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Hostsmith

Docs Custom Domains

Custom Domains

Connect your own domain to any Hostsmith site for a professional web presence.

How it works

When you add a custom domain, Hostsmith:

  1. Validates ownership - you add a DNS record to prove you own the domain
  2. Provisions SSL - an SSL certificate is automatically issued
  3. Configures CDN - your domain is added to a CloudFront distribution for fast global delivery
  4. Routes traffic - DNS records point your domain to the Hostsmith CDN

Supported domain types

  • Subdomains - docs.example.com, blog.example.com
  • Apex domains - example.com

Adding a domain

Prerequisites

  • A registered domain name
  • Access to your domain's DNS settings
  • An active Hostsmith site

Step 1: Add the domain

In your site's settings, click Add Domain and enter your domain name (e.g., docs.example.com).

Step 2: Add DNS validation record

Hostsmith will show you a CNAME record to add to your DNS. This proves you own the domain:

Type:  CNAME
Name:  _acme-challenge.docs.example.com
Value: <provided by Hostsmith>

Add this record in your DNS provider's dashboard.

Step 3: Wait for validation

Hostsmith checks for the DNS record automatically. Validation typically completes within a few minutes, but DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. The full provisioning process takes about 5-10 minutes once DNS is verified.

Step 4: Add the routing record

Once validated, add the final CNAME record to point your domain to Hostsmith:

Type:  CNAME
Name:  docs.example.com
Value: <provided by Hostsmith>

Subdomain support

After adding a domain, you can enable subdomain support. This lets you provision multiple sites on subdomains of that domain. For example, if you add example.com, you can then create sites at blog.example.com, docs.example.com, and so on - each pointing to a different Hostsmith site.

Domain status

StatusDescription
ValidatingWaiting for DNS validation records to be verified
ProvisioningSSL certificate issued, configuring CDN
ActiveDomain is live and serving your site
FailedSomething went wrong - check your DNS settings

Troubleshooting

Domain stuck in "Validating"

  • Double-check the CNAME record matches exactly what Hostsmith shows
  • Ensure there are no conflicting records for the same hostname
  • DNS changes can take time to propagate - wait up to 48 hours

SSL certificate errors

SSL certificates are provisioned automatically. If you see certificate errors, the domain may still be provisioning. Wait a few minutes and try again.

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