From 12 November 2021, we started receiving reports of an error when clients add a domain name to their Cloudflare dashboard.

The Cloudflare system will give an error "xxxxxx is not a registered domain". In all the reports we received, the client was attempting to add a domain name which was fully registered but not setup with any DNS service. The Cloudflare error message that the domain name is not registered was not correct and quite confusing to the end user. 

Prior to 12 Nov 2021 the Cloudflare system would allow the domain name to be added and not display any error message. Something clearly changed with their system and how it detects if a domain name meets their technical requirements. We tested many different .ie domain names, and it's possible the issue impacts other domain extensions too.

Our technical team escalated the problem to Cloudflare's support team and we were advised that the way it's working now is how it should always have worked. In other words, Cloudflare do not plan to change it and therefore we are providing a workaround.

The Cloudflare system requires a domain name to resolve before it can be added to Cloudflare. This means the domain name must be setup with another DNS provider. Specifically the Cloudflare system will check for an SOA record, which is one of the standard technical records created in any DNS zone.

The specific technical requirements for Cloudflare are detailed in step 3 here:
https://support.cloudflare.com/hc/en-us/articles/205359838-I-cannot-add-my-domain-to-Cloudflare?source=search

For clients with a web hosting plan or a DNS control panel, the requirements won't be a problem. The appropriate DNS records will be setup there.

For clients who use Maxer Host as a domain registrar only, you must setup valid DNS records for the domain name with a non-Cloudflare DNS provider. Unfortunately this means additional steps that were previously not necessary. You can use any other DNS provider, including Maxer Host.

If you do not have any web hosting or DNS control panel with us, you will need to purchase "cPanel for Domain Forwarding here: https://my.maxer.com/store/web-hosting-cpanel-cloud 
It provides a DNS control panel a low annual fee. For clients with many domain names, you can add up to 50 domain names to the 1 control panel. 
The domain name must be set to use our default DNS nameservers to link it to the DNS control panel. Once you have it added to Cloudflare, you can set the domain name to use their DNS nameservers.

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