How to Enable The Remote Domains To Resolve The Addon Domain Error On WHM/cPanel?

When de­aling with websites via WHM/cPanel, you might se­e an "Addon domains are disabled" me­ssage. It pops up when you try to add a new domain. This pie­ce explains a fix. It's about turning on remote­ domains in WHM. With this, you can make addon domains for your sites without a hitch.

Understanding Addon Domains and Remote Domains:

With addon domains, you can house nume­rous domains under one cPanel account. For the­se addon domains to work smoothly, the remote­ domains feature comes into play. If re­mote domains get turned off, it can trigge­r the "Addon domains are disabled" warning.

Steps to Enable Remote Domains:

1. Log in to WHM:

   - Open your web browser and navigate to your WHM login page.

  - Enter your username and password to access the WHM dashboard.

2. Access Feature Manager:

   - In the left sidebar, locate and click on "Feature Manager" under the "Packages" section.

  - If you can't find it, use the search bar at the top of the sidebar and type "Feature Manager."

3. Edit the Desired Feature List:

   - You'll see a list of feature sets. Identify the feature list associated with the account experiencing the addon domain error.

  - Click the "Edit" button next to the relevant feature list.

4. Enable Remote Domains:

   - Scroll through the list of features until you find "Remote Domains."

   - Ensure the checkbox next to "Remote Domains" is ticked (enabled).

  - If it's not checked, click the checkbox to enable it.

5. Save Changes:

   - After enabling Remote Domains, scroll to the bottom of the page.

  - Click the "Save" button to apply the changes to the feature list.

6. Update Existing Accounts (Optional):

   - If you want to apply this change to existing accounts using this feature list, check the box that says "Update existing accounts using this feature list."

  - Note: This action may take some time, depending on the number of accounts affected.

7. Verify the Changes:

   - Return to the main Feature Manager page.

  - Confirm that the feature list you edited now shows "Remote Domains" as enabled.

8. Test Addon Domain Creation:

   - Log in to the cPanel account where you previously encountered the error.

   - Navigate to the "Domains" section and attempt to add an addon domain.

  - The process should now complete without the "Addon domains are disabled" error.

Troubleshooting:

If you still encounter issues after enabling remote domains, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Account Limits:

   - Ensure the account has not reached its maximum allowed number of addon domains.

  - In WHM, go to "List Accounts" and check the account's package or plan details.

2. Verify DNS Settings:

   - Confirm that the DNS settings for the addon domain are correctly configured.

  - Check the nameserver settings with your domain registrar.

3. Clear Browser Cache:

   - Sometimes, outdated cached data can cause persistent errors.

  - Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try adding the addon domain again.

4. Restart Services:

   - In some cases, restarting cPanel services can resolve lingering issues.

  - In WHM, go to "Restart Services" and restart cPanel & WHM services.

5. Check Error Logs:

   - Review cPanel error logs for any specific error messages related to addon domains.

  - Access logs through WHM's "Server Status" > "Apache Status" section.

Best Practices for Managing Addon Domains:

1. Regular Backups: Always maintain up-to-date backups of your websites and databases before making changes.

2. Use Unique Directories: When creating addon domains, use separate directories for each domain to maintain organization and security.

3. Monitor Resource Usage: Keep an eye on server resources, as multiple addon domains can increase server load.

4. SSL Certificates: If using SSL, ensure each addon domain has its own SSL certificate for secure connections.

5. Regular Updates: Keep WHM/cPanel and all installed software up to date to benefit from the latest features and security patches.

Conclusion:

Switching on remote­ domains in WHM is easy and can swiftly fix the "Addon domains are disable­d" problem. Simply follow the steps in this guide­ to effectively handle­ lots of domains under one cPanel account. It's important to use­ the best methods while de­aling with addon domains. This keeps your website­s performing well and safe. If proble­ms persist or you need more­ help, reach out to your cloud hosting service­'s help team or check the­ official WHM/cPanel guide for complex proble­m-solving steps.