Pointing naked domains to CNAME is important over using A when we want to host our domains on Rackspace Cloud Files or some such services. Like in the case we described to host Jekyll and OctoPress on Free Cloud Platforms. It is not cost effective to use a Server. Unfortunately, the complex traditional system prohibits to do many things easily. Only the technical part for pointing naked domains to CNAME can be enough painful. So here is a kind of guide. We are taking that, you are either using Rackspace Cloud DNS or CloudFlare for the whole DNS management – this is important. Basics of DNS is based on this :
1 | http://www.rackspace.com/knowledge_center/article/how-can-i-use-cnames-with-a-cloud-files-container |
Pointing Naked Domains to CNAME : Cheating Way
Cheating way will work only if you want to host subdomain and do not use the main domain. Like in case you are using some domain hack. At the time of writing this guide, the example will not work as we are working on server :
1 2 3 4 | # I am not using abhishekghosh.net # but the subdomain dr.abhishekghosh.net |
Working example is a landing page :
1 | http://cloud.thecustomizewindows.com/ |
So, we need a 301 redirection from abhishekghosh.net to dr.abhishekghosh.net. But we are not using a server or rather not willing to pay for a server. As the reader can understand, dr.abhishekghosh.net can easily be pointed towards Rackspace Cloud Files as for subdomain, CNAME can work alone. We add A or AAAA record when the subdomain is a different server, right? There are two ways to get this plan working. Quite obviously, www is also a subdomain, the example will be like my dr.abhishekghosh.net subdomain.
First, you can host the main domain on Heroku Cloud. It is free, cumbersome but free. You can read guides on Heroku Cloud by performing a search on this website to install something on Heroku Cloud which uses Apache2 Web Server. Also you need to read this :
---
1 | https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/custom-domains#root-domain |
Simply, you’ll do a 301 redirection towards the subdomain. Free, robust and fully under control. DNS Simple is a highway robbery :
1 | https://dnsimple.com/pricing |
Do not worry, all are free :
1 | https://addons.heroku.com/pointdns |
Heroku and OpenShift killed many profitable businesses!
Pointing Naked Domains to CNAME : Official Ways
Official ways are paying for some service. Root domain should always be an A record, in traditional usage. CNAME means canonical name, which is actually alias. We take that, there should be a server with IP to get websites working.
There is HostGator, HostMonster etc. cheap web hosting’s basic package and do a 301 redirect from cPanel or Plesk. It will cost lesser than dnsimple, dns complex etc. services. There is fine free service to experiment :
1 | http://wwwizer.com/naked-domain-redirect |
You can disturb Megan (mention our URL, she will do a fast dig) via email if you are a Rackspace Client :
1 | http://www.rackspace.com/blog/its-here-cloud-files-now-supports-cnames-for-cdn-enabled-content/ |
As far we found, Hover provides such forwarding service, its free if you have transferred your domain to them :
1 | https://help.hover.com/entries/21196383-how-to-forward-your-domain-name |
We have not used yet, but it appears that Hover is a good service for both email hosting and DNS redirection. Ultimately we have to pay for the domain, Hover does it. Basically we wanted to explain how Pointing Naked Domains to CNAME works. Subdomain things made it complex but you probably understood the basics – still, with current technologies we need something which will act both as A value and point towards the CNAME. Usually the something is not directly available.
We are trying to find some other cheat for Akamai – Rackspace Combination.
