Custom domain name setup

Multiple Domains SmugMug currently only supports 1 domain per account.   Please keep this in mind when registering multiple domains.   You can have one primary domain.  All of the others will have to "point" to the first.   We have some instructions for setting that up here.

The main custom domain help page is located here.

Configuring:

1. Log in to your account on your hosting service's website, and go to the DNS management page.
   Since CNAME records are special Domain Name Service (DNS) records, they may be in sections such as DNS Management,  Name Server Management, Zone Files, or a Cpanel. It's possible that you will have to enable advanced settings to create a CNAME record.
2. Delete existing CNAME entries for the address you want to use with your SmugMug Site.
   Before entering a new CNAME record to point to SmugMug, you should first delete any existing entries for the same alias. If you plan to transfer an existing web address to SmugMug, you may want to backup at that address elsewhere first.
3. Create new entries for your subdomain.  Enter your sudomain for the host. The destination would be domains.smugmug.com   If you want yourdomain.com to work without the subdomain, enter an A record using the method that your domain uset requires for a null subdomain.  Some examples are @, Null, Empty, or simply leave it blank.  The desitination would be 208.79.45.23
4. Once you set up the domain host, enter your new domain in the control panel of your SmugMug site on the settings tab.   Click the change link beside the domains field.   Be sure to enter just the subdomain.yourdomain.com however you set it up.  Use lowercase, and do not include any other text or characters.

 Instructions for some of the more popular Domain Registrars:

GoDaddy

Joker  

Network Solutions

Register.com

Yahoo

Some of the others:   (provided as information only)

1&1     If you have trouble with your 1and1 setup, you need to contact them for support.   1and1 appears to not allow you to use a CNAME record and their email servers at the same time.

Do I have to use an A record or how do I not make my customers type in www?   In the past we advised to use a CNAME whenever possible.  This is because A records require the server IP address.   IP addresses do change over time.  But, more domain hosts now require you to use an A record to get yourddomain.com without the www.    So , yes if you want the no www version you must use the A record with our current IP address is 208.79.45.23   Please understand that IP addresses change and this may need to be updated in the future. 

There are several different methods for the A record.  Depending on your domain host, you may need to use the @ sign, a null or empty field, the word empty, or some other indicator required by your domain provider.  Try the @ sign first as that is the most common.   

Once you have the domain set up, we have some great information to help you move forward:  So now that you have a custom domain, now what?

Having Trouble?

Here are some of our domain troubleshooting tips 

General tips and ideas for Custom domains Once you have set up your custom domain, you may have to go back and update your navbar links to work with both the SmugMug URL and the custom domain.  To do this, we have a Dgrin thread that will help.  Your new custom domain is like a new telephone number.  When you first get it, the only people that can call you are people you have given the number to.   Your new number is not in the phonebook yet and neither is your new domain name.  To get your new domain listed, it has to be picked up by Google.   You can help this process along by using the tips found in our Maximizing Your Findability page.