What is a Domain, and Why Should You Change It?
A domain is the web address visitors use to access your site, like www.example.com. When you first purchase and set up your eDirectory site, it uses a temporary "staging" domain such as en-xxxxxxx.edirectorycloud.com. To replace this staging domain with your custom domain (or subdomain), a domain change is required.
This guide will walk you through the process to ensure your website is properly configured and accessible through your preferred domain or subdomain.
Before You Start
Have Your Domain or Subdomain Ready
- If you don’t have a domain yet, you can purchase one from providers like GoDaddy, Hostinger, or HostGator.
Check Email Server Connections (if applicable)
- If your domain has an email server, note down the MX Records (you’ll need them later).
- If you’re not using email or are setting up a subdomain, skip this step.
Steps for Using a Domain
1. Contact Support
Send an email to [email protected] with the custom domain you want to use. The support team will set up the DNS zone for your domain and let you know when it’s ready.
Here’s a template for your email to Support:
Subject: Domain Change Body:
I am requesting a domain change for my eDirectory website. Please create the DNS zone for: yourdomain.com
I look forward to hearing from you soon and move forward with the next steps. |
Don't forget to include the collected MX information in the email if you have an email connected to your domain. For more information about MX records, check this Article: What is a MX record? If you don't have an email connected to the domain, you can skip this step.
2. Update Your Domain Provider
Once the support team confirms that the DNS zone is ready, they will notify you via email and provide the nameservers required to point your domain. Once you receive the nameservers, log in to your domain provider account and update the domain settings to point to the provided nameservers.
Each domain provider has its own process for changing nameservers, and some of them propagate instantaneously, and others take more time. After pointing your domain, make sure the changes are made correctly and monitor the DNS propagation using WhatsMyDNS.net. Choose the "NS" record type to confirm the nameservers are properly pointed. 
If the propagation is successful, you will see the nameservers with a green arrow next to it like in the screenshot above.
3. Finalize the Domain Change
After updating the nameservers, email [email protected] letting them know that the nameserver have been successfully pointed to the provided nameservers.
The support team will notify you once the domain change process has started and will provide confirmation once it has been successfully completed.
Note: Changing the nameservers alone does not complete the domain change process, as it is not automatic. To finalize the domain change, you must notify the support team via email, confirming that the nameservers have been correctly pointed. This step is essential for the support team to proceed with updating your domain. Steps for Using a Subdomain
1. Request Subdomain Configuration
Email [email protected] to inform them about the subdomain you’d like to use. They will provide the IP address of the server hosting your site.
Here’s a template for your email to Support:
Subject: Domain Change Body: Hello Support, Please provide the IP address of the server where my website is hosted so I can point the A record as required. In the meantime, here is the information for the domain change:
I look forward to hearing from you soon and move forward with the next steps. |
2. Update Your Subdomain’s A Record
Once the support team sends you the IP to point your A record to, log in to your domain provider and point the A Record of your subdomain to the provided IP address.
3. Confirm the Change
After pointing the A record to the provided IP addres, send an email to [email protected] letting them know that the A record has been successfully pointed to provided IP address.
Monitor the DNS propagation using WhatsMyDNS.net, selecting the "A" record type.
Note: Pointing the A record alone does not complete the domain change process, as it is not automatic. To finalize the domain change, you must notify the support team via email, confirming that the nameservers have been correctly pointed. This step is essential for the support team to proceed with updating your domain.What Happens After the Request?
- Shared Servers: Domain changes typically take up to 24 hours.
- Dedicated Servers: Domain changes may take up to 48 hours.
- Site Downtime: Your site will be temporarily offline during this process.
If your site has a large number of listings or content, the process might take longer. You will be notified via email about the status of the change.
Here’s an email example that our team will send you upon the domain change completion:
Hello [Client] I hope everything is going well. I want to inform you that the domain transition for your site has been successfully completed. Additionally, the SSL certificate has been installed, and your site is now active. You can access it immediately using the same credentials as the temporary domain through the following links: Home page: yourdomain.com ← This is the new link to access your home page. Site manager area: yourdomain.com/sitemgr ← This is the new link to access your site manager area. If you have any questions or need assistance, we are here to help. Best regards, |
Note: When changing your domain, your login credentials (email and password) for the Site Manager area remain unchanged. You can continue using the same credentials you used before the domain update. However, ensure that you access the correct URL for the Site Manager area, as demonstrated above. For detailed instructions on logging in as a Site Manager, please refer to this article: How to Log In as a Site Manager on Your eDirectory Website.
For further assistance, contact [email protected].