A primary domain is your main website address that serves content from the public_html folder, while alias domains point to the same content as your primary domain. Addon domains are separate websites with their own directories, and subdomains create subsections of your existing domain for organizing different content areas or hosting separate websites.
Understanding Your Primary Domain
Your primary domain is the main domain associated with your cPanel account at OBHost. This is the first domain you set up when creating your hosting account, and it serves as the foundation for your web presence.
Content for your primary domain is stored in the public_html folder within your home directory. When you connect via FTP, your home directory is the first directory you see. Any file placed at public_html/mypage.html will be accessible at http://yourprimarydomain.com/mypage.html.
Important: Always upload your website files to the public_html directory, not the top-level home directory. Uploading to the wrong location typically causes your site to malfunction and creates organizational problems.
What Are Alias (Parked) Domains?
An alias domain, also called a parked domain, is an additional domain name that displays the exact same content as your primary domain. This is useful when you own multiple domain names and want them all to show the same website.
How to Add an Alias Domain
To create an alias domain in cPanel, click the Aliases icon within the Domains section. In older cPanel versions, this appears as Parked Domains. Enter your new domain name and click Add Domain.
Once added, both your primary domain and alias domain will display identical content from the public_html directory. For example, a file at public_html/mypage.html becomes accessible at both http://yourprimarydomain.com/mypage.html and http://youraliasdomain.com/mypage.html.
Email with Alias Domains
Email accounts for alias domains are completely separate from your primary domain. An account like contact@yourprimarydomain.com is different from contact@youraliasdomain.com, even though both domains show the same website.
Understanding Addon Domains
Addon domains allow you to host completely separate websites under different domain names within the same cPanel account. Each addon domain functions as an independent website with its own content directory.
Creating an Addon Domain
Click the Addon Domains icon in the Domains section of cPanel. You'll need to configure several fields:
- New Domain Name: Enter your new domain without the www prefix. The system automatically handles www versions.
- Subdomain/FTP Username: cPanel automatically creates a subdomain and FTP account for statistics and file management. For example, adding myaddondomain.com might create myaddondomain.yourprimarydomain.com as a subdomain.
- Document Root: This specifies where your addon domain's files will be stored. By default, cPanel suggests public_html/youraddondomain.com, but you can choose any directory name.
Best Practices for Document Root
If you plan to host multiple websites, consider placing the document root at the top level rather than inside public_html. Instead of public_html/domain2.com, use simply domain2.com. This structure prevents issues with mod_rewrite rules from your primary domain affecting addon domains.
With this setup, a file at domain2.com/myfile.html will be served as http://domain2.com/myfile.html.
Common Issues When Adding Addon Domains
If you're adding multiple domains with similar names (like domain2.com, domain2.co.uk, domain2.org), you might receive an error that the subdomain or FTP user already exists. This happens because cPanel uses the first part of the domain name by default. Simply change the Subdomain/FTP username to something unique for each domain.
Email with Addon Domains
Addon domains maintain completely separate email systems. You can create and manage mailboxes independently for each addon domain without any overlap with your primary domain or other addon domains.
Working with Subdomains
A subdomain is a subsection of your existing domain that can function as a separate website or content area without requiring a new domain name. Subdomains create memorable URLs for organizing different parts of your site.
For example, you might create blog.yoursite.com for your blog, shop.yoursite.com for an online store, or support.yoursite.com for customer support resources.
Creating a Subdomain
Click the Subdomains icon in the Domains section of cPanel. Enter your desired subdomain name and select which domain it should be attached to if you have multiple domains in your account.
Subdomains can serve various purposes, from simple content organization to hosting entirely separate applications. You might use support.yoursite.com for a help desk system or client.yoursite.com for a customer portal.
Subdomains for Resellers
If you're a reseller, you can use subdomains to create separate websites. However, for better isolation and management, consider creating entirely separate cPanel accounts through WHM instead. This approach provides better resource separation and easier account management.
Email with Subdomains
Like addon domains, subdomains have independent email systems. You can create separate mailboxes for each subdomain, allowing you to organize email addresses by department or function, such as support@help.yoursite.com or sales@shop.yoursite.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between an alias domain and an addon domain?
An alias domain displays the same content as your primary domain, while an addon domain hosts completely separate content in its own directory. Use alias domains when you want multiple domain names showing identical content, and addon domains when you need to host different websites.
Can I change my primary domain after setting up my account?
Changing your primary domain requires assistance from your hosting provider. Contact the OBHost support team at support@obhost.org to discuss your options, as this process involves technical considerations and potential impacts on your existing setup.
How many addon domains can I add to my account?
The number of addon domains depends on your hosting plan. Check your account details in cPanel or contact sales@obhost.org to learn about your plan's limits and upgrade options if you need to host additional domains.
Do subdomains count against my addon domain limit?
No, subdomains are separate from addon domains and typically don't count against your addon domain limit. Most hosting plans allow unlimited subdomains, but check your specific plan details to confirm.
The OBHost support team is available 24/7 to help you configure domains, subdomains, and any other aspects of your hosting account. Visit https://www.obhost.net/contact or email support@obhost.org for assistance with technical questions. For questions about hosting plans and domain limits, contact sales@obhost.org.
