Host a subdomain on DreamHost when DNS is controlled elsewhere

From DreamHost

Jump to: navigation, search

This (brief) How To is useful if:

  • You host DNS for a domain somewhere other than DreamHost
  • You wish to host a *subdomain* (www.subdomain.domain.com or subdomain.domain.com) on DreamHost
  • You do not host www.domain.com on DreamHost

The basic strategy for hosting a web application on DreamHost when DNS is managed elsewhere is to

  1. Add webhosting for domain.com via the Domains/Manage Domains page on the panel
  2. Open up the "DNS" page for your newly added domain
  3. Get the A record for domain.com, www.domain.com, etc., and add them to whatever DNS server you are using

The trick with subdomains is that you *must* add domain.com before you add subdomain.domain.com. (Otherwise the panel will tell you that you don't have permission to add the domain.) The revised steps to host subdomain.domain.com are:

  1. Add webhosting for domain.com via the Domains/Manage Domains page on the panel
  2. Delete the web hosting for domain.com via the Domains/Manage Domains page on the panel. Only delete the hosting, don't delete the domain.
  3. Add webhosting for subdomain.domain.com via the Domains/Manage Domains page on the panel
  4. Open up the "DNS" page for your newly added domain
  5. Get the A record for subdomain.domain.com, www.subdomain.domain.com, etc. -- skipping the A records for domain.com -- and add them to whatever DNS server you are using.

DreamHost support mentioned that email addresses should not be added in this situation.

See Also

Retrieved from "http://wiki.dreamhost.com/Host_a_subdomain_on_DreamHost_when_DNS_is_controlled_elsewhere"
Personal tools