How to set up a domain

You canregister a domain with any registrar you like. The procedure in most cases is standard and consists of the same actions: you need to choose a free name, fill out the form and pay for the purchase. However, in order to use the domain after purchase, it needs to be configured. If you picked up the name in one company, and the hosting ordered in another, then take into account that the control panels will probably be very different and there may be difficulties.

Link the domain to the hosting

A domain is just an address in the address bar. As long as it is not bound to the hosting, it is nothing. Setting up a domain consists of three operations:

1. Find out the NS or otherwise Name Servers of your hosting server. Find this information is not difficult - it is usually provided by the registrar. Also NS-data are stored in the panel "Domain Management" and you can see there all the necessary information. In rare cases it is required to specify IP. It will also be given to you in the letter when you buy a domain.
2. Enter the received information in the service panel with domains. Since the panels of different registrars are very different, find a section somehow related to DNS and go to it. Select "Manage DNS servers. Delegation" and enter the hosting data. This is the main parameter of the domain configuration. In other words, the A-record. It specifies the IP address of the server where the hosting is located. You can specify the DNS of the server in your personal cabinet in the section where all your domains are listed. Just click opposite the desired name "Customize" and enter the necessary data. In all columns of type "A" change IP addresses.
3. For the work of the site in enough to change only the A-records, the other lines are additional mail and FTP services, which are configured later. At this stage you can do nothing with them. If the system offers to create a site, that is, a separate folder for the domain, then heed its advice. So you yourself will be more convenient. Once you have entered all the necessary data, just click "Update" at the bottom of the editing form.

Keep in mind that setting up a domain can take up to 48 hours.

When the domain is registered separately from the hosting, you can go the other way. The setup in this case will be more global and you will have to change the NS servers. After the change on the new NS servers data in the domain will already be correct. So you will not have to edit IP addresses. You can also perform this operation in your personal cabinet in the section where your domains are listed. In the settings menu you need to select the item related to setting or editing NS.

Customize hosting

To understand how to put a domain on hosting, you need to understand SFTP or FTP and databases. SFTP is always a secure connection, so you should prefer it. But if you still want to try regular FTP, then first check the information received from the registrar, perhaps there are all the necessary data for access. If there are no accesses, then find the FTP accounts section or a similar block. Create an account and enter it into your FTP client. You will also find instructions on how to set it up on the hosting itself.

Hosting setup is also related to creating databases. Sometimes it is prepared in advance, but more often you need to create it yourself. To do this, find the "MySQL" or "Databases" section and create a database there. Sometimes, in addition to the base itself first need to create the user. In this case, do not forget to open access to edit the information. To see the database or change something in it, you will need a link to phpMyAdmin.

What to do if the domain is already running on standard NS?

If you have purchased new hosting and you receive an email with new NS addresses, you have two options:

1. You can do nothing. If you don't want the site to move to the new hosting, that's your right.
2. You can change hosting. If you change the old NS to those that came in the letter, then your site will simply move to the server hosting and in the future you can manage it from the new panel, which is located directly on the server of this hosting.

Whether to change the data NS when upgrading hosting, you decide for yourself. It all depends on the total number of domains that you own, as well as on what server is concentrated most of them. In any case, it is more convenient to manage domains from one place, so it is better to place them on one hosting.