Add domains, subdomains and domain pointers in DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin gives you three tools to put more names on one account: Domain Setup for completely separate websites, Subdomain Management for names like blog.example.com, and Domain Pointers to make another domain show or redirect to an existing site. This guide explains each.

Before you start

• Your package must allow more domains, subdomains or pointers.
• The domain is registered (you can register one with MdmHost) and its DNS points to the server.

Add a new domain

1. Go to Account Manager → Domain Setup.
2. Click Add New.
3. Enter the domain name without www.
4. Set bandwidth and disk limits or leave them unlimited within your package.
5. Tick Secure SSL and PHP access.
6. Click Create.

DirectAdmin creates domains/example.org/public_html, a DNS zone and a mail domain. Upload the site's files to that folder and issue an SSL certificate.

Create a subdomain

1. Select the parent domain in the domain switcher at the top.
2. Go to Account Manager → Subdomain Management.
3. Click Add Subdomain, enter the prefix (for example blog) and click Create.

The files live in domains/example.com/public_html/blog by default. DirectAdmin adds the DNS record if it manages your zone. Include the subdomain in your Let's Encrypt certificate under SSL Certificates.

Add a domain pointer

1. Select the target domain at the top.
2. Go to Account Manager → Domain Pointers.
3. Click Add Domain Pointer and enter the other domain, for example example.net.
4. Choose the type:
   • Alias – the pointer shows the same website and shares email addresses (info@example.net delivers to info@example.com).
   • Redirect (not alias) – visitors are sent to the main domain with a redirect. Better for SEO when you own several spellings.
5. Click Create.

Which should you use?

After adding a name

1. Check DNS: dig +short example.org should return your server IP. If DirectAdmin does not host your DNS, create the A records at your DNS provider.
2. Issue or reissue the Let's Encrypt certificate so it covers the new name and its www variant.
3. Choose a PHP version for new domains under Advanced Features → Select PHP version if your site needs a specific one.
4. Create mailboxes for a new domain in E-Mail Manager → E-Mail Accounts and add its SPF record.

Troubleshooting

• "That domain already exists": it is on another account on the same server. Remove it there or ask support.
• Default page appears: files are in the wrong folder. Check the path for that domain.
• Subdomain shows the main site: DNS wildcard or caching. Wait a few minutes and check the DNS record exists.
• SSL error on pointer: reissue the certificate including the pointer's names.

Next steps

• Secure domains with Let's Encrypt.
• Manage DNS records.
• Set the PHP version per domain.