How to Create Subdomains and Parked Domains in cPanel

Creating subdomains and parked domains in cPanel is a straightforward process that can help expand your website’s reach and streamline its structure. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up both types of domains through cPanel.

Creating Subdomains in cPanel

Subdomains allow you to create separate sections of your website with a unique prefix, like blog.yoursite.com or shop.yoursite.com. Here’s how to create them:

1. Log into cPanel: Access your cPanel dashboard using your username and password.

2. Find the Subdomains Option:

   • Scroll down to the “Domains” section and click on “Subdomains.”

3. Create a New Subdomain:

   • Subdomain: Enter the prefix you want for your subdomain (e.g., blog, shop).
   • Domain: Select the domain under which you want to create the subdomain from the dropdown menu.
   • Document Root: By default, cPanel will suggest a document root path based on the subdomain name, like /public_html/blog. You can adjust this if needed.
   • Click the “Create” button.

4. Access and Develop Your Subdomain:

   • After creation, you can access the subdomain as a separate website. You can upload files, install applications, or redirect it to another site.

Creating Parked Domains (Domain Aliases) in cPanel

Parked domains, also known as domain aliases, allow you to point multiple domain names to the same website. For example, if you own yoursite.net and yoursite.org, you can have them both show the same content as yoursite.com.

1. Log into cPanel: Enter your credentials to access your dashboard.

2. Navigate to Parked Domains:

   • Find the “Domains” section and click on “Aliases.”

3. Add a New Parked Domain:

   • In the “Create a New Alias” area, enter the domain name you wish to park.
   • Click the “Add Domain” button.

4. Configure Redirection (Optional):

   • After adding the domain alias, you might want to manage redirection. Go back to the “Aliases” section.
   • Find the newly created parked domain and click on “Manage Redirection.”
   • Enter the URL where you want to redirect the parked domain and click “Save.”

5. DNS Settings:

   • Ensure that the DNS settings for your parked domain are configured to point to the same DNS as your main domain, typically involving setting the nameservers to those provided by your hosting company.

Things to Consider

• DNS Propagation: Changes to DNS settings, such as adding subdomains or parked domains, can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate across the internet.
• SSL Certificates: If you are using SSL certificates, ensure they cover your new subdomains or parked domains. You might need a wildcard SSL for subdomains or additional SSL certificates for new domain aliases.
• File Management: For subdomains, you’ll manage files within their respective document roots, which helps keep different sections of your website organized.

By following these steps, you can effectively utilize subdomains to organize your site and parked domains to expand your site’s reach. Both features are integral parts of domain management in cPanel, allowing for flexibility in how you deploy and manage content across your web presence.