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How to add an addon domain in cpanel ?

How to add addon domain in cpanel

What is an Addon Domain?

An addon domain is a fully functional domain that can be added to your hosting account, allowing you to host multiple domains from a single cPanel account. With addon domains, you can host separate websites with their own content, email accounts, and structure, while sharing the resources of your main hosting account. For instance, if you have `example.com` as your primary domain, you can add `newsite.com` as an addon domain, enabling both websites to run independently from the same cPanel account.

Benefits of Addon Domains

Cost-effective: Manage multiple websites without the need for separate hosting plans.
Centralized management: All your domains and websites are handled through one cPanel interface.
Independent websites: Addon domains have their own directories, allowing each domain to function with its own unique content.
– Dedicated email accounts: Each addon domain can have separate email addresses specific to that domain.

 Difference Between Addon Domain, Subdomain, and Parked Domain

1. Addon Domain: A completely independent website hosted under your existing cPanel account.
2. Subdomain: A domain that is part of your main domain (e.g., `blog.example.com`), usually used for different sections of your main website.
3. Parked Domain: A domain that redirects to another domain, often used to point multiple domain names to a single website.

How to Add an Addon Domain in cPanel

Adding an addon domain in cPanel is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log into cPanel
– Access your cPanel account by navigating to `https://yourdomain.com/cpanel` and entering your login credentials.

2. Locate the Domains Section
– Once logged in, Search “domain” in the search bar or find the “Domains” section and click on “Domains”.
How to add addon domain in cpanel

3. Create a New Domain
– Click the “Create A New Domain” button in the Domains interface.

4. Enter the Domain Name
– In the “Domain” text box, enter the domain name you wish to add as an addon domain (e.g., `newsite.com`).
How to add addon domain in cpanel

5. Document Root Option
– By default, cPanel will create a directory inside the `public_html` folder to store the files of the addon domain. However, for a separate website, deselect the “Share document root (/home/username/public_html) with “domain.tld”  option. This allows you to create a unique directory for your addon domain.
How to add addon domain in cpanel

6. Directory Location
– You can either create the directory under the `public_html` folder, such as `/home/username/public_html/newsite`, or specify a directory outside of the `public_html` folder. For example, you can create a directory like `/home/username/newsite`, which will keep your addon domain’s files completely separate from your main website. This is a useful option for security reasons or when you want more control over the organization of your website files.

7. Submit
– After entering the domain and directory details, click the “Submit” button to add the addon domain.
How to add addon domain in cpanel

Advanced Configurations (Optional)

– DNS Settings: If your domain’s DNS is hosted externally, you’ll need to update the domain’s nameservers or A records to point to your cPanel hosting account.
– FTP Access: To upload files for the new addon domain, you can create an FTP account specifically for the domain directory by navigating to the FTP Accounts section in cPanel.

 

Managing Your Addon Domain

Once the addon domain is added, you can manage it just like your primary domain:

– File Management: Use the File Manager in cPanel to upload and organize files for your addon domain, whether stored inside or outside the `public_html` directory.
– Email Accounts: Create domain-specific email accounts by going to the Email section in cPanel and selecting “Email Accounts“.
– Redirection and DNS: Set up redirections or manage DNS records for your addon domain in the Zone Editor sections of cPanel.

Why Store Addon Domain Files Outside of `public_html`?

While placing your addon domain files inside `public_html` is the default option, there are benefits to storing them outside:

– Enhanced security: Keeping your files outside the public directory ensures that only the relevant website can access them, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access or exposure.
– Better organization: You can keep your directories more structured and separated, making file management easier, especially if you’re hosting multiple websites.
– Improved flexibility: It gives you the freedom to control the file permissions and hosting resources for each domain independently.

Conclusion

Addon domains in cPanel allow you to host multiple websites under a single hosting account, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution for managing various web projects. By configuring your addon domain with a separate directory, either inside or outside the `public_html` folder, you can keep your sites organized and secure. Whether you’re managing a personal project or multiple client websites, addon domains make it simple to handle them all from one control panel.