Domain Change: How can I proceed to change my domain?

What is a Domain, and Why Should You Change It?

Your domain name is the unique web address that visitors type into their browsers to access your website, for example, www.yourwebsite.com. When you initially set up your eDirectory site, it resides on a temporary "staging" domain, often resembling en-xxxxxxx.edirectorycloud.com. To establish your brand identity and ensure a professional online presence, it's essential to replace this temporary address with your own custom domain name or a specific subdomain. This process is known as a domain change.

This detailed guide will walk you through the necessary steps to seamlessly transition your eDirectory website to your preferred domain or subdomain, ensuring proper configuration and uninterrupted accessibility for your visitors.

Preparation is Key: Steps to Take Before You Begin

Before initiating the domain change process, please ensure you have the following ready:

• Your Desired Domain or Subdomain: If you haven't already secured your custom domain name, you'll need to purchase one from a reputable domain registrar. Popular providers include GoDaddy, Hostinger, and HostGator. Decide whether you'll be using the main domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) or a specific subdomain (e.g., blog.yourdomain.com).
• Email Server Connection Details (If Applicable): If you currently use an email service associated with your domain (e.g., you@yourdomain.com), it's crucial to note down your MX Records. These records direct email traffic to the correct mail servers and will need to be provided during the domain change process to avoid email disruptions. If you are not using email with your domain or are setting up a subdomain, you can safely skip this step.

Method 1: Using a Custom Domain (e.g., yourdomain.com)

1. Initiate the Change by Contacting Support:

Begin the process by sending an email to our dedicated support team at support@edirectory.com. Clearly state the custom domain name you wish to use for your eDirectory website. Our support team will then proceed to set up the necessary DNS (Domain Name System) zone for your domain on our servers and will notify you once it's ready for the next step.

To ensure a smooth and efficient process, please use the following template for your email to Support:

2. Update Your Domain Provider's Nameservers:

Once our support team confirms via email that the DNS zone for your domain is ready, they will provide you with the specific nameservers that your domain needs to point to. Upon receiving these nameservers, log in to your account with your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Hostinger). Navigate to the domain management section and update the nameserver settings for your domain to the nameservers provided by our support team.

The process for changing nameservers varies slightly depending on your domain provider. While some providers propagate these changes almost instantly, others may take a few hours. After updating the nameservers, it's crucial to verify that the changes are being recognized across the internet. You can monitor the DNS propagation using a tool like What's My DNS. Select the "NS" record type and enter your domain name to confirm that the correct nameservers are being displayed with a green checkmark next to them.

3. Finalize the Domain Change with Support Notification:

After you have successfully updated your domain's nameservers with your domain provider, send a follow-up email to support@edirectory.com to inform them that the nameservers have been correctly pointed to the provided values.

Method 2: Using a Subdomain (e.g. blog.yourdomain.com)

1. Request Subdomain Configuration from Support:

Initiate the subdomain setup by sending an email to support@edirectory.com informing them of the specific subdomain you intend to use for your eDirectory site (e.g., blog.yourdomain.com). In their reply, our support team will provide you with the IP address of the server that is currently hosting your website. You will need this IP address to configure the A record for your subdomain.

Please use the following template for your email to Support:

2. Update Your Subdomain's A Record:

Once you receive the server's IP address from our support team, log in to your account with your domain provider. Navigate to the DNS management section for your main domain (e.g., yourdomain.com ). Here, you will need to locate the option to add or edit DNS records. Create a new A Record for your specified subdomain (blog in the example) and point it to the IP address provided by our support team.

2. Confirm the Change with Support:

After you have successfully pointed the A record for your subdomain to the provided IP address, send a confirmation email to support@edirectory.com letting them know that the A record has been correctly configured.

Similar to using a custom domain, simply pointing the A record does not automatically finalize the subdomain change on our servers. This notification email is crucial for our support team to initiate and complete the necessary updates within our system. You can monitor the DNS propagation for your subdomain using What's My DNS, selecting the "A" record type to verify that the IP address is resolving correctly.

What to Expect After Your Request:

Once you have notified our support team that you have completed the necessary DNS changes (either nameserver update for a domain or A record pointing for a subdomain), here's what typically happens:

• Shared Servers: Domain changes on shared server environments usually take up to 24 hours to complete.
• Dedicated Servers: Domain changes on dedicated servers may take up to 48 hours to finalize.
• Temporary Site Downtime: Please be aware that your website will experience a brief period of temporary downtime during the domain change process.

If your eDirectory site has a significant number of listings or a large volume of content, the domain change process might take slightly longer. Our support team will keep you informed about the status of the change via email.

Confirmation of Successful Domain Change:

Upon successful completion of the domain change, our team will send you a confirmation email similar to the example below:

For any further questions or assistance throughout the domain change process, please do not hesitate to contact our support team at support@edirectory.com. We are here to ensure a smooth and successful transition for your website.