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How to Direct a Domain to an External Web Service

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By Dennis Nind

June 30, 2023

When you need to use an external web service provider such as Weebly, Moonfruit, WIX, SquareSpace, or others, you'll need to configure your domain to point to that service. This guide will walk you through the process while ensuring that your email continues to function normally.

 

Preparing for Changes

Before you begin, you should be logged into the cPanel account associated with the domain you're adjusting. You'll be using the cPanel DNS Zone Editor to make these changes. Also, be aware that these changes may require you to adjust the configuration of your email software. After these changes, you'll need to use your Home Server name to log into your webmail or cPanel account, rather than your domain name.

 

Adjusting Your "A" Record

If you want your apex domain (the domain name itself) - e.g. https://yourdomain.com - to point to the external web service, you'll need to adjust your "A" record.

  1. Open the DNS Zone Editor in cPanel.
  2. Click on 'Manage' next to the domain you'd like to point.
  3. Look for the entry for your domain in the Zone File Records. This is the entry that shows your domain without anything in front of it.
  4. Click the 'Edit' link to open up the editor pane.
  5. Note the existing IP address (this is your homeserver IP address - you will need this later) and then change the Address field to the IP address provided by the external web service provider.
  6. Click the 'Edit Record' button to confirm the change.

Adjusting Your CNAME Record

Your external web service provider may also ask you to change the CNAME record for your www.yourdomain address.

  1. Look for your www host entry and click on the 'Edit' link.
  2. Enter the new CNAME target in this field. This will be provided by your external web service provider.
  3. Click the 'Edit Record' button to confirm the change.

Ensuring Mail Delivery Continues Normally

After changing your A record, it's important to ensure that your mail delivery continues normally.

  1. Look for the mail.yourdomain CNAME record and click on the 'Edit' link.
  2. Change the record Type from CNAME to A.
  3. Enter your server's original IP address (you took note of this above in the section "Altering your "A" record").
  4. Click the 'Edit Record' button to confirm the change.

Next, log into the Spam Experts system via your cPanel account and change your delivery destination either to mail.yourdomain or your Server Hostname name directly.

 

Email Software Configuration Changes

If you were using your naked domain as the incoming and outgoing mail servers, then you will also have to change your incoming and outgoing mail servers to either mail.yourdomain or your server hostname instead. All other configurations will remain unaffected.

 Remember, if you're unsure about something, don't hesitate to reach out to the Brixly support team. We're here to help!

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