Multi domain configuration

[Vascom]

I want to setup a multi domain configuration with Contao. What steps do I have to follow? This is my situation:
I have domainA with Contao installed. This site I manage with site structure A. Now I have domainB on the same shared hosting server. This site I also want to manage with the same Contao installation from domainA (probably with site structure B). I'm using Plesk on my shared hosting server. What do I have to do to make this work? All the other topics about this issue are not giving me the right solution. When I know how to setup this I'm gonna make a tutorial.

KInd Regards,
Bart

[Ben]

Bart,

I've never done this, but I think there is some decent instruction somewhere in this forum. I'm just not sure where it is. For starters, I believe you need to create an add-on domain in the hosting account. Then, set the domain in each website root in Contao under Site structure.

[Vascom]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your reply. I know how to set up a second domain structure in Contao pointing to another domain. But that's nog enough. I think there has to be done something with the DNS or maybe .htaccess file. But I don't know what. And I think such a big feature should be explained somewhere in a tutorial or FAQ.

[ramjet]

You need to alias domain b to domain a in your hosting control panel.
Do not confuse this with a redirect, it needs to be a domain alias.
I don't know Plesk, so can't instruct you how.
Once its aliased Contao will do the rest. Allow time for this DNS change to propagate.

[Vascom]

Ok, I know where and how to set a domain alias on the server. I setup "alias.domainB.com" as alias on domainB. In Contao on domainA I setup a second sitestructure pointing to domainname "alias.domainB.com". Is this the right config?

[Ben]

I think you just need to enter the actual domain within the root of a new site in Contao > Site structure. So it would be "thisIsTheDomain.com" and not "alias.domainB.com". I could be wrong, though.

[Vascom]

Ok, maybe you're right tough. But does it matter what the alias is?

alias1.domainB.com or alias2.domainB.com or ... etc?

[Ben]

No, I think Contao just asks which domain the visitor typed in their browser and directs them to the appropriate site root.

[Vascom]

Ok, I hope it's that easy! I'll have to be patient now waiting for the DNS change See what happens. I'll come back later.

[Ben]

Cross your fingers and definitely let us know if it works!

[Vascom]

Hi Ben, I won't stop this topic till it works!

[ramjet]

I can't figure what you mean by

But does it matter what the alias is?
alias1.domainB.com or alias2.domainB.com or ... etc?

You assumedly have a working sitestructure for one site already (mydomain.com). In its root page under" DNS Settings" make sure you have Domain Name: "mydomain.com", Language: en, Language Fallback: ticked.
mydomain.com has hosting, and its what Contao is set up under.

Then you set up a new sitestructure with its own root page, and under "DNS Settings" in the new root page make sure you have Domain Name: "myOTHERdomain.com", Language: en, Language Fallback: ticked.

Then in your hosting control panel you register myOTHERdomain.com to your system. It won't need hosting, as you are just aliasing it to mydomain.com. Whether or not you can alias a subdomain (alias1.myOTHERdomain.com) to mydomain.com I'm not sure, but I don't see why not.

Hope this helps, its all you need to do.

[Vascom]

Hi Ramjet,

Thanks for your help. I think with aliasing you mean changing the DNS records (CNAME records) of the hosting account domainB.com? This because in Plesk I have beside DNS settings another option to make domain aliases. This is a little bit confusing :?

[ramjet]

Hi Vascom, did you get it going allright?

[Vascom]

Hi Ramjet,

I was quite busy last week. But, no it's not working for me. Configuring Contao is no problem. But I think the server DNS config is the problem. Can you give me an example on how you did config a DNS on your hosting plan (cname records etc.)?

Kind Regards,
Bart

[ramjet]

You might need to ask your hosting provider "how do I alias this domain to that domain?"
I'm on H-sphere so it'll be different, but in my case I just register my second domain-name to the H-sphere system, disable web hosting on that domain, and that then gives me an option to alias the second domain-name to any web-hosting enabled domain.
I don't know what goes on behind the scenes re c-name records etc sorry.

This because in Plesk I have beside DNS settings another option to make domain aliases.

I would think the option to make domain aliases is the correct one?


Heres a video tutorial to create domain aliases for Plesk 9
http://tutorials.ausweb.com.au/web/T...park-a-domain/

[Vascom]

Morning Ramjet ;-),

When I use the domainalias function of domainB.com and point it to domainA.com it gives a error message:
"domainA.com already exists" and I'm not able to save it. :?

[ramjet]

No idea sorry :cry: best ask your hosting provider.

[Vascom]

Finally got it working! :D :idea:

It is really easy indeed. The problem was that I was trying to make an alias inside the hosting plan of domainB.com. That's not gonna work (in Plesk Control Panel). You need to create an alias inside the hosting plan of domainA.com which points to domainB.com. So don't create any hosting for domainB.com at all, just register domainB.com, create an alias inside the hostingplan of domainA.com and point it to domainB.com. That's all! It worked immediately in my case. So I'm gonna make a small tutorial for it and come back to post a link inside this topic.

[Ben]

Glad you got it working! It will be great to have a tutorial. Are you going to put it in the Contao Factory?

[Vascom]

Hi Ben,

Well, I was planning to put it in the "User tutorials" topic on this site. But when is the Contao Factory fully operational? Who is/are the founders of that site? Looks great!

[Ben]

It would be great to have it in both places (forum & factory), if you are interested. The factory is being created by winanscreative, thyon and several others (but I'm not exactly sure who).

[Vascom]

Of course I'm interested in publishing it on both sites. I will contact Blair when I have finished my tutorial. Such initiatives should be supported!

[Doublespark]

I have to set up my first multi-site installation shortly, a tutorial (or in my case an idiots guide) would be greatly appreciated.

[thyon]

Hey Vascom

I'm going to put all my documentation and tutorials on there (when I ever get a break). It would be helpful if you can add your stuff on there. Great!

[Vascom]

Hi Thyon (or John),

I definitely will. Let me know when and how I can publish my tutorial.

Kind Regards,
Bart

[thyon]

if you can't come right with blair, I also have admin and can create your account.

[Vascom]

Here's the link to the Multi domain configuration tutorial:

http://www.contao-community.org/view...php?f=8&t=2139

[marketing_guy]

Hi All,

This seems like the right place to put this.

I'm configuring a multi-domain installation and whilst everything works great on the face of it, there are issues when you want to link between the domains.

For example in a link I have on DomainB which is pointing at DomainA, the domain is still DomainB when it should be DomainA

Has anyone else had any experience of this and know how to overcome the domian level issue

Thanks

Nigel

[Vascom]

Strange, when I use the content element "Hyperlink" there are no problems. When I make a link inside TinyMCE it makes a relative link. Another problem in TinyMCE when I want to make a link to a Contao page, pages of the DomainB are not visible in the selectbox! :? Maybe it has something to do with TinyMCE config.

[marketing_guy]

Hi Vascom,

yes, very strange, i've also just noticed the display issue. showing the wrong site level pages.

When adding a link in manually Contao seems to override what i'm doing and change it to undefined, or would that be a TinyMCE issue?

I also have no issues with the hyperlink content element. do you think this could be a bug of some kind in the way TL (sorry contao :-)) rewrites url's??

Nigel

[Vascom]

Hi Nigel,

I really don't know. It could be a bug. Maybe someone else can get in here and say something about it.

[xchs]

Another problem in TinyMCE when I want to make a link to a Contao page, pages of the DomainB are not visible in the selectbox! :?

No, this behavior is intentional. As "domainA.com" and "domainB.com" are two separate websites, you have to use an absolute URL to link form one to the other (in this case considered as "external"). More information about this can be found here.

[marketing_guy]

you have to use an absolute URL to link form one to the other (in this case considered as "external"). More information about this can be found here.

I've been trying all sorts of ways to link to the other domain by typing in the full url and all I get is tinymce returning /undefined in the url placeholder

[xchs]

I never used the following extension by myself, but maybe you can try this one: DomainLink

[marketing_guy]

I never used the following extension by myself, but maybe you can try this one: DomainLink

Hey thanks for the heads up, that was certainly an easier solution than having to do a new install and config :-)

Nigel

[xchs]

Hey, fine when it works. You're welcome.