Webhosting - Separate websites for aliases (multihosting)

In this guide you will read:

• How to prepare Webhosting for adding a separate alias
• How to set up a separate website for an alias:
  • via FTP
  • using the app installer
  • using automatic migration
• Common problems
• Frequently Asked Questions

Preparing to add a separate website

Separate alias sites work according to the following scheme:

1. On the FTP in the www folder, there is a domains folder that allows you to distinguish between different domains and an .htaccess file that directs requests to these domains.
2. In the domains folder there are subfolders with the full names of individual domains or subdomains that are running on the webhost (without www).

So if you want to run separate websites on the same Webhost using aliases on different domains, first log in to FTP(see here for file management instructions) and make sure that:

• Webhosting contains a default .htaccess file in the www folder.
• The files of the current site are located in the www/domains folder.

If you have a current site in the www folder, follow these steps: 

1. Create a new directory in the www/domains folder with the domain name (without www).
2. Move the contents of the www folder, except for the domains and subdomains folders, into the newly created folder.
3. Restore the default .htaccess file according to these instructions.

Setting up a separate website

If you have prepared the FTP structure for setting up a new standalone site on an existing web host as described in Preparing to Add a Standalone Alias Site, decide how you want to set up the standalone site:

• If you have a website ready on your computer in the form of html, css, js, php and other files, upload it via FTP.
• If you want to create a new website using a content management system such as WordPress, you can create it directly using the application installer.
• If you want to move a new website from another existing web host, either ours or a competitor's, you can use automatic migration.

Separate website via FTP

Create separate sites for aliases only in the www/domains folder. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to FTP ⧉.
2. Go to the www/domains folder.
3. Create a new directory with a name matching the alias (sub)domain name (without www).
4. Upload the site files to the newly created directory.

If you upload the installation files of an application such as the WordPress content management system to this folder (see the Webhosting - WordPress article for manual installation instructions), make sure that the installation was also done in this folder.

Standalone website via application installer

The application installer always installs to the www/domains folder. 

Before installing, make sure that the FTP folder ⧉ does not exist. If it exists, delete it, the installer will create a new one with the correct permissions.

Follow the instructions in the Webhosting - Application Installer article for the installation itself. In the first step of the installation of the selected application, select the alias for which you want to create a website from the domain menu.

Separate sites using automatic migration

To download multiple individual sites to a single Web host using automatic migration, first enter the expert mode interface by following these steps:

1. Log in to the customer administration ⧉.
2. From the top menu, select Hosting Services Webhosting.
3. In the overview, select the web host to which you want to migrate the websites.
4. In the left menu, select Migrate from competitors - Web.
5. Above the form, switch to Expert mode.

In particular, set the following options in this interface:

1. In Migration Type, select Migrate to subfolder for the specified domain.
2. Select the alias domain you want to migrate to in the VEDOS web hosting location.

Enter all other data according to the Webhosting - Expert Automatic Data Migration instructions.

Common problems

Common problems with running multiple websites through aliases include:

• Blocking FTP edits
• Application Installer error
• Automatic migration error
• HTTPS error
• The site address lists the domains folder

RewriteCond %{ENV:REDIRECT_STATUS} ^$ 
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^\/domains 
RewriteRule (.*) https://%{SERVER_NAME}/ [R=301,L]

Frequently Asked Questions