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How to Point Your Domain to HostGator

This guide shows you how to make a domain open a website hosted at HostGator. You can change nameservers or edit the A record.

Domains and DNS2 min read11 steps

What does "point a domain" mean?

A domain is your website's address. DNS is like a phone book for the internet. It turns that address into a number that computers understand. Pointing a domain means telling the phone book to send visitors to HostGator's servers.

HostGator is another hosting company. Use this guide when your domain is managed in a Hostvento account, or somewhere else, and your site is at HostGator.

Before you start

  • Find the nameservers and the server IP address in your HostGator welcome email or account. An IP address is the number address of a server.
  • Copy them exactly. Do not guess.
  • Save your current DNS records first. A wrong change can break your site or email.

Method 1: change nameservers

Nameservers are the computers that answer questions about your domain. This method gives HostGator control of your DNS.

  1. Log in where your domain is registered. For a Hostvento domain, use https://secure.hostvento.com/clientarea.php.
  2. Open Domains and then My Domains.
  3. Click the domain. Open Management Tools and then Nameservers.
  4. Choose to use custom nameservers.
  5. Enter the HostGator nameservers in the boxes.
  6. Click Change Nameservers.

Method 2: edit the A record

Choose this if you want to leave email and other services where they are. An A record points a name to a number address.

  1. Open the DNS zone editor where your nameservers currently point.
  2. Find the A record with host @. This is the bare domain.
  3. Change the value to your HostGator IP address.
  4. Check that the www record points to the same place.
  5. Save.

Add the domain in HostGator

HostGator must also know the domain. In its control panel, add the domain as an addon domain. Pick the folder for the site files. Without this step, visitors may see a default page.

Tip: Spreading across the internet is called propagation. It can take minutes or up to a day or more. Test in a private window.

Need help? Open a ticket at https://secure.hostvento.com/submitticket.php.

Quick recap

  • Get nameservers or an IP from HostGator.
  • Change nameservers, or edit the A record.
  • Add the domain in the HostGator control panel.
  • Wait for propagation.