How to Point a Domain Name to Your Website

What does mapping a domain mean?

Your website lives on a server. A server is a computer that is always on and connected to the internet. It has an IP address, which is a number. A domain name, like example.com, is an easy name for that number. Mapping, or pointing, a domain links the name to the server.

You do this with DNS. DNS is like a phone book for the internet. There are two main ways to point a domain.

Method 1: change the name servers

Name servers are the computers that hold your domain's DNS. You can switch them to your host's name servers. Your welcome email lists them. You can also ask Hostvento support.

1. Log in to your client area.
2. Open the Domains menu and choose My Domains.
3. Click your domain, then choose Nameservers.
4. Choose custom nameservers and type the ones from your welcome email.
5. Click Change Nameservers.

If the domain is registered elsewhere, make this change in that company's panel.

Method 2: change the A record

Use this if you want to keep your DNS where it is. An A record is a line that links a name to an IP address.

1. Find your server's IP address. It is in your welcome email.
2. Open the DNS settings where your name servers point.
3. Find the A record for @, which means your main domain.
4. Change its value to your server's IP address.
5. Find the record for www. Make it a CNAME pointing to your main domain, or an A record with the same IP.
6. Save.

Add the domain on the hosting side

Your hosting account must also know the domain. In cPanel, open Domains and add it as an addon domain, or ask support to help.

Wait and test

1. Wait for the change to spread. It can take a few hours, sometimes up to two days.
2. Type your domain in a browser.
3. If it fails after a day, open a support ticket.

Quick recap

• Mapping links a domain name to your server's IP address.
• Change the name servers, or change the A record.
• Add the domain in your hosting account too.
• Wait for the change to spread, then test.