Use DNS Alias To Change Multisite URLs

Can you explain what you mean by:

Since 1and1 doesn’t support parking a domain name, I can’t use sub-folders for a multi-site set up and have different urls for each.

I don’t understand what parking your domain name has to do with using it for a Multisite install.

You need to park the domain so your server knows ‘I accept domainfoo.com’ but you may be able to alias the domain instead of park it. Both work.

For the life of me I can’t find the post that referred to empty parking the domain as a step during the setup process. I thought the same thing,

I don’t understand what parking your domain name has to do with using it for a Multisite install.

So I opted for the sub-domain setup.

Pardon my newness ??

At any rate, using sub-domains, would this be the proper way to map the domains… Before I start changing DNS info and have to wait hours for it to update, just to find out it’s wrong.

You need to park the domain so your server knows ‘I accept domainfoo.com’ but you may be able to alias the domain instead of park it. Both work.

That’s probably what it was referring to, still can’t find that post.

All of the domains I’m using are parked and collecting dust. I figured it best to get my feet wet with a few domains I’m not doing anything with.

Got everything up and working (thanks to the forum), now I need to get those urls worked out.

subdomain = sitename.domain.com

subfolder = domain.com/sitename

MAPPING a domain is something else, and can work with either subdomains or subfolders ??

Make your site at domain.com and pick subfolders or subdomains, doesn’t matter which. Then park the domains (domain2.com etc) on top of domain.com NOT subdomain.domain.com, and WordPress will handle the rest (if you have a domain mapping plugin installed)

Thanks lpstenu. Between your posts and Andrea’s posts, 99% of my questions have been answered. I actually did both setups this afternoon, subfolder and subdomain using different domains. I have quite a few extra domains to play around with…

Now I’m waiting for my test subdomains to propagate (correct term?). 1and1 and whatsmydns.net show them ready but Firefox can’t find the server. Patience!

Yeah, that normally takes 4 hours ish ??

Remember to flush your local DNS cache on your PC!

Either it’s taking quite a long time which is possible (over 20 hours), or something isn’t configured properly.

Visiting the site directly, xyz.com or 123.com, I see
mainsite.com/wp-signup.php?new=xyz.com and /wp-signup.php?new=xyz.com

Visiting the site through my network dashboard results in “Server not found”.

I’m working with three subdomains, all pointing to the same directory which is where my WP install is located. Parked domains are also pointed to the WP install directory. The third subdomain has no DNS changes and I successfully logged into the dashboard and domain mapped it to my network.

Is this DNS set up incorrect?

s1.mainsite.com -> IP: 111.111.111.111 + Cname Alias: xyz.com = https://xyz.com
s2.mainsite.com -> IP: 111.111.111.111 + Cname Alias: 123.com = https://123.com
s3.mainsite.com -> IP: 111.111.111.111 + Cname Alias: none = https://s3.mainsite.com

Flushed local DNS cache through the Terminal: dscacheutil -flushcache

I know this has been answered before, I’m digging for the post now…

Visiting the site directly, xyz.com or 123.com, I see
mainsite.com/wp-signup.php?new=xyz.com and /wp-signup.php?new=xyz.com

That means you set up DNS correctly. You can stop with that now ??

Now you need to tell WP that xyz is okay. I blanked on mentioning that before, sorry! Don’t know where my head’s at.

You need a plugin: https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/

The reason I ask about the DNS setup again is because I’ve had the domain mapping plugin installed.

I mapped my third domain to the network without a hitch. I can navigate to the dashboard or visit the site, no problems. I purposely didn’t change the DNS to use it as a “baseline”, so I was able to see if my WP setup was correct.

1and1 says it takes 24-48 hours for the DNS to propagate. I think I’m just being impatient. Like starring at an oven with a dozen chocolate chip cookies baking away. They can’t get done fast enough!

And Ipstenu, thanks for hanging in there with me.

The WP community is pretty cool! It’s been about 2 weeks since I started with WP and It’s amazing how much easier and faster it is to understand than other CMS systems, like one that rhymes with Doomla!

Ehhh. It takes between 2 and 72 hours, technically, to propagate. 4 is average these days.

But if xyz.com is pointing to mainsite.com/wp-signup.php?new=xyz.com then DNS did its thing. You can check on https://www.whatsmydns.net/

whatsmydns.net shows check marks and the desired urls when I enter the subdomain and verify the CNAME. Keep in mind my host is 1and1 on a shared server, which from what I’ve read can be a little ugly.

I’m figuring it’s my host. Either taking longer to update or blocking something.

I mapped my third domain to the network without a hitch. I can navigate to the dashboard or visit the site, no problems. I purposely didn’t change the DNS to use it as a “baseline”, so I was able to see if my WP setup was correct.

So the problem you’re having is the ‘second’ domain? I mean… if you did everything the same as the third domain, you should be up and running.

Exactly. The first and second subdomains have modified DNS’s. Neither are responding. The third subdomain, with an unchanged DNS is up and running with a url of s3.mainsite.com.

If the first and second subdomains aren’t up by tomorrow morning, I’ll call 1and1 and try to get some more answers.