If you want to start a new website without buying a new domain name, then you might go for creating a sub-domain. But it becomes very hectic to host a subdomain on a different server if your domain registrar & Host are different companies. Adding a domain as an addon domain on a different server is easy to deal with. But not a subdomain…
In this guide I’m going to teach you how to hosting a subdomain on a different server as an add-on domain?
What is a SubDomain?
Subdomains are additional extensions of our domain name that can be forward to URLs or point to an IP address instead of purchasing a new domain. They are used to separating different services associated with a single domain name. For example, we want to start a forum of skillshare.blog so, we can create a subdomain as forum.skillshare.blog
Why need to host a subdomain on a different server?
If you want to use a single host for your different websites and your domains are registered somewhere else, you can add these domains as addon domains in your cPanel in the addon domain section.
But if you required to create a website on a subdomain of your addon domain, you can neither create a subdomain of an addon domain in a different host nor add a subdomain created else whereas an addon domain.
So here in this article we will discuss how you can host a subdomain on different server.
In this guide, we will use Namecheap as our domain registrar and host this subdomain on HostGator.
To hosting a subdomain on a different server first we have to create a subdomain and after that point it out to a location where it will be hosted.
How to host a subdomain on a different web server?
Login to your domain account:
To create and host a subdomain, log in to your domain registrar account. As in our case, it is Namecheap. So login to Namecheap account.
Go to Domain List and click manage:
Move to Domain List menu from the sidebar and click manage next to the corresponding domain.
Select the advance DNS:
After clicking the Manage, select the Advanced DNS tab.
Find the Host Record and click the Add New Record
At this stage select the add new record to add a new record of your subdomain
What If can not find add new record of a subdomain?
You will not find an option to add a new record sometimes. As in the picture below. So, what have to do
This happens when you are using custom Name servers of a third-party service. That’s why the Host records are managed and stored by a third party.
It can resolve this by contacting your hosting provider to enable these features. And the 2nd way is to change the Name Servers back to the Namecheap default server names.
In this guide, we will change the Nameservers back to the default Namecheap Server Names from the drop-down available in Name servers.
After saving changes again click on Advance DNS and you will find there an option to add a new record.
So, in this way you can enable add a new record for a subdomain.
Select the type of Subdomain Connection:
After finding add new record, Now is the time to create a subdomain and assign it a connection type to connect it with the host server name as in our case HostGator.
There are different types by which we can connect a subdomain with the Different hosting server. We can use following ways.
- Subdomain that points to an IP address
- The subdomain that points to a server name
- A subdomain that forwards to a URL/link
The subdomain that points to an IP address:
To point a subdomain by an IP address, Select the Type A Record from the drop-down. Add the Name of the extension for which you want to create a subdomain under the Host Name. As in our case, the blog is entered. Now the subdomain will be blog.nctest.info.
Entre the IP address of your hosting server where you want to add this subdomain. You can find this IP address in your cPanel of Hosting account. Add this IP in the value and save the changes
A subdomain that points to a server name:
To point a subdomain on a different server via Nameserver, Select NS Record from the Type dropdown. add Hostname and enter the Nameserver of your Hosting brand.
Add the Name server of your hosting under the Value. You can find these Name Servers in the sidebar of your hosting account. After this save the changes.
The subdomain that forwards to a URL/link:
If you want to forward or redirect a subdomain to a new destination link, Select the URL redirect record to add hostname. Add the destination URL in the value where you want to redirect this subdomain. Select the redirect type unmasked for 301 & 302 Redirect. Once done this saves changes.
It will take normally 30 minutes to apply the changes to the new server records.
After creating and pointing a subdomain you can change back the Name Servers to your custom record in the Domain tab.
If you are still confused which Record type you should go for? Find here
Want to know more about hosting a subdomain on different server and cPanel read Faqs below.
2. Go to Domain List and click manage
3. Select the advance DNS
4. Find the Host Record and click the Add New Record
5. Select the type of Subdomain Connection
6. Add host name and save changes
7. It can takes 30 minutes to apply changes.
Conclusion:
You can host multiple domains on a single host by adding as add-on domains. A subdomain on a different registrar can not be added as an add-on domain. To host a subdomain on a different web server or cPanel, you have to add a new record in your domain management section.
To do this you must have nameservers or IP address of the server where you want to host the website. You can find these in your hosting cPanel.
