This guide explains how to order a DNS zone from Infomaniak.

Preamble

• Having the DNS zone with Infomaniak is useful if your domain name is registered elsewhere (third-party provider/registrar) and you want to easily link this domain with Infomaniak products.
• Indeed, it is not enough to own a site domain.xyz with Infomaniak and to indicate the 2 DNS addresses of Infomaniak with the domain name registrar (if it is not Infomaniak) for the site to be displayed when you type domain.xyz in a browser.
• You must add a DNS zone in the same place as the hosting to make the site work easily.
• This will also be particularly useful if the service provider managing your domain name does not offer DNS zone management.

Order a DNS zone

To do this:

1. Click here to access the Infomaniak domain Shop.
2. Start a search with the name of the domain registered elsewhere.
3. Click on the action menu ⋮ located to the right of the result obtained.
4. Select Order a DNS zone:
   
5. Complete the purchase.
6. Once added to your Manager, the zone can be edited.

This guide explains how to replace the main domain name associated with a Mail Service in case you want to modify the spelling of everything that comes after the at sign @ of your email address (= the domain name). If your Mail Service is part of a kSuite, then you will need to act on the kSuite domain directly.

Preamble

• You can also follow this procedure if the goal is to have completely new email addresses while keeping the history of your emails in Mail (since the email address will continue to exist, for example info@first-domain.xyz will become info@new-domain.xyz without modifying its content).
• Indeed, it is not possible to simply modify the spelling of the domain name concerned; it is therefore necessary to replace the current domain name associated with your email addresses with another domain name.
• To simply add an additional domain name, refer to this other guide.
• To rather modify the part of your email address that comes before the at sign @, refer to this other guide.
• Note also that you can rename your product (example) on the Infomaniak Manager, but changing the name of a Mail Service has strictly no impact on its addresses; you need to act on the domain name.

Modify the domain name of the Mail Service

Prerequisites

• Own the new domain name (if necessary, create it in advance).
• Refer to the instructions of this other guide by applying the instructions corresponding to your situation (this is so that the domain name works when it is linked to your Mail Service).

Once the new domain name is ready to be used in place of the old one, you need to add it to the Mail Service and then perform a swap:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product in question.
3. Click on Domain Management in the left sidebar
   
4. Click on Service-related domains in the left sidebar menu.
5. Click the blue button Add a linked domain:
   

6. You can:
   

   1. Search for an existing domain within the Organization you are connected to; this will link and automatically update the DNS zone of the added domain.
   2. Add a domain name or subdomain to manually specify the domain name or subdomain to use (ideal if the domain name is hosted elsewhere).
   3. Purchase a new domain name (see prerequisites above).

    

a: The domain exists within the Organization

1. Click on the proposed domain name.
2. Click on the blue button Link this domain:
   
3. Click on the icon ⋮ to the right of the newly added domain name.
4. Click on Set as primary domain (you must have dissociated the alias domain name from the primary domain name if there was a previous association):
   
5. Confirm the reversal and then wait for the operation to complete.
6. Click on the icon ⋮ to the right of the old domain name.
7. Click on Unlink the domain:
   
8. Confirm the detachment by checking if you want to delete the associated DNS records during the detachment operation.

That's it, the Mail Service now responds to a new domain name.

b: The domain exists but elsewhere

1. After clicking on Add a domain or subdomain, enter the domain name that will replace the current name.
2. Enable DNS entry updates (if the domain name situation allows, the DNS zone of the domain name will be automatically updated).
3. If the point 2 above is active, then activate the replacement of any existing entries.
4. Activate the reversal of the domain name (to avoid additional steps as in point "a" above).
5. Click on the blue button Link this domain:
   
6. Wait for the operation to complete.
7. Click on the icon ⋮ to the right of the old domain name.
8. Click on Unlink the domain:
   

This guide explains how to add a new domain name to a Web site Infomaniak.

Preamble

• When you add a new domain name to a Web site, it is referred to as a linked domain but also as an alias.
• In this case, an alias domain is an additional domain name, also linked to an existing site.
  • For the Web site domain.xyz to be reachable with a completely different domain name such as private.abc for example, you need to add private.abc as an alias to the Web site.
  • Second example, for the site domain.xyz to also be reachable with www.domain.xyz, you need to add it as an alias to the domain domain.xyz. In this example, domain.xyz is the parent site of the alias www.domain.xyz. Generally, the alias www is already added automatically and present…

Adding an alias to an existing site

Prerequisites

• If the domain name (intended to become an alias) or its DNS zone is managed by Infomaniak, everything is OK. If not:
  • The A record of the domain name must point to Infomaniak.
  • To simplify, you can delegate the management of the domain to Infomaniak.
• It is also necessary that the future alias is not already one, in which case it will be necessary to detach it from the current site beforehand (same if synonym).

To add an additional domain that will be linked to your Web site:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product concerned:
   
3. Then click on the chevron ‍ to expand the Domains section of this site.
4. Click on the Add a domain button:
   
5. Enter the domain name(s) to be added, separated by the Enter.
6. If the alias or its DNS zone is managed by Infomaniak, it is possible to automatically update the DNS entries. Otherwise, make any necessary changes with your registrar or transfer the management of the domain name to Infomaniak.
7. If you have an SSL certificate like Let's Encrypt, for example, you can request to update it here to include the new names.
8. Click on Validate to complete the procedure:
   

To set the alias as the main domain, refer to this other guide.

This guide is intended for users who wish to manage Glue records (or "glue records") at Infomaniak.

Preamble

• Glue records are crucial for linking a domain name to its associated name servers, by providing the IP addresses of these servers directly.
  • For example, for the domain domain.xyz, the glue records specify the name servers (ns1.domain.xyz and ns2.domain.xyz) as well as their IP addresses (192.0.2.10 and 192.0.2.11).
• This speeds up DNS resolution, allowing browsers and online services to find your site faster and more efficiently.
• Warning: adding an NS does not automatically add it to the DNS zone: it is necessary to manually update the DNS zone of your domain!

Create Glue records...

... via "A record"

This method involves creating an A record (address) for ns1.domain.xyz pointing to the IP of the NS. This will have the effect of registering the IP with the registry. You will then be able to add ns1.domain.xyz which will be recognized and redirected to the correct NS.

domain.xyz. 3600 IN NS ns1.domain.xyz.
domain.xyz. 3600 IN NS ns2.domain.xyz.

ns1.domain.xyz. 3600 IN A 192.0.2.10
ns2.domain.xyz. 3600 IN A 192.0.2.11

... via "Glue records" button

This way of doing things allows you to create, but also modify, existing Glue records:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product concerned.
3. Click on DNS Servers in the left sidebar.
4. Click on the Manage glue records button:
   
5. Click on the Add a server button:
   
6. Enter the name of the server to be added as well as its IP address.
7. Click on the Validate button.

This guide will help you resolve issues with the connection between Site Creator and your domain names if you are unable to connect Site Creator to a domain.

Common issues and solutions

Depending on the situation of your domain name, follow the corresponding solution below:

This guide explains how to link a domain name to an Infomaniak Mail Service

If the domain name is…

… with Infomaniak, same Organization

If your domain name is registered with Infomaniak and is in the same user account or Organization as the mailbox, then there is nothing to do.

• Refer to this other guide to check and correct any potential configuration errors.

… with Infomaniak, different Organization

If your domain name is registered with Infomaniak but in a different user account or Organization, then:

• Edit its DNS zone by specifying Infomaniak's MX (+ SPF & DKIM).
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

OR

• Move it within the same Organization.

… with Infomaniak with external DNS

If your domain name has DNS that are not Infomaniak's, then:

• Edit the current DNS zone where it is located (if necessary, consult the help of the relevant provider) by specifying Infomaniak's MX (+ SPF & DKIM).
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

OR

• Change the current DNS and select the use of Infomaniak DNS.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.
• Refer to this other guide to check and correct any potential configuration errors.

… elsewhere with external DNS

If your domain name has DNS that are not Infomaniak's, then:

• Edit the current DNS zone where it is located (if necessary, refer to the help of the relevant provider) by specifying Infomaniak's MX (+ SPF & DKIM).
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

OR

• Change the current DNS (if necessary, refer to the help of the relevant provider) by specifying Infomaniak's (this implies having a DNS zone with Infomaniak.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.
• This DNS zone with Infomaniak will be configured correctly but refer to this other guide to check and correct any potential configuration errors.

… elsewhere but you are bringing it back

If your domain name is registered with another registrar and you want to transfer it to the same place as your Infomaniak mailbox, then:

• Transfer the domain name to Infomaniak (it will be configured correctly but refer to this other guide to check and correct any possible configuration errors).

Otherwise, consider ordering a new domain name if necessary.

This guide explains how to register a domain name with Infomaniak.

Preamble

• With a new domain name or additional domain name, many possibilities open up to you, including access to free services, such as:
  • email address with contact & calendar management,
  • 10 MB Web space,
  • sending Newsletters
• You will also be able to:
  • use your existing Mail Service or Website but with a different spelling,
  • host a website here or with a third-party host,
  • etc.

Order a first domain name

To do this:

1. If necessary, create an Infomaniak account.
2. Click here to access domain management on the Infomaniak Manager.
3. Click to open the Shop:
   
   • If necessary, select the Organization in which to order your domain:
     
4. Once in the Shop, enter the domain name to register and search for it:
   
5. Check or uncheck the additional options and extensions offered and click Next to proceed.
6. Choose the desired options as you go through the pages, such as the possible Mail Service associated with the domain name:
   
7. Choose the desired options as you go through the pages, such as the possible Web hosting associated with the domain name:
   
8. Enter the details related to the domain name.
9. Complete the purchase without forgetting to read and accept the Terms (the box may require scrolling down the page first):
   

Order an additional domain name

To do this:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click on the button to Order an additional domain:
   
3. Follow the first guide above from step 4.

Check the availability of a domain name

Refer to this other page which allows you to quickly check if a domain is available for registration or not.

There are at least 3 main indications:

• Available — in this case, it's good, you can reserve it.
• Transferable — you must own it with another provider to transfer it to Infomaniak.
• Unavailable — it will unfortunately not be possible to order it as long as it is not abandoned by its current owner.
   

This guide explains how to remove additional designations from an existing Mail Service (everything that comes after the @ sign in your email address), by detaching its linked domain names.

Preamble

• Once removed, the domain name is available again to order a new Mail Service or to be attached to another existing Mail Service.
• It should also be noted that you can rename your product in the Infomaniak Manager, but changing the name of a Mail Service has no effect on its addresses. You need to act on the domain name.

Remove the linked domain

Prerequisites

• Have dissociated the synonymous domain name from the main domain name if there was an association previously.
• Have defined the domain name to be detached as a secondary domain (instead of a main) — this reversal can be done by following this other guide in the chapter named "a" from point 3 onwards.

To detach a domain name from your Mail Service:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product in question:
   
3. Click on Domain Management in the left sidebar:
   
4. Click on List of Domains Linked to the Service in the left sidebar.
5. Click on the icon ⋮ to the right of the domain name to be detached.
6. Click on Detach the Domain (see prerequisites above if the item is not offered):
   
7. Confirm the detachment:
   

This guide explains how to remove an alias domain from an Infomaniak Web Hosting. The main domain name of the site will then no longer be linked to any other domain name.

Prerequisites

• Have dissociated the synonym domain name from the main domain name if there was an association before.

Remove the alias domain

To remove an alias domain from your site:

1. Click here to access the management of your site on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the site concerned:
   
3. Click on the chevron ‍ to expand the Domains section of this site.
4. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the domain to be removed.
5. Choose Unlink:
   

6. Confirm the deletion of the alias:

   • If necessary, you can choose to delete the DNS records related to the domain…

   

This guide explains how to dissociate a synonym domain from an Infomaniak domain name.

Remove the synonym domain

To remove the synonym domain from the main domain dashboard:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the main domain concerned.
3. Click on Synonym Domains in the left sidebar menu.
4. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the synonym domain in the displayed table.
5. Click on Dissociate this domain:
   

You can also proceed in the other direction, by going to the synonym domain dashboard:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product concerned.
3. Click on Dissociate in the top banner.
4. Check the box to validate the voluntary desynchronization of these 2 domains.
5. Click the red button to Dissociate the domain name:
   

At this stage, you will still need to dissociate the alias domain from your Web and/or Mail hosting if necessary:

• Refer to this other guide to dissociate an alias domain name from a Mail Service.
• Refer to this other guide to dissociate an alias domain name from a Web Hosting.

This guide explains how to add a synonym domain to a domain name.

Preamble

• A synonym domain is a domain name that can serve as a secondary name for another domain.
• When a synonym domain is added, it automatically inherits the content of the DNS zone of the main domain (including MX, A, etc. records), as well as its Web and Mail hosting.
• Alternatively, you can also add a (domain) alias to a website or add a (domain) alias to a Mail Service.

Add a synonym domain to a domain

Prerequisites

• The domain name of the future synonym or the management of its DNS zone…
  • … must be reserved with Infomaniak,
  • … must be configured with the Infomaniak DNS,
  • … must not be linked to any product yet.
• The domain name on which the synonym will be placed…
  • … must not be associated with the Infomaniak Newsletter product.

To access your domain names:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product in question.
3. Click on Synonym Domains in the left sidebar.
4. Choose to add a synonym.
5. Click on Next:
   
6. Choose an existing domain in the current Organization, or order a new domain in advance.
7. Click the button to Confirm:
   
8. That's it:
   

Refer to this other guide if you are looking for information to dissociate a synonym domain name.

This guide explains how to add, modify, or delete specific entries (records of type A & AAAA, MX, TXT, etc.) within the DNS zone of a domain registered with Infomaniak.

Prerequisites

• Have a domain name with Infomaniak or at least a DNS zone.
• Understand:
  • the operation of a domain and a DNS zone before modifying the latter.
  • The DNS zone presented here is valid and used only if the server names are those of Infomaniak.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

Add a record (simple mode)

To configure the services associated with the domain and allow the appropriate resolution of domain names to the corresponding resources (such as external websites, third-party mail servers, etc.):

1. Click here to access the management of your domain on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the domain concerned.
3. Click on DNS Zone in the left sidebar.
4. The entries currently in place are listed in the Simple Mode table.
5. Click the blue Add an entry button:
   
6. Choose the desired record type (records of type A & AAAA, MX, TXT, etc.)
7. Click on Next:
   
8. Complete the different fields according to your information:
   1. Under Source leave blank or specify any subdomain concerned.
   2. Under Target specify the information obtained from your external provider or any other useful indication.
   3. Leave the TTL indicated.
9. Save the addition made:
   

Modify an existing record

To modify an already registered DNS record:

1. Follow points 1 to 4 above.
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the record to be modified.
3. Click on Modify to access the edit page:
   
4. Proceed with the editing of the desired information and then save your changes.

Delete an existing record

To delete an already registered DNS record:

1. Follow points 1 to 4 above.
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the record to be modified.
3. Click on Delete and confirm the deletion:
   

DNS Diagnostics

A tool available in your Manager allows you to easily correct certain problematic records. You can also use a free external service such as the one mentioned at the bottom of this other guide.

Expert mode

To edit the DNS zone in advanced (expert) mode, which in particular allows you to restore a previous version of the different records, refer to this other guide.

This guide explains how, after purchasing a domain name from Infomaniak, you can get for free an Email Service + Web Hosting.

Preamble

• For each domain name registered or transferred to Infomaniak, you can benefit from the following for free:
  1. an email address that gives you access to the Infomaniak Mail app, among other things
  2. and a 10 MB Web space for a basic page.
• It is also possible to have a free Email Service while having a paid Web offer, or vice versa.
• Instead of a Starter type Email Service, there is also kSuite.

Activate the Starter Mail + Web Offer

Prerequisites

• Own a domain name with Infomaniak (a DNS zone is not sufficient).
  • If necessary, order or transfer a domain.
• Depending on the desired type (Mail or Web), do not have a corresponding product already associated with the domain name and this in any existing Infomaniak Organization.

To order a Starter Mail Service and Starter Web Hosting included with each domain:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the product concerned:
   
   • It is necessary that no product is linked to the domain at the moment (visible in the column of linked products).
3. Click on one of the shortcuts to Connect a service (mail or web):
   
4. In both cases, click on Order …:
   • 
   • 
5. You will be able to choose the corresponding free service (mail or web) and the next step will offer you the choice of the other (mail or web) if desired.
6. Click at the bottom of the page to continue:
   • 
   • 
7. Confirm the order:
   
8. Go back to your Infomaniak Manager to discover and use your new products:
   • 
   • 

Use your Starter products

• Create the desired email address on your Starter Mail Service.
• To use the 10 MB web space and create a basic web page on your Starter Web Hosting, use:
  • the page editor
  • or the FTP file manager to manage your HTML pages
  • or any FTP software/client with the classic FTP protocol

Upgrade a Starter offer

• Modify a Mail offer (click here).
• Modify a Web offer (click here).

In case of a problem with a Starter hosting

A Starter type web hosting does not offer IPv6. Be careful with AAAA records in the DNS zone of the concerned domain name that can prevent you from activating SSL; also refer to this other guide.

Thank you for entrusting the management of your domain names to Infomaniak.

This guide allows you to quickly use the essential functions of your new product.

Some important guides

Administrative

• Protect your personal information in the WHOIS
• Protect your domain from theft and loss
• Modify the domain name details
• Who owns a domain name?
• Use the free services (mail and Web 10 Mo) linked to a domain managed by Infomaniak
• Transfer another domain name to Infomaniak

Technical

• Edit the records (A, MX, Web, Mail, etc.) of a domain registered with Infomaniak to join, for example, a hosting service not managed by Infomaniak
• Modify the DNS servers
• Redirect traffic
• Configure DynDNS

• Link a domain name to another
• Unlink a domain alias from a domain name

• Link a domain name to the Mail Service
• Link an additional domain name to the Mail Service
• Unlink a domain linked to the Mail Service

• Link a domain name to an Infomaniak Web Hosting
• Link an additional domain name to a website
• Unlink a domain linked to the website

• Link a domain name to kSuite
• Link an additional domain name to kSuite

• Link a domain name to the Infomaniak Synology NAS
• Link a domain name to Wix
• Link a domain name to Site Creator
• Link a domain name to the Newsletter
• Link an Infomaniak domain name to an external service

Otherwise, find the desired topic among the rest of the FAQs.

Click here to share feedback or a suggestion about an Infomaniak product.

This guide explains the difference between the terms synonym and alias in the context of the Domain Name service offered by Infomaniak.

Synonym domain / alias domain

So-called synonym domain names (i.e., domains that are entirely dependent on the main domain, without their own DNS configuration) and alias (independent domains, with their own DNS configuration) can both serve as secondary domains associated with a main domain.

For example, the domains pomme.xyz (alias) and banane.xyz (synonym) can redirect to a common main domain such as fruits.xyz.

Here is the technical distinction to remember:

• The synonym (also called "linked domain" or "DNS mirror") directly uses the DNS servers of the main domain. It has no DNS zone of its own.
• The alias (also called "redirected independent domain" or "DNS alias") has its own DNS records (independent DNS zone), although it points to the same hosting or services.

Learn more

• How to add a domain as a synonym
• How to dissociate a synonym domain
• Understanding the difference between domains and DNS zones

This guide explains how to transfer an Infomaniak product from one Organization to another.

Preamble

• You can move almost all products subscribed with Infomaniak to a different Infomaniak Manager interface than the one on which the product is currently located; this is therefore an internal transfer.
• If your user has access to multiple Organizations it is even easier to send to one of them the product of your choice.
• This operation does not cause any interruption.
• The users currently having access to the selected products will not be transferred (and therefore may no longer have access to the products).
• The invoices of the selected products will not be transferred.
• my kSuite cannot be transferred.

Generate a transfer link

Prerequisites

• Be Administrator or Legal Representative within the Organization.

To transfer a product:

1. Click here to access the product transfer management on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click on the Transfer products button:
   
3. Check the product(s) to be moved:
   
4. Read and accept the general conditions.
5. Click on the Transfer button:
   
6. Read and validate any warnings:
   

The transfer has started. Now, at your choice, you can:

1. Copy the transfer link…
2. or send it to the email address of your choice…
3. or select directly one of the Organizations to which your user is attached, and the selected product will be transferred there:
   

At any time, you can return to the product transfer page to find the possibilities listed above:

Alternative method

In the case of one-time transfer, you can also go directly to the dashboard of the product concerned and click on Manage (example in the image below) however, since this menu is not always present, it is better to prioritize the first method above, which also allows bulk transfer:

Refer to this other guide regarding Jelastic Cloud.

Receive the product

Once a product transfer is initiated by a user…

1. Be on the Organization that should receive the product

• Click here to log in to the Manager on the Organization that should receive the product(s).
  • The user specified when logging in to the Infomaniak account must have administrative rights.
  • If necessary, you can create a new Organization to receive products.

2. Execute the obtained link

• Click on the link obtained in the first step above.
  • You can also simply paste it into a browser while logged in to the appropriate Infomaniak account.
• 

3. Validate the product transfer

• If necessary, choose the destination Organization using the drop-down menu.
• Read and accept the general conditions.
• Click the Receive the product button (if the button is not clickable, make sure you have selected the Organization).
  

Find the ongoing or completed transfers at any time from the bottom icon on the left sidebar of the Infomaniak Manager:

This guide explains how to link a domain name to an Infomaniak Web Hosting.

Where is your domain name registered?…

… With Infomaniak, same Organization

If your domain name is registered with Infomaniak and is in the same user account or organization as the email, then there is nothing to do.

• Refer to this other guide to check and correct any possible configuration errors.

… With Infomaniak, different Organization

If your domain name is registered with Infomaniak but in a different user account or Organization, then:

• Edit its DNS zone by specifying the site's IP address in the form of an A record.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

OR

• Move it within the same Organization.

… With Infomaniak with external DNS

If your domain name has DNS that are not Infomaniak's, then:

• Edit the current DNS zone where it is located (if necessary, consult the help of the relevant provider) by specifying the site's IP address in the form of an A record.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

OR

• Change the current DNS and select the use of Infomaniak DNS.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.
• Refer to this other guide to check and correct any possible configuration errors.

… Elsewhere with external DNS

If your domain name has DNS that are not Infomaniak's, then:

• Edit the current DNS zone where it is located (if necessary, refer to the help of the relevant provider) by specifying the site's IP address in the form of an A record.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

OR

• Change the current DNS (if necessary, refer to the help of the relevant provider) by specifying those of Infomaniak (this implies having a DNS zone with Infomaniak.
  • Any DNS addition/modification can take up to 48 hours to propagate.
• This DNS zone with Infomaniak will be configured correctly but refer to this other guide to check and correct any possible configuration errors.

… Elsewhere but you are repatriating it

If your domain name is registered with another registrar and you want to transfer it to the same place as your Infomaniak website, then:

• Transfer the domain name to Infomaniak (it will be configured correctly but refer to this other guide to check and correct any possible configuration errors).
• If the domain name is intended to be an alias for your main site, you need to add the alias to your site.

This guide explains how a domain name and a DNS zone work.

Preamble

1. When you browse a website https://www.abc123.xyz for example, abc123.xyz is the domain name.
2. Each domain name has DNS (Domain Name System), which indicate where (with which provider, for example) the DNS zone is located.
3. The DNS zone then allows the management of various services related to the domain name to be delegated to different providers.
   • For a single domain name, it is possible, for example, to delegate:
     • web hosting to provider X (via the "A" type record)
     • and the Mail Service to provider Y (via the "MX" type record)

Domain name, DNS and DNS zone, then services

Who manages what?

1. Each domain name is reserved and managed by a registrar (registration office). For example, Infomaniak is a registrar, one of the cheapest in Switzerland.
2. The DNS of a domain name are configured with the registrar managing the domain name.
3. The DNS zone can be managed by the registrar or another provider.
4. Web hosting and the Mail Service can be managed by any host.

In the most complex case, it is therefore possible to have 1 different provider for the following services: domain name reservation and DNS management, DNS zone management, web hosting, Mail Service.

The following diagram summarizes these different possibilities with the involvement of different providers:

Infomaniak

As a registrar and host, Infomaniak can manage all these services. This is the simplest solution.

• In the case of Infomaniak, the DNS are generally in the form of nsXX.infomaniak.com and nsXX.infomaniak.com (XX like 11 or 12 for example).
• You can modify the DNS of your domain name, as well as modify the "inside" of these DNS, i.e. modify the DNS zone of a domain name.

And in these DNS zones, to redirect traffic to services, we distinguish:

• an MX record that allows you to point a domain name (domain.xyz for example) to a mail server.
• an A record that allows you to point a domain name (domain.xyz for example) or a subdomain (example.domain.xyz for example) to a Web server that has a static IP address (otherwise you would have to constantly edit the A record to provide the new IP address - refer to this other guide on this subject)

Possible situations

etc.

This guide explains how to add or modify one or more CNAME and DNAME type records in the DNS zone (of a domain name) managed on the Manager Infomaniak.

Preamble

• The CNAME record type allows a subdomain to point to a website address.
  • This is the method generally used to make the www subdomain work with your site, or to redirect a subdomain to a folder on the web server where your website is hosted.
• The DNAME record type for "delegation name" is particularly useful when reorganizing domains or for smooth transitions of part of your infrastructure to another, while preserving the hierarchical structure of subdomains.
  • A DNAME creates an alias for an entire domain and all its subdomains.
• Unlike the CNAME which only applies to a single specific host name, the DNAME automatically redirects all subdomains. Example:
  • A DNAME for abc.site1.com pointing to site2.com will automatically link xyz.abc.site1.com to xyz.site2.com, new.login.abc.site1.com to new.login.site2.com, and so on.
• ⚠ A DNAME record cannot be used at the root zone level of a domain (like site1.com directly). It is generally used on a subdomain. If you want to redirect the main domain itself, you will need to use other types of records such as an A, AAAA or CNAME (with some restrictions for the latter).

Modify the DNS zone

To manage this type of record in a DNS zone:

1. Click here to access the management of your domain on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the domain in question.
3. Click on DNS zone in the left sidebar.
4. Click the button to add a record:
   
5. Click the radio button corresponding to add a record.
6. Click the Next button:
   
7. Enter the values necessary for your DNS zone.
8. Leave the default value for TTL.
9. Click the Save button:
   

This guide explains how‍ to create subdomains on an existing Infomaniak hosting using a .htaccess file.

Preamble

• The hosting can be on a Shared Web Hosting offer or on Infomaniak Cloud Server but this function is not possible with a Starter hosting.
• Subdomains can be added very easily to your current hosting since you have in the basic offer 20 sites per hosting (sites = subdomains).
• If you do not want to use this site volume available to you, you can follow the method below. 
   

Create a subdomain as a shortcut

The subdomains created in this way facilitate the organization of a hosting. For example, the address vlog.domain.xyz will be the shortcut for the address domain.xyz/vlog. In other words, the address vlog.domain.xyz will redirect to the folder vlog which must be located at the root of the website domain.xyz. In this example, vlog is the subdomain of domain.xyz.

1. Add the subdomain as an alias for your website

To do this:

1. Follow the alias addition procedure but please read the points 2 and 3 below.
2. In the field to add the linked domain, enter the full address of the subdomain (e.g. vlog.domain.xyz).
3. If your domain or its DNS zone is managed by Infomaniak, activate the following two options: Update DNS entries for this domain and Replace existing entries ; if this is not the case, create an A record with your registrar with the following information:
   • field: the full URL address of the subdomain (e.g. vlog.domain.xyz)
   • target: the IPv4 address (A record) of your site (refer to this other guide to find the A record of your site)

2. Modify the htaccess file of your website

Using your FTP software/client or the FTP Manager, add and adapt the following code in the .htaccess file located at the root of your website:

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)\.domain\.xyz [NC]
RewriteCond %{DOCUMENT_ROOT}/%1/ -d
RewriteCond %1::%{REQUEST_URI} !^(.*?)::/\1/?
RewriteRule "^(.*)$" "%{DOCUMENT_ROOT}/%1/$1" [L]

Explanation for the third line: https://stackoverflow.com/a/15981056

Replace on the first line:

• domain with your domain name
• xyz with the extension of your domain name (ch, fr, etc.)

Now, the address vlog.domain.xyz should display the content of the vlog folder located at the root of your website. If this is not the case, check that the vlog folder exists at the root of your website.