An alias (still called a parked domain in some places) is another full domain name that shows the same website as a name you already host. Visitors to myexample.com see the same files as example.com. The address bar keeps the name they typed. That is different from an addon domain (a second site with its own folder) and from a redirect (the browser is sent to the other name).
Every Beginner and Standard plan includes unlimited parked 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 alias name. Adding it in cPanel does not register the domain.
- Decide which existing site it should show (usually your primary domain).
- 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 alias in cPanel
- Sign in at /portal, open the hosting service, and click Log in to cPanel.
- Open Domains. Current cPanel lists every domain, subdomain, and alias in one place.
- Click Create A New Domain.
- Enter the alias name (for example
myexample.com). - Leave Share document root ticked. That is what makes it an alias. Choose the domain whose files visitors should see.
- Click Submit.
If the account still shows a separate Aliases icon, use that instead: enter the alias name, choose the target domain if asked, then click Add Domain.
cPanel maps the new name to the same folder as the target (usually public_html for the primary site). It does not create a second website.
If you cleared Share document root by mistake, you created an addon domain instead. Remove it and add the name again with the box ticked, or keep it as a separate site. See Add an Addon Domain.
Point the alias 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.auIf 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
@andwwwthat 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
- Website: visit both names. They should show the same pages. The alias does not get its own folder, so do not look for a second document root.
- SSL: AutoSSL (Let's Encrypt) issues a certificate for the alias once the name resolves to this account. Check SSL/TLS Status. Then test
https://on the alias. - Email: you can create mailboxes on the alias name (for example
hello@myexample.com) and read them in Webmail (Roundcube). Those inboxes are not the same as the matching address on the target domain. To copy mail from one name to the other, add a forwarder. Shared hosting email is separate from LochStudios Mail. - SEO: two names serving the same site can look like duplicate content. If one name should be the only public address, use a redirect instead of (or as well as) an alias.
Alias, addon, or subdomain
| You want | Use |
|---|---|
| Another name that shows the same site | Alias (this article) |
| A second full domain with its own site | Addon domain |
A branch such as blog.yourdomain.com | Subdomain |
| Visitors sent to a different URL | Redirect |
Removing an alias
In Domains, open the alias and choose Remove. That only removes it from this hosting account. It does not cancel the domain registration. The target site and its files stay put.
If the alias will not add, visitors still reach the old site after DNS should have updated, or HTTPS stays unavailable, open a support ticket and we will sort it with you.