Domain aliases are domains that you own but do not contain any content. Instead, they point to the contents of another domain or subdomain on your account. This can be useful for holding a domain you plan to sell later or for redirecting traffic to another domain.
Prerequisites
- Access to your cPanel account.
- Ownership of the domain you wish to create an alias for.
Difference Between Addon Domains and Alias Domains
Understanding the distinction between addon and alias domains is crucial:
| Characteristic | Addon Domains | Alias Domains |
|---|---|---|
| The main domain appears in the address bar. | Yes | No |
| Uses the following Apache directive: | VirtualHost | ServerAlias |
| Uses separate logs. | Yes | No |
| Uses separate stats. | Yes | No |
| Treated as a subdomain (other than the URL). | Yes | No |
| Ideal for multiple domains sharing the same address. | No | Yes |
Steps to Add a Domain Alias
- Log in to your cPanel account.
- Locate the "Domains" section and click on "Aliases".
- Enter the domain name you wish to add as an alias in the text box.
- Click the "Add Domain" button to create the alias.
Accessing the Alias Domain's Home Directory
To open the alias domain's home directory using the File Manager interface:
- Navigate to cPanel > Home > Files > File Manager.
- Click the link corresponding to your alias under the "Domain Root" column in the Remove Aliases table.
Security Measures for Domain Aliases
When you create an addon domain, parked domain, subdomain, or main domain, the system attempts to secure that domain automatically with the best available existing certificate. If no certificate exists, a self-signed certificate is generated.
If AutoSSL is enabled for your account, a request for an AutoSSL certificate will be made to secure the new domain, and it will be installed when available.
Creating a domain alias in cPanel is a straightforward process that allows you to effectively manage your domains. By understanding the differences between domain types and following the steps outlined above, you can easily set up a domain alias to point to your desired content.
