Mastering Domain Management in DirectAdmin: A Beginner’s Guide
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Mastering Domain Management in DirectAdmin: A Beginner’s Guide

DirectAdmin simplifies domain management, making it easy to add, configure, and maintain multiple domains within a single hosting account. Whether you’re managing one site or several, its intuitive tools provide comprehensive control. Here’s how to navigate domain management in DirectAdmin:

1. Adding a New Domain

DirectAdmin allows you to host multiple domains under one account.

  1. Log in to your DirectAdmin account.
  2. Navigate to the Domain Setup section.
  3. Click Add Another Domain.
  4. Enter the new domain name.
  5. Configure additional settings like disk space, bandwidth, and SSL if necessary.
  6. Save your changes, and the domain will be added to your account.

2. Subdomains Management

Subdomains help organize your site structure (e.g., blog.example.com).

  1. Go to the Subdomain Management section.
  2. Enter the desired subdomain name and select its parent domain.
  3. Save changes, and the subdomain will be set up automatically.

3. Parking a Domain

Domain parking is useful for pointing multiple domains to a single website.

  1. In Domain Setup, select the domain you want to park.
  2. Use the “Parked Domain” option and link it to your primary domain.
  3. Save changes to activate the parked domain.

4. Redirecting Domains

Set up domain redirection to guide visitors to another URL.

  1. Navigate to the Site Redirection section.
  2. Choose the domain and specify the target URL.
  3. Select the redirection type (temporary or permanent).
  4. Save the redirection.

5. Managing SSL Certificates

Ensure your domains are secure with SSL certificates:

  1. Go to SSL Certificates under the domain settings.
  2. Use the Let’s Encrypt feature for free SSL or upload a custom certificate.
  3. Apply the certificate to secure your domain.

6. Managing Aliases and DNS Settings

DirectAdmin allows detailed DNS configuration to ensure proper domain functionality.

  • Use DNS Management to edit A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records.
  • Set up aliases to direct traffic from alternate domains to your main domain.

7. Monitoring Domain Usage

In the Domain Setup section, view resource usage for each domain, including:

  • Disk space
  • Bandwidth
  • Number of email accounts or databases

8. Deleting a Domain

If a domain is no longer needed:

  1. Go to Domain Setup.
  2. Select the domain you wish to delete.
  3. Confirm the deletion, ensuring no essential files are linked to it.

Best Practices for Domain Management in DirectAdmin

  • Regularly review domain configurations to ensure accurate settings.
  • Use SSL for all active domains to enhance security and SEO.
  • Monitor resource usage to prevent exceeding hosting limits.
  • Keep DNS settings updated, especially after hosting or server changes.

By mastering these domain management features, you can effectively control and optimize your website infrastructure with DirectAdmin.