How to create Domain Alias in Plesk?

Setting up a domain alias in Plesk is relatively easy to do. It enables you to associate more domain names with an existing website. Users can type different domain names to access your website, but all will lead to the same content. It can be beneficial for:

- Branding purposes

- Handling typos

- Capturing additional web traffic

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Domain Alias in Plesk

1. Log in to Plesk

- Log into your Plesk control panel by navigating to

https://your-server-ip:8443 or

https://your-domain.com:8443

- Enter the provided username and password.

2. Navigate to the Domains Section

- You will be directed to the Plesk dashboard. 

- From here, look for the “Domains” section. This section might be labeled slightly differently depending on your version of Plesk. However, it is generally found in the left-hand navigation panel.

3. Select the Domain

- In the “Domains” section, you will see a list of all the domains currently managed by your Plesk account.

- Find and select the domain to which you want to add an alias.

- Select on the domain name to access its settings.

4. Access the Domain Aliases Option

- Within the selected domain’s settings.

- Look for an option labeled “Domain Aliases.” This option allows you to manage and create aliases for the chosen domain.

5. Create a New Domain Alias

- Click on the “Add Domain Alias” button. It will open a form where you can enter the details for the new alias.

6. Enter Alias Details

In the form, you need to enter:

- Alias Domain Name

Enter the new domain name that you want to act as an alias. This domain must already be registered and configured to point to your Plesk server’s DNS.

- Parent Domain

This field should already be filled with the domain you selected in step 3.

7. Configure Additional Settings

Plesk offers several options for configuring how the alias will function:

- Mail Service

Select this option if you want an email for the alias domain to be redirected to the mailboxes of the parent domain.

- Web Service

Enable this option to allow the alias domain to point to the web content of the parent domain.

- DNS Settings

Choose whether the alias domain will use the parent domain’s DNS settings.

- Wildcard Redirect

If enabled, this option ensures that all subdomains of the alias will also be redirected to the parent domain.

8. Save the Domain Alias

Once you have entered all the required information and configured the settings to your preference, click the “OK” or “Save” button to create the domain alias.

9. Verify DNS Settings

After creating the domain alias, you need to ensure that the DNS settings for the new alias domain are correctly configured. The alias domain’s DNS should point to the same IP address as the parent domain. This step is usually handled through your domain registrar’s control panel.

10. Test the Alias

Once the DNS settings have propagated, test the alias by entering the new domain name in a web browser. It should redirect to the content of the parent domain. Verify that all web pages and resources are loading correctly.

Additional Considerations

- SEO Impact

Using domain aliases can have implications for SEO. Ensure that you use proper canonical tags to avoid duplicate content issues.

- SSL Certificates

Ensure your SSL certificates cover the alias domains to avoid user security warnings.

- Email Configuration

If you enabled mail services for the alias, test email forwarding and ensure messages are correctly delivered.

To Sum it Up!

Creating a domain alias in Plesk effectively manages multiple domain names pointing to the same website. Following the instructions above, you can set up domain aliases, configure the required settings, and ensure everything is fine. Correct installation and certification are necessary to guarantee compatibility and operations. Domain aliases allow you to increase your website’s visibility and recognition without maintaining several websites with distinct content.