Custom Domain Name Registration

With the platform, you have the option to set an external domain address for your site instead of the default environment URL (i.e., {env_name}.hoster_domain_name). Utilizing a custom domain allows you to promote your unique branding and enhance the recognition of your web application on the Internet.

Before we move forward, let’s cover some fundamental concepts to ensure clarity:

• Domain: This is the name you type into a browser to access a website. The part of the name to the right (like .com or .org) is called the top-level domain (TLD), while the part before it is the second-level domain (SLD). Optionally, a subdomain can be added before the SLD, separated by a period.
• Root Domain: This is a combination of the second-and top-level domain names, excluding any subdomains. It represents the entire website rather than a specific web page. Every site has a unique root domain, which is present in all its pages and subdomains.
• DNS (Domain Name System): This system converts textual domain names into numerical IP addresses, essential for locating and identifying web services. For instance, when you type www.mydomain.com into the browser, DNS finds the actual IP address of the server hosting the page (like 192.xx.246.x2). Visiting https://192.xx.246.x2/ would take you to the same site.

To attach the custom domain, you should follow these steps:

1. Purchase a custom domain.
2. Configure DNS records.
3. Bind the domain name if needed.

How to Buy a Domain Name?

You can purchase a domain name from a well-known domain provider. The exact steps may vary depending on the registrar you choose. Here, we have used DirectI as an example.

Step 1. Log in to your account or create a new one. Click the Login/Sign up option and enter your details. Then, click the Sign In button to access the DirectI control panel.

Step 2. Click on the down arrow next to the Welcome User option. Then, select My Account.

Step 3. If you don’t have a domain yet, click the Buy button in the upper right corner.

Step 4. In the Search field, type the domain name you want to purchase and click Search. Here, we have entered nicktest.net as an example.

Step 5. If the domain name is available, a message will appear saying it’s available. Choose how many years you want to buy the domain for (up to 10 years). Click the Select button to add the domain to your Shopping Cart.

Step 6. Click the Checkout button and make the payment to buy the domain.

How to Configure DNS Record?

Once you’ve secured your own domain, adding a new DNS record is a breeze.

There are several types of DNS records you can use to direct traffic to your environment:

• CNAME: This maps your custom domain to your environment domain. Just remember, you’ll need to bind the domain via the platform dashboard first.
• ANAME (if supported): This maps the entire root domain (like example.com) to your environment domain or another root domain.
• A Record: This maps your custom domain to a public IP. Make sure your environment has an external IP address attached.

Below are step-by-step instructions to set up a record for your domain name.

Step 1. Find your domain in your domain registrar and click on Manage DNS.

Step 2. At the top of the Manage Records section, choose the type of record you want to add. We’ll show you how to add an A record here.

Step 3. Click on Add A record under the List of Address A Records section.

Step 4. In the Add Address A record section, fill in the required details:

• Host: Enter the hostname the A record is linked to. Type “@” to point the record directly to your domain name.
• Points to: Enter the external IP address of your environment’s entry point.

TTL: Choose how long the DNS server should keep your A record information cached

Step 5. Click the Add Record button to add the record.

How to Bind a Domain to Your Environment?

If you don’t have public IP addresses, you need to bind your domain name so that the Shared Load Balancers can route traffic correctly.

Step 1. In the platform dashboard, click the Settings button (the wrench icon) for the environment you want to bind a domain to.

Step 2. In the Custom Domains tab, enter your domain name (e.g., www.demovpstest.com or demovpstest.com) in the Domain Binding section and click Bind.

Great! Your environment is now accessible using your unique domain name.

Which DNS Record to Use?

Consider the following guidelines and examples:

Step 1. Use A Record if your environment operates via a public IP:

Example

name1.mydomain.com > 111.111.111.111

Example

name2.mydomain.com > 111.111.111.112

Step 2. Use CNAME if you want to alias your custom domain to your environment name (requires domain binding):

Example

name1.mydomain.com > env-0985229.us-accuweb.cloud

Example

name2.mydomain.com > env2-0985229.us-accuweb.cloud

Step 3. Use ANAME if you need to redirect one DNS zone (root domain) to another while resolving all its subdomains over the same subdomains:

Example

mydomain.com > hosterdomain.com

Step 4. This ensures that any subdomain on your domain will be directed to the corresponding one on the service hosting provider: {subdomain}.mydomain.com > {subdomain}.hosterdomain.com.

Example

mynewcompany.com > myoldcompany.com

Step 5. This allows you to direct all traffic from your old domain to a new one while retaining all subdomains: {subdomain}.mynewcompany.com > {subdomain}.myoldcompany.com.

Example

mydomain.com > env1.hosterdomain.com (requires domain binding)

Step 6. This ensures that subdomains of your custom domain will point to the appropriate ones within the target environment: {subdomain}.mydomain.com > {subdomain}.env1.hosterdomain.com.