A domain name is the address of your website and of your professional email addresses. With OpenVista, you search for, order and renew a domain from the online store, then manage it day to day from your client area.
Choosing the right extension
The .ma extension is Morocco's national domain. Its registry applies specific rules: depending on the category you choose (organisation, professional, individual), supporting documents may be requested and the registry validates the request before activation. International extensions such as .com are open to everyone, with no local presence requirement, and are usually activated faster. For a business focused on Morocco, .ma strengthens local credibility; for international activity, .com remains the standard choice.
Checking availability and the price
The domain pricing page lets you search for the name you want, compare the available extensions and start the order. The amount shown covers registration for the period you select; renewal is invoiced separately when it falls due.
Avoid names that are too long or hard to spell over the phone, and check that no registered trademark already uses the same name.
Filling in contacts and the WHOIS record
- Registrant contact: you or your company, the legal owner of the domain.
- Administrative and technical contacts: the address that receives registry requests.
- Email address: check it carefully, because it receives validation requests, renewal notices and transfer requests.
- Data protection: masking personal details in the WHOIS record is available depending on the extension; the registrant details themselves must stay accurate.
Paying for and activating the domain
Once the cart and payment are confirmed, the domain is registered with the relevant registry. It appears in your client area under Domains. OpenVista name servers are applied by default when the domain is registered with us, so your website can be published as soon as the DNS records are configured.
Connecting the domain to your service
A shared hosting plan, a VPS or a cPanel site does not use the domain directly: it serves it through DNS records. After registration you therefore need to create or check the A record pointing to the server's IP address, plus the MX records if you host your email. These operations are described in the DNS zone guide.
Good practice after registration
- Enable automatic renewal and keep a valid payment method on file.
- Keep the registrant email address up to date; it is also used for recovery procedures.
- Leave the transfer lock enabled, except during a transfer to another registrar.
- Renew before the expiry date: an expired domain can be suspended and then lost.
