How to add and remove domains in Plesk

If your hosting package includes more than one domain name, you can add domains to your server. Before adding a domain that will use a second-level domain (like example.com), make sure you register your domain name with HostPapa. 

Note: You can also add a domain you’ve registered elsewhere.  

You can set up the following types of site configurations through Plesk: 

1. Website addressed by a second-level domain name. 

The following services are available for websites:

  • A unique Internet address (domain name) 
  • Additional domain names (domain aliases) 
  • Subdomains: divisions of a site accessible by easy-to-remember addresses added to the main site 
  • Separate FTP accounts for collaboration on website content (Note: for every FTP account, you can indicate which directories can be accessed) 
  • Creating content with Presence Builder 
  • Simplified application deployment (content management systems, photo galleries, blogging platforms, shopping carts, and more)
  • Secure data exchange with SSL/TLS protocol (Note: this requires that a site be hosted on a dedicated IP address not shared among other users and sites) 
  • Mailboxes and mailing lists 
  • Viewing site visit statistics

2. Website or division of a website addressed by a third-level domain name (subdomain). This is usually a division of an existing site and has a three-part internet address separated by dots. 

The following services are available for subdomains:

  • Document root separate from the main site (Note: document root is a directory on the server where web pages are stored) 
  • Access over FTP for content management
  • Creating content with Presence Builder 
  • Simplified application deployment (content management systems, photo galleries, blogging platforms, shopping carts, and more)
  • Secure data exchange with SSL/TLS protocol (Note: this requires that a site be hosted on a dedicated IP address not shared among other users and sites) 
  • Viewing site visit statistics

How to add more domains 

To host a new website with a third-level domain, follow these steps:

1. Access your Plesk control panel through your HostPapa Dashboard

2. Click on Websites & Domains

websites-and-domain

3. Click Add Domain. (Note: depending on the Plesk edition you’re using, the information on Add Domain may differ. If you select the recommended option, you should connect the DNS settings related to your domain name with the domain name at the registrar’s side. To achieve this, enter the Plesk name server IP address into the respective NS record of the registrar. To obtain the IP, go to Websites & Domains > domain name > DNS Settings, find the NS record, and then find the A record corresponding to the NS record value.)

4. A pop-up window will appear. Enter the necessary information, then click Add Domain

adding-a-new-domain

5. The new domain will appear in the list at the bottom of the screen. 

6. If the operation of changing hosts settings is available for your account, you can click the new website’s domain name to view or or change hosting settings.

You can now create your website with Presence Builder or upload your web content  

How to choose a Domains View Mode 

The Websites & Domains screen looks different (layout, control, UX) depending on your chosen domain view mode.

  • Dynamic List: the best choice because it combines the advantages of the two other modes – a laconic layout with a large number of domains and an expandable list with all available controls 
  • Active List: best suited if you have several domains and want to access all available controls 
  • Classic List: best suited if you have a large number of domains (more than 100), but not all necessary controls will be visible 

To choose your view mode, go to Websites & Domains, click the wrench icon, and select your desired mode. 

choose-view-mode

How to move domains

You can move add-on domains (domains created after the first subscription domain) between your existing subscriptions. A domain is transferred to another subscription with its content, configuration files, log files, APS settings, PHP settings, plus subdomains and domain aliases. 

Note: The subscription you want to move your domain to must have enough resources (websites, subdomains, domain aliases, or mail names).

Follow these steps to move an add-on domain to another subscription:

1. Click on Websites & Domains

2. Find the add-on domain that you want to move, and click the 3-line icon.

three-line-icon

3. Click Move Domain.

4. Select an available subscription, then click Move

Your domain will be assigned to the chosen subscription once the move is complete.

Note: Moving a domain with a web application installed (i.e. WordPress or Joomla) does not automatically move the application’s database. This does not affect the website, but you may want to move the database to the domain’s subscription manually.

Known issues and limitations 

1. The following cannot be moved:

  • The default domain (the first domain created under the subscription) 
  • A subdomain without its parent domain
  • A domain aliases with its parent domain

2. A domain can’t be moved to a subscription without hosting. 

3. A domain with a mail service can’t be moved to a subscription without one. 

4. You can’t move a domain if there’s already one with the same document root owned by the target subscription. To move the domain, change its Document root value in Hosting Settings

change-document-root-value

5. If a domain were moved to a target subscription whose PHP settings are different from the domain’s, the target subscription would be locked. 

6. If you move a domain with both a web application installed and a Plesk additional user set as the application’s administrator, the additional user will lose access to the application. The login and password of the administrator will be changed – this can be viewed in the application’s settings. 

7. If you move a domain with a mail user to a subscription that belongs to another owner, the email address will be detached from the mail user. 

How to remove domains

When you delete a domain from Plesk, all data related to the corresponding site will be deleted from the server. 

Note: Your subscription’s main domain (the first domain created for your account) cannot be deleted, only renamed. 

Follow these steps to remove a domain or subdomain: 

1. Click on Websites & Domains

2. Locate the name of the domain or subdomain you want to remove and click the 3-line icon. 

3. Click Remove Website or Remove Subdomain

4. Confirm removal, then click OK.

Note: Removing domain names from the Customer Panel doesn’t cancel the registration of these names. You can still use these domain names for your websites in the future if you register them.

If you need help with Plesk, please open a support ticket from your dashboard.

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