How do I change custom domain?

philx123

I'm changing names of my business, and already have a domain in Godaddy which I want to use. How do I stop my old domain "www.philip-smith.com" pointing to my sumgmug site, and direct the new one to it?

I had a look at the tutorials, but this one:

Doesn't seem to really tell me what to do, except add a cname. I can find that, but the info given doesn't actually seem to match the boxes there.

I suppose the easiest thing is to buy a new domain, but I find it frustrating that I have a perfectly good one I'd like to use, but can't (well, could, if I could work out how do do it).

Any help much appreciated.

Phil

docwalker

Changing the domain in the SmugMug control panel. Or simply deleting the old domain from the control panel will break it from our end. But, the domain needs to be changed at the domain host to remove the CNAME pointer so that it no longer points at SmugMug.

The best thing to do is to setup the new domain and then forward the old domain to the new one. (without domain masking) That way anyone trying your old domain will get the new one and still see your site.

philx123

Thanks for that.

I try putting the new address in the control panel, but only get:

That hostname doesn't resolve to SmugMug's CNAME (domains.smugmug.com). See our help section on custom hostnames.

trouble is the link to custom hostnames doesn't help me (or rather, even thought the answer may be in there, I can't find it).

docwalker

Philip, make sure that the new domain is setup using the instructions on that page. www CNAME pointed at domains.smugmug.com and an @ A record pointed at 208.79.45.23 for the default setup. If you want a Subdomain, make sure it is CNAMEd to domains.smugmug.com

Thats really all that is needed. If you have trouble, send us your domain host login details at the help desk. We can set it up for you.

philx123

Thanks for that.

Hmmm, I seem to have done the usual, in that I've set something up, but it now no longer works.
I deleted the original cname and a record in Godaddy, and added the new one for www.Tatterdemallion.com, which now seems to lead to Smugmug, but not my smugmug site. I can't login and change the address in the control panel (which I coudn't change when I was logged in via www.philip-smith.com).

I set up the new cname as I usderstood I should - www in the host name and the domains.smugmug.com, then added an A record, which was "@" and then: 208.79.45.23

Nothing seems to work now - can't even get into my site via smugmug.

Any ideas on fixing this?

Thanks

philx123

Right, I've tried putting the original cname and arecord back in for www.philip-smith.com. I still can't fully understand what I'm doing wrong, though. I might just email my details to the help desk, as you suggest. Will see if I've been able to fix my site first.

philx123

Hi there. Just an update. I sent off my details to the help desk, as advised by Doc, above, and as it stands, it's up and running with the new domain, but not forwarding from www.philip-smith.com. I'm happy with that, and grateful for the help. The only thing I'm wondering, though, is if this is my tinkering earlier which is finally coming through the pipe. I seem to remember it can take a while. I guess I'll see if it switches back in an hour's time.

Again, thanks

Phil