleshooting or learning more about the platform.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, the Nomulus discussion group is a great place to ask.
Nomulus and Google
Nomulus was created by Google with contributions from Donuts Inc.

Google announced Nomulus on October 18, 2016, on their open-source blog.
The source code is available under the Apache 2.0 license, integrated with Google's Cloud Platform, using Google Cloud Datastore as its backend database.
Nomulus powers Google's top-level domains including .google, .how, and .soy.
Nomulus was under development since 2011, a time when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approved a change to the Internet Domain System.
The change allowed for an increase in the number of top-level domains, from 22 to a theoretically unlimited number, giving people and businesses more flexibility and control over their online presence.
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