[How To] Multi-Domain Hosting - Addon Domains

[Matt]

Addon Domains and Multi-Domain hosting - Overview

If you are on a reseller package this does not apply to you. This thread only applies to users shared hosting packages with multi-domain support.

Some people would like to host two (or more) domains in the same web space for their existing package. This is called an "addon domain." Some people prefer addon domains, and some prefer a separate hosting account, it is really a matter of personal preference. I prefer a separate hosting account to keep myself better organized.

Addon domains allow you to share web space with several websites, and allows you to use one, consolidated control panel for all domains. They allow you to use one FTP user account for all domains, or, you can have a unique FTP user for each site (recommended)

If you are on a qualified plan, the first step for using an addon domain is to point the DNS for the desired addon domain to the same DNS your main site uses. It will be similar to:

nsx.glowhost.net
nsy.glowhost.net

Please, note, that NS above are given as an example, you need to use the NS provided in your Welcome letter for your main domain.

Check your login letter for your "master" or "root" domain to be sure what these are, or you can do a WHOIS lookup on the domain to find out what nameservers you are using.

Then you may need to wait 24-48 hours for the domain to resolve, but usually it can be done in only a few minutes.

After you have pointed your domain nameservers, and given enough time for them to resolve:
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Login to your control panel and click the icon for "Addon Domains."

1. The first box is for your new domain name: example: mynewdomain.com
2. The second box is for the subfolder or subdirectory that you want to act as public_html for the new site.
cPanel calls this: (Username/directory/subdomain Name) example: mynewdomain
3. The third box is for the ftp password for this account. example: HJDII59UGF

In the above example, you have just made an addon domain for mynewdomain.com. You have also created a unique ftp user account called mynewdomain@master-domain.com with an FTP password of HJDII59UGF

Your addon domain has been created!

Addon Domain FTP Configuration Information (basic)
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You can configure your FTP program using the example scheme above. Your hostname would be master-domain.com - Introduction for all accounts in the above example.

NOTE: In the remote directory option for each addon domain, you need not type anything into this field.
This is opposite of how your master domain remote directory field works. With the master domain, you should specify a directory. Normally, public_html (or www for short)

To recap, your config would look like this for each addon domain:

hostname: master-domain.com - Introduction
Remote directory: {leave this field blank for addon domain ftp users}
Username: mynewdomain@master-domain.com
Password: HJDII59UGF

This user cannot navigate any higher than the mynewdomain directory. In other words, this addon domain ftp user user cannot gain access to the main site's public_html folder.

One FTP for all accounts (advanced)
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Alternatively, you can ftp into the master domain's FTP account and descend into each addon domain site by opening the folder you selected above to act as pubic_html. In this case, you would use:

hostname: master-domain.com - Introduction
Remote directory: /public_html/mynewsite
Username: cPanel-username
Password: cPanel-Password

Your master domain's ftp account differs in that there is not a @master-domain.com extension on the username. The master account ftp username is the same username that you use for your cPanel username. I marked this on as advanced as it is easier to accidentally trash the wrong site unless you are extremely comfortable with FTP. My suggestion is to use unique FTP usernames for each addon domain if you are just starting out.


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More information on how to access ftp and cPanel for your new addon domains can be found here: [How To] Addon Domains: accessing cPanel or FTP for each new domain - GlowHost Web Hosting Forums

[joanie]

Hi - first time post on the forums. Let me know if I mess it up.

What exactly IS an addon domain? I understand the knowledgebase article about setting it up. I understand it's an additional domain that can "live" in my existing account...

But, from the internet *user's* point of view...does it look & act the same as any other site? By that I mean, if the addon domain is "newdomain.com" does the URL look like:
http://www.newdomain.com or must it reflect the master domain in some way, for example maybe:
http://www.newdomain.masterdomain.com

What I mean is, can it actually be a 2nd complete web site, separate from the master account web site? (Even though the files share the same web space)
Thanks for any newbie-help you can provide...

[Matt]

Hi - first time post on the forums. Let me know if I mess it up.

Welcome to the forums joanie Everything looks great and these boards are here for you to post, so thank you for doing so!

I am sure others will have the same question in the future....

From the user's standpoint, they don't see anything different. It would in fact look like:

http://www.newdomain.com

however it would be possible to access the site at a url like the one below if one wanted to:

http://newdomain.masterdomain.com

The above is an example of a subdomain called "newdomain" and essentially what an addon domain does, is park the FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) AKA a "regular domain" on top of the subdomain. It can be accessed at either URL.

Hope that helps.

[joanie]

Thank you Matt ~
So—heeding the warnings and advice in your knowledgebase article—I can operate 2 websites within my one Glowhost account? (they are both small sites; no fear of exceeding space yet).
Joanie

PS I only have the Super Starter, I'll have to see if that allows multiple domains first.

[Matt]

That is correct, if you package supports multiple domain hosting, then you can use the addon domain feature.

[joanie]

In the Knowledgebase article it says: "...To prevent [errors], make sure you can ping the same IP for both the master and addon domain before creating the addon domain..."

I changed the DNS (of the domain I want to add) about 10 hrs ago, and 2 hr ago, ping returned no reply on it.

Now it replies and has a NEW IP but it doesn't match the IP of my Glowhost account master-domain. When you said "ping the same IP" is that what you meant?

[Matt]

Things have changed a bit with the speed of which domains now resolve and also how the pinging works.

Pretty much instantaneously after you update your nameservers the system will be good to allow you to add it. I'd give it about 5 minutes to be safe so you dont spoil any caches but so long as the addon domain is using the same nameservers as the primary/master domain, all should go well.

[surya_kbhagra]

Hi Matt
Just one question on this.
If I buy 2 more domains to host on my existing hosting account as separate websites, just how do I set up different email addresses for the new websites.
Please help as Im not too experienced in all this.
Thanks
Surya

[Matt]

Hi Matt
Just one question on this.
If I buy 2 more domains to host on my existing hosting account as separate websites, just how do I set up different email addresses for the new websites.
Please help as I'm not too experienced in all this.
Thanks
Surya

It depends on if you open a new hosting account for each domain, of if you want to use the addon domain function. If you are using addon domains, once you create the addon domain then configuration options will appear for each addon domain after you have added it.

For example, if your main account is domain1.com and you make an addon domain called domain2.com then you can create email addresses @domain1.com and @domain2.com in cPanel > Mail > Accounts

[smithroy]

Hello,

Most hosting plans suggest that you can host more than one domain name on one hosting account. In this way, you can host more websites and e-mail accounts without purchasing a new hosting account.

Addon domains allow you to control multiple domains from a single account. An addon domain links a new domain name to a directory in your account, and then stores its files in that directory.