How to point a domain to your web host – step-by-step guide

How to point a domain to your web host (without registering it with your web host)

How easy is it to point a domain to your web host?

Do you really need to?

Unless you bought your domain from your web host direct, you’ll need to change the name servers.

It needs to point to your web host’s name servers so that it works with your website.

First:  buy your domain, set up the DNS custom name servers, and point the domain to your web hosting package.

It’s ok, this is what I’m going to help you with in the tutorial.

Next: play the waiting game. Wait for the root name servers and cache records across the whole internet to automatically update with your website’s new name server information.

This period is called the domain “propagation”.

How long does domain propagation take?
Well… how long is a piece of string?

Full propagation to point a domain to your web host can take anything up to 48 hours across the whole internet.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn about domain propagation, as well as the name server settings in NameCheap, how to point a domain to your web host, and how to redirect your domain to an existing website

Here’s the tutorial….

(A) select the name server settings in NameCheap to point a domain to your web host

1. TIP: if not already known, you’ll first need to contact your web host to ask for their Name Server settings.
   But, if you already use FastComet as your web host or Cloudflare as your CDN provider, I’ve included the settings in the tutorial below.
   See my tutorial “How to get a free SSL certificate – benefits of an https website” for more information about Cloudflare.

   go to NameCheap.com

2. click “Sign In” on the top left menu and login to the dashboard
3. scroll down and select “manage” next to the domain you’ve just bought
4. scroll down to “Name Servers”.
   Click the dropdown and select “custom DNS”
5. TIP: if you’re using Cloudflare as your content delivery network provider (CDN) regardless of which company you’re using as a web host, your name server settings to point a domain will be:
   nora.ns.cloudflare.com
   roan.ns.cloudflare.com
   

   type in your Name Server settings from your web host.
   If you’re using FastComet, your settings to point your domain will be:
   ns1.uk10.fcomet.com
   ns2.uk10.fcomet.com
   

6. TIP: if you’re using Cloudflare as your CDN, remember to check your DNS settings.
   Login to Cloudflare, and click “DNS”.
   In the DNS Settings, where it has “A”  in the Type column, next to your website name, the number in the Value column needs to be “points to: [your web host’s IP address, and not your registrar’s IP address (if different)]”.
   FastComet’s IP address is: 176.58.110.150
   

   click the green tick to the right of the Name Server section to save your settings

7. logout of NameCheap

(B) select the Addon Domain settings with your web host 

For this tutorial, we’ll assume you’re using FastComet as your web host. However, the steps will be similar for whichever web host you use, as long as you can access the cPanel.

1. go to FastComet.com
   Either:
2. login to FastComet’s cPanel direct
   Or:
3. login to FastComet’s Client Area, and access cPanel from thereTo access FastComet’s Client Area:
   – select Client Login on top right of FastComet home page and login to your FastComet Client Area dashboard
   – in the left hand menu, select the box icon “Products”, My Products
    – click “View Details” icon, then “View Details” in the drop down
   – scroll down to the “Log in to” area and select “cPanel”
   
4. in cPanel, scroll down to the Domains section, and select “Addon Domains”
   
5. TIP: cPanel automatically creates a subdomain in your FTP account to direct your new domain to its document root. It’s fine if you don’t manage to make a note of those login details as they’ll only be required if you need a separate FTP account for your addon domain – which you probably won’t.

   in Addon Domains, the “Create an Addon Domain” section, type in your domain name (without the http://www) in the “New Domain Name” field.
   Leave the other two fields (“Subdomain” and “Document Root”) blank as, after about 30 seconds, they will self-populate

   

6. click “Add Domain”
7. logout of cPanel

Your domain is now pointing towards FastComet (or whichever web host you’re using) but remains registered with NameCheap.

Once propagation is complete, your domain will appear on your web host’s server and your email will be fully functional.

This can take up to 48 hours to be fully propagated.

Redirecting your new domain to an existing domain

These are the steps to follow if you’d like to redirect your domain.

For instance, whenever someone types in www.peasontoast.com, I’d like it to redirect to my main website, www.peasontoast.co.uk.

1. TIP: if you won’t be adding content to your redirected domain, then there’s no need to use an SSL certificate or divert it via Cloudflare DNS.
   In NameCheap, I kept the name servers for peasontoast.com set to FastComet: ns1.uk10.fcomet.com
   ns2.uk10.fcomet.com 

   in your cPanel, Addon Domains screen, you’ll see “Modify Addon Domains”

2. click “Manage Redirection” next to the domain you’d like to redirect
3. type in the domain you’d like it to redirect to, eg I typed in “https://www.peasontoast.co.uk”
4. click “Save”
5. clear your web browser cache

If you’re redirecting a new domain, you’ll first need to wait for the propagation to take effect.

Using an ssl certificate for an https new domain

If you decide to use a free SSL certificate such as Let’s Encrypt or Cloudflare, follow sections (A) or (B) of my tutorial “How to redirect your website to https with a free ssl certificate – step-by-step guide“.

Even if you choose to buy an SSL certificate, the rest of the tutorial will still be of use.

Unless you bought a new domain (rather than transfer an http domain from another web host), follow the tutorial section about redirecting your website from http to https.

Then follow the steps to check that you’ve set up your https domain correctly.

You’ve now learned how to point a domain to your web host using the correct name server settings.

Have fun with your new website!

Note:  this blog post is intended to be a general resource only.     

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Mrs P

I'm a full-time working wife and mum who loves searching for innovative products and learning how to run a successful website. I started PeasOnToast.co.uk to help people like you:
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