Noob questions about subdomains

[shelbyvi]

Hi,
I'd like to create a subdomain for my website, but I know nothing about the subject. Does a subdomain have to be registered? Does it cost anything to add a subdomain to my existing website? Are there any other questions I should be asking but don't know enough to ask?
Thank you,
Steve Shelby

[Ron]

There is no charge for subdomains on the GigaDeal. Just log into your CPanel, and click on subdomains. The text box will allow you to enter the subdomain name.

When you click on Go or Enter or add domain or whatever the button is, it will create a folder under your public_html (aka www) directory by the same name as your subdomain. In that folder will be a cgi-bin directory.

It will be immediately available via http://www.maindomain.com/subdomain. The Cpanel will also add the appropriate DNS entry so that your subdomain can be reached via http://subdomain.maindomain.com convention.

Don't create the subfolder manually before you create the subdomain, that sometimes can cause problems. And trust me on this: DON'T try to access subdomain.domain.com until AFTER you have created the subdomain. If you do, you will cache a non-successful DNS query in every DNS cache from you to Houston, and you'll have to wait for hours for those caches to clear before your subdomain will resolve properly.

Good luck and have fun!

[Vin DSL]

Maybe shelbyvi is 'talking' about multi-hosting...

No matter! We will walk you through it, Steve! Your wish is our command...

[shelbyvi]

Hi Ron,
Thank you for the explanation. Now I have another question, how can I swirch my current hosting plan to the gigadeal? I currently have Aletia Essential, and the Gigadeal has so much more for about half the price! Would it be a complicated procedure to switch?
Steve Shelby

[shelbyvi]

Hi Vin Dsl,
Can you define multi-hosting? After checking out the Gigadeal package, I'm thinking I might go for two separate websites instead of using a subdomain.
Steve Shelby

[jason]

Just open a support ticket and ask them to upgrade you to the GigaDeal plan. There is no cost associated with it and usually just takes a few minutes for support to activate. Nothing wiill change on your end, you'll just see your limits increase in CPanel.

If you have SSH access to your account, make sure that you specify that you want to keep it after the upgrade. The scripts they use to make it happen disable SSH access by default. If you aren't using SSH then you shouldn't have anything to worry about (although it is a good idea to make sure you have a recent backup of your site, just in case).

Subdomains let you host a second website under a domain name such as "subdomain.maindomain.com" in the same space as your main domain. Since you already own "maindomain.com" you don't need to register the name, so there's no cost. JPC also doesn't change a fee for subdomains, so you can freely create as many as you want.

Multihosting is similar to a subdomain except instead of using a third-leve name added to your main domain you use an entirely new domain name. In this case, you'll need to register the name with a registrar and pay their annual fees. Then you'll need to set up a subdomain using the same process that Ron described--call it something like "seconddomain.maindomain.com" if your new site will be "seconddomain.com." Then open a support ticket and ask that they point seconddomain.com to seconddomain.maindomain.com. JPC/Aletia lets you have up to five of these for free. If you want to host any more they'll cost $15 each to set up, but there are no monthly charges.

Right now multihosted domains can't have their own email addresses (although Jag says that's coming soon). If a visitors perspective, there is verry little that would tip someone off that the site was multihosted. Their browser will show teh multihosted domain name and nothing would lead them to your main domain (unless you provide the information) unless they really wanted to dig.

--Jason

[Ron]

Good explanation, Jason. Nitpick: if I recall, I think you want to open a ticket to SALES not to support.

ThreadJack:
I always find this stuff difficult to read/follow, even after I've written it myself, with all the domain.com, maindomain.com, subdomain.com, and 2nddomain.com's

Maybe we should do some examples using mnemonics.... maybe using;

animals.com

dogs.animals.com
animals.com/dogs

dogs.com

Just a thought that popped up, like prey from a foxhole (fits in with the dog theme?)

[Vin DSL]

Hi Vin Dsl,
Can you define multi-hosting?

Using your site as an example...

Primary account:
http://www.shelbyvision.com/

Let's say you have your forums at:
http://www.shelbyvision.com/modules/phpbb/index.php

That looks pretty crummy in the address bar, so you make a subdomain:
http://forums.shelbyvision.com/

That looks more professional, but let's say you wanna give it a life of it's own, such as:
http://www.shelbytalk.com/

You would register the domain name, point the DNS to JagPC, and tell 'Tech Support' that:
http://www.shelbytalk.com/

Now resides at:
http://forums.shelbyvision.com/ e.g. http://www.shelbyvision.com/forums

That's multi-hosting - a domain inside a subdomain...

[jason]

Just a thought that popped up, like prey from a foxhole (fits in with the dog theme?)

Or would that be prey from a FIREfoxhole? Sorry...

--Jason

[shelbyvi]

Vin DSL said....

You would register the domain name, point the DNS to JagPC, and tell 'Tech Support' that:
http://www.shelbytalk.com/

Now resides at:
http://forums.shelbyvision.com/ e.g. http://www.shelbyvision.com/forums

That's multi-hosting - a domain inside a subdomain...

OK, that looks like what I probably will want to do. QUESTION: If people type in "http://www.shelbytalk.com" in the address bar, will it automatically go to http://forums.shelbyvision.com/ ?

Steve Shelby

[Brandon]

Steve,

Yes, the visitor will automatically be directed towards forums.shelbyvision.com, but in the URL field they will only read shelbytalk.com.

Hey Vin, Ron, and Jason...

The team here at Jaguarpc really apprecaite it when you offer up this kind of help. We have many new clients that have the same questions and it is nice to be able to direct them to our forums. Thanks for making this forum a good tool for all of our clients. As Jaguarpc grows and we add more clients, its members like you three, that will make our forum valuable and give all of us that JPC family feeling.

You all are awarded 3 platinum stars!

[Ron]

OOOOh! Does that come with unlimited subdomains for our sites?

Ohhhh.... wait....

But seriously, this forum has helped me out a few times when working with issues, so "pay it forward", you know?

[Vin DSL]

The team here at Jaguarpc really apprecaite it when you offer up this kind of help...

My pleasure!

Consider it payback[s] for all the times when I'm a PITA...

[shelbyvi]

[/B]Thanks to all of you for your help.
I've got everything all set up the way I wanted it (actually it's better than what I had originally envisioned).
Steve Shelby

[jason]

The team here at Jaguarpc really apprecaite it when you offer up this kind of help.

I've been doing this stuff so long, and I've hit so many potholes along the way that I'm always share my experience. (I suppose the fact that I work in Higher Ed, where the mantra is often share, share, share also contributes to my willingness to help.)

There are many smart people who are regulars on these boards, all of whom have different and unique experiences with respect to the web, and each brings a different perspective to the problems that are presented here. Often I see several different viable solutions to the same problem presented. I think that really helps a newbie learn, and it makes this board a useful place to collaborate on solutions to problems for new and experienced users alike. At the same time, the atmosphere here remains casual and non-intimidating, so new users can and do feel comfortable contributing and aren't afraid to ask for help when they need it.

In short, I'm happy to help out when I can.

--Jason