Pointing a Primary Domain to a New Domain

[dsaul]

The organization I'm in has owned a domain for a number of years, and we manage it through BlueHost. It is the only (and therefore primary) domain on the account. We are renaming the organization and buying a new domain name for it, and will also manage it through BlueHost. When we switch to the new name, we want everyone who types in the old domain name to get redirected automatically to the new domain.

In my dream world, I would like to add the new domain into the same BlueHost account as the old one, then set some parameter to redirect the old domain to the new. Is that possible? Remember, it's the old domain that is currently called "primary". Thanks.

[felgall]

If you set up the new domain as a parked domain then both it and the primary will point to the public_html folder and will both bring up the same pages.

You can then add a couple of lines into the .htaccess file to rewrite the old domain name to the new one.

[dsaul]

Thanks! Do you have a sample on how to "add a couple of lines into the .htaccess file to rewrite the od domain name to the new one."? I'm not a web programmer, just a web "manager". Thanks.

[dsaul]

Sorry, as I'm thinking about it, I have additional questions:

If we want to release the old domain (let it expire), how will we log into BlueHost? Right now, we log into BlueHost using the old domain name as the userid. At some point we will ONLY be using the new domain.
If you have two separate BlueHost accounts (each with one domain), can you specify that the domain on one account automatically route you to the domain on the other account? We would have to do this if the answer to #1 cannot be done.
Do you have a sample on how to "add a couple of lines into the .htaccess file to rewrite the od domain name to the new one."? I'm not a web programmer, just a web "manager".
Thanks.

[breakingball]

How to change the primary domain (http://helpdesk.bluehost.com/index.php/kb/article/000345)

[MrDelish]

If we want to release the old domain (let it expire), how will we log into BlueHost? Right now, we log into BlueHost using the old domain name as the userid. At some point we will ONLY be using the new domain.

You just use the new domain to log into the cPanel. In fact, you can log into your account by specifying ANY domain listed on your account with the proper password.


If you have two separate BlueHost accounts (each with one domain), can you specify that the domain on one account automatically route you to the domain on the other account? We would have to do this if the answer to #1 cannot be done.

You could do this pretty easily under cPanel -> Domains -> Redirects, but there's no point since you can indeed let the old domain expire and stick with a new one.


Do you have a sample on how to "add a couple of lines into the .htaccess file to rewrite the od domain name to the new one."? I'm not a web programmer, just a web "manager".

The tool mentioned above (cPanel -> Domains -> Redirects) edits the .htaccess file for you. You can simply specify what address you are forwarding and where it goes. Try doing a basic redirect for fun, like http://yourdomain.com/google -> http://www.google.com. It's really easy to do, and you can always remove the redirect later.

[dsaul]

Great info! Thanks. When I tested logging into my account using a different domain on the account, it worked, just like you said! On the left side of the CPanel, it of course shows the other domain as the "Main Domain". Do you know what will happen when we eventually delete that main domain? It won't all come crashing down on us, will it?

[MrDelish]

By the time you allow your primary domain to expire you ought to call support and have them switch the primary domain to the new one. This isn't 100% necessary as the account would still work, but there's no point in leaving it there if you're not using it. Once it gets switched you will see your new domain in that area, so there won't be any problems. Just log in using the new primary domain and you're all set.