Connecting Domains to Separate Web Hosting

Two requirements for any website are domain name registration and web hosting. Most web host providers offer both services. You can keep them together at the same company or separate them. There are benefits and disadvantages to both approaches and you’ll find all kinds of arguments favoring one over the other. This post addresses how to connect the domain to the website when the domain name is registered at a different provider than the web hosting.

There’s a mix of what my clients do. So, I’ve had to learn how to configure websites in each scenario. For example, you can purchase a domain name at GoDaddy, then host it with Siteground. Or purchase the domain name AND host it with GoDaddy. Or Siteground. The choice is yours. No matter which option you go with, the site files (and database, if using WordPress or another CMS) always reside at the web host.

The instructions that follow use GoDaddy as the domain name registrar and Siteground as the web host provider.

1. Connecting Domains and Subdomains When Domain Registrar and Web Host are the Same

When the web hosting and domain name registration are purchased at the same company, connecting the domain is done automatically. If you want to add a subdomain, there are added steps.

• Log into Web Host account
• Websites tab > Site Tools button (or cPanel or equivalent)
• Left sidebar navigation: Domain > Subdomains
• Create New Subdomain: type the name in the field (“new2022” in our example)
• Click “CREATE” button

Below is a screengrab of GoDaddy’s DNS Records, showing Godaddy defaults for one client’s NS and A Records.

2. Connecting Primary Domains When Domain Registrar and Web Host are Separate

There are two options: (1) use the web host nameservers OR (2) use registrar’s nameservers with the web host A Record. You only need to use 1 option.

PREP STEP. Before doing anything, log into the web host account and make note of the IP and Name Servers.

• Log into Web Host account
• Websites tab > Site Tools button (or cPanel or equivalent)
• In the Dashboard, scroll toward the bottom of the screen. Make note of both: IP and Name Servers.
  • Site IP = A Record. It contains 4 sets of numbers and looks something like this: 12.409.165.48
  • Name Servers. There are 2 servers listed, often beginning with “ns”.
    For example:
    ns71.example.com
    ns72.example.com

Option 1. USE WEB HOST NAMESERVERS

• Log into Domain Registrar account
• Navigate to the Domain area > Manage DNS
• In the Nameserver area > click Change button
• Edit Settings: Change default Nameservers to web host Nameservers.
  For example:
  ns71.example.com
  ns72.example.com
• SAVE

This will point everything (all DNS records, including email) to the web host. All DNS settings will be managed at the web host.

Option 2. USE DOMAIN REGISTRAR NAMESERVERS with WEB HOST A RECORD

• Log into Domain Registrar account
• Navigate to the Domain area > Manage DNS
• Leave default Nameservers as is.
• Edit DNS Settings: Add an A Record to point to web host Site IP address.
  • Click the “Add” button
  • Fill in the values:
    Type = A
    Name = @
    Data = Site IP (A Record). Example = 12.409.165.48
    TTL = 10800 secs
  • SAVE

This process points only the website, while the other DNS records stay the same, including the emails. All DNS settings will continue to be managed here at the registrar.

3. Connecting Subdomains When Domain Registrar and Web Host are Separate

IF USING WEB HOST NAMESERVERS

If you’re using the web host nameservers, the DNS gets managed at the web host. Connecting subdomains is the same series of actions as in Step 1 (where the registrar and web host are the same provider). You only need to create the subdomain at the web host.

• Log into Web Host account
• Websites tab > Site Tools button (or cPanel or equivalent)
• Left sidebar navigation: Domain > Subdomains
• Create New Subdomain: type the name in the field (“new2022” in our example)
• Click “CREATE” button

IF USING DOMAIN REGISTRAR NAMESERVERS

If you’re using the domain registrar nameservers, the DNS gets managed at the registrar. But, you must create the subdomain at BOTH the registrar and web host.

Part 1 – WEB HOST

• Log into Web Host account
• Websites tab > Site Tools button (or cPanel or equivalent)
• Left sidebar navigation: Domain > Subdomains
• Create New Subdomain: type the name in the field (“new2022” in our example)
• Click “CREATE” button

Part 2 – DOMAIN REGISTRAR

• Log into Domain Registrar account
• Navigate to the Domain area > Manage DNS
• Leave default Nameservers as is.
• Edit DNS Settings: Add an A Record to point to web host Site IP address.
  • Click the “Add” button
  • Fill in the values, then SAVE:
    Type = A
    Name = subdomain name (“new2022” in our example)
    Data = Site IP (A Record). Example = 12.409.165.48
    TTL = 10800 secs

Just like the primary domain, all files for the subdomain reside at the web host.

More Information

Any changes you make to the DNS Settings may take up to 72 hours to fully propagate throughout the web. There are tools to check the propagation progress. The one that I use is:
DNS Checker

For more information, you might want to check out these 2 articles, which I found to be very helpful:

Put a Subdomain on a Different Server
Should You Separate Domain Registration from Hosting or Not?

Video Tutorial

If you prefer, you can watch the video tutorial I made that shows you how to connect domains to separate web hosting:

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