Unable to access web space via registered domain name (using CNAME DNS record)

[kefa]

I have created a website which I have uploaded to my IDNet webspace using FTP. I can access this fine through the IDNet URL (e.g. <userid>.www.idnet.com). I have also registered a domain name with my domain hosting company (<mydomain>.co.uk) and have created a CNAME alias from my domain to point to my IDNet webspace (e.g. <mydomain>.co.uk CNAME <userid>.www.idnet.com).

The alias is set up correctly as a DNS lookup returns the same IP address for both my domain and the IDNet web space, however I cannot access the webspace through my domain (e.g. http://<mydomain>.co.uk). Instead I get the following error which I believe is being returned by the IDNet servers (it is the same as if I enter a mistyped URL for IDNet domain e.g. http://<userid>.www.idnet.com/nonexistentpage.html):

Not Found

The requested URL / was not found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.[/size]

I believe this might be something to do with the configuration of the IDNet web servers so that pages are only returned if the domain name in the client browser request matches the IDNet domain. I'm guessing this is a simple configuration change that IDNet could make to their servers. Could anyone confirm whether this is likely to be the real cause and what changes to IDNet servers would be necessary to make this work?

Many thanks,
Daniel.

[uxbod]

Even though you have setup a CNAME the HTTP request sent to IDNET will still be for your .co.uk and the servers will not recognise it.  Unless IDNET add your domain name as a virtual host then you could only do it via URL re-writing.

[Rik]

Thanks for that, Ux, I was floundering. 

[Colin Burns]

or in the wise words of Cpanel  park it

[Lance]

Daniel,

[Sebby]

[Glenn]

If I remember correctly, you can only access the webspace from your IDNet account, but it is viewable from anywhere.

[Simon]

  Daniel!  Hope you get it sorted!

[kefa]

Given that it looks like this is not feasible, I've plumped for a workaround using web forwarding instead. Not ideal as it means I have to use url paths (e.g. folders on the server) instead of subdomains to distinguish between different websites that I may want to host.

e.g. www.<mydomain>.co.uk/<sitename> instead of <sitename>.<mydomain>.co.uk

However, many thanks for all the helpful advice...much appreciated!

Cheers, Dan.

[Lance]

Dan, it might just be worth asking support if they can offer you any advice. 

[kinmel]

Can't you use a Webhop through EveryDNS or similar, rather than forwarding?


If you want to check it out, there is a tutorial about it on Pinwire

[Colin Burns]

u could always ask to have your account updated so that it uses your domain name instead of a sub domain but i have no idea on the setup IDnet use i dont use there webspace.  but thats cause i have 2 dedicated webservers.

[Dopamine]

I don't understand what CNAME DNS means, so this may not be helpful, but I have my own domain registered with GoDaddy.com and forwarded to my IDNet webspace. I mask the url so that viewers only ever see my registered dot.com address, not my user.www.idnet.com address, and nobody has any problems accessing my webspace from any line or ISP.

[uxbod]

CNAME = Canonical Name = Alias

Example :-

www.mywebsite.com would be in DNS (Domain Name Services) :-

www  IN A {IP ADDRESS OF THE WEBSERVER}

If you then had another website running on the same server say as a virtual host you could just create a CNAME record

www2 IN CNAME www.mywebsite.com.

Hope that helps to explain what a CNAME record is

[Simon]

Thanks Uxbod.