Add an Addon Domain

An addon domain is a second website on the hosting account you already have. It has its own folder, its own email addresses, and its own SSL certificate. That is different from a subdomain (a branch of a name you already host) and from an alias (another name that shows the same site).

Every Beginner and Standard plan includes unlimited addon domains. The domain name itself is separate: register it with us first if you do not already own it. See Register a domain name.

Before you start

• Own the domain. Adding it in cPanel does not register the name.
• Be ready to point its DNS at this hosting account. If the domain is with us, that is Domains → the domain → DNS.
• Do not add a name that is still serving a live site elsewhere unless you are ready to cut it over.

Add the domain in cPanel

1. Sign in at /portal, open the hosting service, and click Log in to cPanel.
2. Open Domains. Current cPanel lists every domain, subdomain, and alias in one place.
3. Click Create A New Domain.
4. Enter the new name (for example example.com).
5. Clear Share document root. If that box stays ticked, cPanel creates an alias of your main site, not a separate website.
6. Check the Document Root. cPanel suggests a folder named after the new domain, outside your main public_html. Keep that unless you have a reason to change it.
7. Click Submit.

If the account still shows a separate Addon Domains icon, use that instead: enter the new domain, accept the suggested subdomain and document root, then click Add Domain.

cPanel also creates a matching subdomain on your primary domain (for example example.yourprimary.com) that serves the same folder. You can ignore it, or use it as a temporary URL while DNS catches up.

Point the domain at this hosting

Adding the name in cPanel does not move visitors by itself. Public DNS has to resolve here.

Our nameservers are:

ns1.atlasdns.net.au
ns2.atlasdns.net.au
ns3.atlasdns.net.au

If the domain is registered with us, open Domains → the domain → DNS in the portal.

• AtlasDNS is the default. Keep it, then add A records for @ and www that point at this account's shared IP. Copy the IP from cPanel (General Information → Shared IP Address).
• Prefer cPanel to own the zone (AutoSSL and mail records written for you)? Switch DNS mode to cPanel Hosting. Use the Zone Editor only in that mode.

If the domain is registered elsewhere, set the three AtlasDNS nameservers at that registrar. Then open a support ticket so we can put the zone on this hosting account.

Step-by-step DNS: Point your domain at your hosting. Changes are often quick, but they can take a while to show everywhere. See DNS propagation explained.

After it is added

• Files: upload to the addon's document root with the File Manager or FTP. Do not drop the new site into the main public_html folder unless that is the document root you chose.
• WordPress: install from WordPress Toolkit or Installatron in cPanel, and choose this addon's document root. See Install WordPress.
• SSL: AutoSSL (Let's Encrypt) issues a certificate once the name resolves to this account. Check SSL/TLS Status.
• Email: create mailboxes for the new domain and read them in Webmail (Roundcube). Shared hosting email is separate from LochStudios Mail.

Removing an addon domain

In Domains, open the domain and choose Remove. That only removes it from this hosting account. It does not cancel the domain registration. Delete leftover files from the document root if you no longer need them.

If the domain will not add, or visitors still reach the old site after DNS should have updated, open a support ticket and we will sort it with you.