An addon domain lets you host multiple websites under a single hosting account. When you create an addon domain, you link a new domain name to a specific folder in your account, allowing you to manage several independent websites from one control panel. This feature is ideal if you own multiple domains and want to keep them organized without purchasing separate hosting plans.
Your hosting plan must allow addon domains for this feature to work. OBHost includes addon domain support on most shared hosting plans, making it easy to expand your web presence as your business grows.
Understanding Addon Domains
Addon domains function as completely separate websites within your hosting account. Each addon domain gets its own folder (called a document root) where you upload files, install applications, and manage content independently from your primary domain.
For example, if your main domain is example.com and you add business.net as an addon domain, visitors to business.net will see completely different content stored in a separate directory. Both websites run from the same hosting account but operate independently.
How Addon Domains Differ From Subdomains
While addon domains and subdomains might seem similar, they serve different purposes. A subdomain is an extension of your main domain (like blog.example.com), whereas an addon domain is a completely separate domain name (like newbusiness.com). Addon domains give you the flexibility to host entirely different brands or projects under one hosting account.
Requirements Before Adding a Domain
Before you can create an addon domain, you need to meet these requirements:
- Domain registration: You must register the domain name through a domain registrar before adding it as an addon domain. Registration makes the domain name officially yours.
- Account limits: Your hosting plan must permit addon domains. Check your plan details to see how many addon domains you can create. OBHost sets these limits based on your specific hosting package.
- Correct DNS settings: The domain's nameservers should point to your hosting provider's nameservers. Without proper DNS configuration, the addon domain won't resolve correctly.
How to Create an Addon Domain in cPanel
Creating an addon domain through cPanel is straightforward. Follow these steps to add a new domain to your hosting account:
- Access the Addon Domains section: Log into cPanel and navigate to the Domains section. Click on Addon Domains.
- Enter your domain name: In the New Domain Name field, type the full domain name you want to add (for example, newsite.com). Do not include www or http.
- Review automatic settings: cPanel automatically fills in the Subdomain and Document Root fields based on your domain name. The subdomain creates an internal reference, while the document root specifies where your website files will be stored.
- Customize if needed: If you want to use a different folder name or subdomain, you can manually edit these fields. This is useful when adding multiple domains with similar names (like example.com and example.net).
- Click Add Domain: Once you verify all information is correct, click the Add Domain button to create your addon domain.
The system creates the necessary directories and DNS records automatically. You can then upload your website files to the new document root folder using File Manager or FTP.
Managing Your Addon Domains
After creating addon domains, you can manage them through several cPanel tools. The File Manager lets you access each domain's folder separately. You can install applications like WordPress specifically for each addon domain using Softaculous or similar auto-installers.
Each addon domain also gets its own email accounts. You can create addresses like info@youraddon.com through the Email Accounts section in cPanel, completely separate from your main domain's email.
Document Root Organization
The document root is the folder where your addon domain's files live. By default, cPanel creates this folder inside the public_html directory. For example, if you add newsite.com, cPanel might create public_html/newsite.com as the document root.
You can organize your files however you prefer within this folder. Upload an index.html or index.php file to serve as the homepage. Create subdirectories for images, scripts, and other resources just as you would for any website.
Troubleshooting Common Addon Domain Issues
Sometimes you might encounter errors when adding domains. Here are solutions to common problems:
Nameserver errors: If you see a message about being unable to determine nameserver IP addresses, your domain's DNS records may be incorrect. Use the Zone Editor in cPanel to check your DNS settings, or contact your domain registrar to update nameservers to point to your hosting provider.
Duplicate domain warnings: If the system warns that your domain resembles an existing domain, it might be suggesting you create a subdomain instead. This happens when you try to add variations like subdomain.example.com when example.com already exists on your account.
Limit reached errors: If you cannot add more domains, you've reached your plan's addon domain limit. You can upgrade your hosting plan or remove unused addon domains to make room for new ones.
Best Practices for Using Addon Domains
Keep these tips in mind when working with addon domains:
- Use clear, descriptive folder names for document roots to stay organized as you add more domains.
- Ensure each addon domain has proper SSL certificates installed for security. Many hosts including OBHost offer free SSL certificates for addon domains.
- Monitor your account's resource usage. All addon domains share the same hosting resources, so high traffic on one domain affects the others.
- Keep your addon domains' software updated separately. If you run WordPress on multiple addon domains, update each installation individually.
- Back up each addon domain regularly. Your hosting account backup includes all addon domains, but separate backups provide extra protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many addon domains can I create on my hosting account?
The number of addon domains you can create depends on your specific hosting plan. Most shared hosting plans allow between 5 and unlimited addon domains. Check your plan details in your hosting control panel or contact your provider to confirm your limit. If you need more addon domains, consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan.
Will addon domains affect my main website's performance?
All addon domains on your account share the same server resources including CPU, RAM, and bandwidth. If one addon domain experiences high traffic or runs resource-intensive applications, it can impact the performance of your other websites. Monitor your resource usage through cPanel to ensure all sites run smoothly. If you notice performance issues, you might need to upgrade your hosting plan or move high-traffic domains to dedicated resources.
Can I create email accounts for my addon domains?
Yes, each addon domain can have its own email accounts completely separate from your main domain. Use the Email Accounts section in cPanel to create email addresses for any addon domain. For example, if you add shop.com as an addon domain, you can create sales@shop.com, support@shop.com, and other email addresses specific to that domain.
What happens to my addon domains if I change hosting providers?
Your addon domains are tied to your hosting account, not the domain names themselves. If you switch hosting providers, you'll need to recreate your addon domains on the new hosting account and transfer your website files. Update your domain nameservers to point to the new hosting provider so visitors reach your sites at the new location. The domain registrations themselves remain unchanged during a hosting transfer.
If you need help managing addon domains or have questions about your hosting plan's capabilities, our support team is available 24/7. Visit https://www.obhost.net/contact or email support@obhost.org for assistance.
