Creating a subdomain, and what to do if it doesn't work

A subdomain is an address in front of your domain name, like shop.yourdomain.nl. You create it yourself in DirectAdmin. In this article you'll read how that works, how to get https on it, and what to do if the subdomain isn't working yet.

Creating a subdomain

1. Log in to DirectAdmin: in My WebOké go to My Products and click DirectAdmin next to your hosting package.
2. Choose the domain the subdomain will belong to at the top right.
3. Under Account Management, click Subdomain Management and then Add Subdomain.
4. Under Subdomain, type only the first part, for example shop.
5. Under Document Root, choose the folder for the files. Leave Default if you're not sure: the files will then go in domains/shop.yourdomain.nl/public_html.
6. Click Add Subdomain.

Want WordPress on the subdomain? Install it with Installatron and select the subdomain there. Need a different PHP version for the subdomain? Read Can I use a different PHP version per folder or subdomain?.

Https on the subdomain

DirectAdmin automatically requests an SSL certificate as soon as the subdomain points to the server. This happens during the next automatic round, within 24 hours. Don't want to wait? Then click Request Now next to SSL/TLS Certificates in DirectAdmin. Do you see a certificate in the server's name, like linuxXX.webawere.nl? Then the subdomain doesn't have its own certificate yet. More in Certificate for www, subdomains and wildcard.

The subdomain isn't working yet

A new subdomain usually doesn't work right away. Something changes in the DNS and the web server, and that takes a bit of time. Expect anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, sometimes a few hours.

• Don't open the subdomain in your browser before you've created it. Your computer or provider will then remember that it didn't exist yet, which makes it take the longest.
• So create the subdomain first and only try it after about ten minutes.
• Still not working after a few hours? Try it in a private window or on your phone via 4G. If it works there, it's stuck in the cache of your computer or network.
• Using the nameservers of another party, like Cloudflare? Then you need to add the subdomain there yourself as an A record or CNAME record. DirectAdmin only sets it in WebOké's DNS.

See also: When does a change take effect? Waiting time and TTL.

Pointing a subdomain to another service

Does the subdomain need to point to another party, like a webshop platform or a newsletter service? Then don't create it in Subdomain Management. Just add a record in DNS Management:

• a CNAME record if the service gives you a hostname, like shops.example.com. Add a dot at the end. See CNAME records and the trailing dot.
• an A record if the service gives you an IP address. See Adding or changing an A or AAAA record.

shop    CNAME    shops.voorbeeld.com.

Detailed explanation with screenshots: Creating and deleting subdomains in the DirectAdmin manual.