Domain pointers allow you to forward other domains to your main website. In order to enable this functionality, you must first ensure that all domains share the same Name Servers (DNS) as your main website (You configure the DNS servers through your domain registrar).
Step 1 — Login To The DirectAdmin Control Panel
Login to the DirectAdmin Control Panel and select the Domain Pointers link under the Advanced Features Heading.
Step 2 — Enter Your Domain Pointer Details
On the Domain Pointers Configuration Page there are three main steps to enter your details:
1. Enter the Source Domain (#1 in image below)- this is the Domain Name that will point to your main domain/website.
2. Choose whether you want this Pointer to be Created as an Alias (#2 in image below) by checking the Created as an Alias check box.
3. Click the Add button (#3 in image below) to enable this Pointer for your domain.
IMPORTANT: There is a functional difference in how a Domain Pointer and a Domain Pointer as an Alias will redirect visitors to your website. In the following scenarios we will use mydomain.com (Pointer) and fastwebengine.com (Main domain) as examples:
1. A Domain Pointer will redirect a visitor to the Domain Name (and website) of your choice. For example, if mydomain.com is configured as a Pointer to fastwebengine.com, whenever mydomain.com is entered in a web browser, the browser will redirect to the fastwebengine.com domain, display the fastwebengine.com website — and display fastwebengine.com in the address bar. (*This is generally the option most users require).
mydomain.com → → → "redirects to" → → → the fastwebengine.com domain name (and website)
2. A Domain Pointer as an Alias will redirect a visitor to the Domain (and website) of your choice — However, the domain name displayed in the browsers' address bar will be the Domain Alias — NOT the Main domain that you are redirecting to. For example, if mydomain.com is configured as an Alias of fastwebengine.com, whenever mydomain.com is entered in a web browser, the browser will redirect to the fastwebengine.com domain, display the fastwebengine.com website — and display mydomain.com (the Alias) in the address bar. As a result it will appear that mydomain.com and fastwebengine.com are distinct websites — when they are actually unique domain names sharing the same website.
mydomain.com → → → "redirects to" → → → the website on the fastwebengine.com domain
*Using a Domain Aliases is not recommended if you have an SSL certificate configured for your Main Domain name.
**Search Engines (e.g. Google, Bing, Yahoo! etc.) may see your Domain Alias and Main Domain as being distinct websites that share the same content. Some SEO Experts feel that this can have a negative impact on Search Engine Ranking.
Step 3 — Verify Your Pointer Details
When the page refreshes, you will be able to review the Domain Pointers/Aliases that you have configured. In the example below there are two Domain Pointers configured for fastwebengine.com:
1. mydomain.com is configured as a Pointer for fastwebengine.com — e.g. entering mydomain.com in a browser will redirect to the fastwebengine.com domain name AND website (fastwebengine.com will be displayed in the browsers' address bar)
2. mydomain2.com is configured as an Alias for fastwebengine.com — e.g. entering mydomain2.com in a browser will redirect to the fastwebengine.com domain AND website; However, the domain name displayed in the browsers' address bar will be mydomain2.com — NOT fastwebengine.com
