This article only applies if your domain name is set to use the free DNS servers provided by eNom, our domain registrar. Typically if you are paying for web hosting through QTH.com, then you will use the "Zone Editor" in our cPanel control panel to manage DNS records. Or, if you are hosting your website elsewhere, you would usually use that provider's DNS system.
How to tell if you are using the eNom free DNS servers, QTH.com DNS servers, or other DNS servers:
- Go to http://mxtoolbox.com/Whois.aspx to do a WHOIS Lookup for your domain.
- Type in your domain name, and click "Whois Lookup"
- Look in the results for the entries that say "Name Server", like this:
* If the Name Servers all end with "name-services.com", as in the example above, then you are using the eNom free DNS servers and can use the instructions below to manage DNS records.
* If the Name Servers look like NSxx.QTH.com, then you can use the "Zone Editor" in your cPanel control panel to manage DNS records (contact QTH.com Support if you need help).
* If the Name Servers say anything else (not name-services.com and not QTH.com), then you need to contact your web hosting provider for assistance.
OK, I have verified I am using the eNom free DNS servers. How can I create URL Redirect or URL Framing DNS records for my domain?
Let's say you have a website at http://example.com. Then, you later acquire a new domain, example.net. Now, you want anyone that goes to your new example.net domain to be redirected to http://example.com. Here's how:
- Go to https://hosting.qth.com and click Account, then Login (if you are not logged in already)
- Click "Domain Services" on the TOP menu, then click "My Domains"
- Click the "Wrench" icon to the right of the domain you wish to manage DNS for.
- Click "DNS Management" on the LEFT menu to edit DNS records.
NOTE: if "DNS Management" is missing from your left menu for this domain, please Contact Us so we can fix it. - Create (or Edit existing) DNS records for @ and www, per the example below
Since visitors to example.net may or may not type "www", it is a good practice to create both DNS Records, so that both example.net and www.example.net will redirect properly.
- The @ symbol in the Host Name field means your domain name, by itself. So, the first DNS Record will redirect http://example.net to http://example.com.
- The www in the Host Name field means your domain name with www in front of it. So, the second DNS Record will redirect http://www.example.net to http://example.com.
- You may also use the * character in the Host Name field as a "wildcard". It will match anything in front of your domain (for example blahblah.example.net)
URL FRAMING
You could also set this up to be a URL Frame, if you want to "hide" the fact that you are redirecting them to a different web site. So, if you change the URL Redirect to a URL Frame in the drop-down menu, then when someone visits http://www.example.net, they would still be redirected to http://www.example.com BUT... the web browser will still show http://www.example.net in the Address Bar. Some suggest that "Frames" are bad and that they should be avoided. You should do your own research before using Frames.
Still have questions? Please contact QTH.com Support.
