redirect my similar domain name to my main domain

[GregA]

I have 2 domain names - abcde.com.au and abcde.com

I want to make abcde.com simply redirect to abcde.com.au

Do I just set up abcde.com as an extra domain, which gives it its own subdomain & subdirectory (that I'll never use) and then redirect that to the domain I want?

Or is there an option just to have both names point to the same place?
(Or have I totally misunderstood the process?)

Thanks!

[Connie]

You want to do a 301 redirect. If you simply park one domain on the other that will return a 200 header response and SEs (Google in particular) will see that as duplicate content.

[GregA]

You want to do a 301 redirect.

Not up to speed on all the terms

So basically - add another domain as per usual. Give the subdirectory a holding/dummy name.
Then use the www redirect option.

??

[Connie]

You would want to use .htaccess and do a mod rewrite. You could do the same thing using domain parking.

I use domain parking on one site. This is how I do the redirect.

RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^[A-Z]{3,9}\ /.*index\.html?\ HTTP/ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)index.html?$ http://www.spam-whackers.com/$1 [R=301,L]
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^[A-Z]{3,9}\ /.*index\.php?\ HTTP/ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)index.php?$ http://www.spam-whackers.com/$1 [R=301,L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^spamwhackers\.com
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.spam-whackers.com/$1 [L,R=301]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.spamwhackers\.com
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.spam-whackers.com/$1 [L,R=301]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^spam-whackers\.com
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.spam-whackers.com/$1 [R=permanent,L]

This redirect spamwhackers.com to spam-whackers.com.

It will also redirect any non www request to the www version, and any request such as spamwhackers.com/index.html to www.spam-whackers.com

If your site is php then I think all you need to do is change html to php.

[jason]

You'd want to use the "parked domain" and not the "add-on domain" (or is it listed as multihosted domain?, I forget) feature of cPanel. This will make it so that the new domain points to the main site's content instead of to an empty subdomain. The use the mod_rewrite ruleset that Connie posted in the main .htaccess file. That will instruct any browser/spider that tries to access the non-main domain name that the content has "moved permanently" and should be accessed using the other domain name.

--Jason

[GregA]

You'd want to use the "parked domain" and not the "add-on domain" (or is it listed as multihosted domain?, I forget) feature of cPanel. This will make it so that the new domain points to the main site's content instead of to an empty subdomain. The use the mod_rewrite ruleset that Connie posted in the main .htaccess file. That will instruct any browser/spider that tries to access the non-main domain name that the content has "moved permanently" and should be accessed using the other domain name.

--Jason

Looks like I have to get up to speed on a lot of stuff. It sounds like all the above advice is how to really do this properly... while I'm still at the cpanel level .

Can you tell me, when I simply add another domain via cPanel and then just redirect it to the appropriate one it works - what's the negative consequences (in respect to google searches, bugs, and code elegance)? ie: what have I stuffed up by doing that.

Thanks all - even though lots is going over my head.

[Connie]

Anytime you can access a page by more than one URL SES (Google) will consider this duplicate content. What this typically means is the SE will try to decide which is the correct URL. They may choose the one you don't want to use. In this case they may list the site as .com rather than .com.au.

By using the 301 redirect you instruct the SEs which you want to use.

There is nothing really complicated about it. In CP you will find a link for parked domains. You simply park .com on .com.au. You type .com into the browser and you will go to the correct site. The URL that shows in the address bar will remain .com.

With a 301 redirect when you type .com you will see the address bar change to .com.au.

A .htaccess file is a text file with the name .htaccess. there is nothing before the period. This is a hidden file to some FTP clients. There is a possibility you already have a .htaccess file on the server. If your set up hot link protection through the CP it will create a .htaccess file.

If your not sure access your files through the CP. If there is a .htaccess file you will see it. It will be the first file in the public_html folder right below any other folder you have in public_html.

All you need to do to set up the redirect is to copy the rules I listed and make the appropriate changes for your domain. Then add them to the .htaccess file if there is already one on the server.

If not create one. Probably the easiest way for you to do this the first time would be to name the file test.htaccess. That way you can see it when you upload it to the server if your FTP client is not set to show hidden files. After uploading it change the name to .htaccess. If you can still see it after renaming your FTP client is set to show hidden files.

I'm no expert on the .htaccess file or mod_rewrite. You will find a .htaccess file to be a great tool. I've written a few article you might or might not find helpful.

.htaccess
.htaccess is a Blessing
Take Care Using .htaccess

[Connie]

To test if you've done it right simply type the .com name in your browser and see if the name changes when you go to the site. If it changes to .com.au you are probably OK.

Don't hesitate to ask additional questions. There are a lot of people like Jason in the forum who know a lot more than I do about this. Most of them are more than willing to help if they see the thread.

[RickWeb]

Just Park it