Custom Domain Integration Guide
- The integration process is very simple, but there are some technicalities involved. Nothing to be scared of though! Just make sure to follow this guide step by step.
- While the actual configuration barely takes 5 minutes, it might take a few hours to be activated.
- If, upon initiating the Custom Domain integration, you don’t complete it within 24 hours, the system will revert the process and you will have to start the integration again. This will show by removing/deleting the custom domain in Virtual Summits Software.
- If you’re already hosting existing pages in your domain, or if it’s already integrated with another 3rd party app, be aware that all that existing content might cease to work. Once the integration is completed, Virtual Summits Software will point your domain to your Summit, summit portal, checkout pages, etc, so anything you might have previously hosted in your domain will likely not be accessible any more.
- When you connect your domain to Virtual Summits Software, we will automatically grant a secure SSL certificate to your domain so you can safely use it to host checkout pages. Regardless of whether your domain already has a SSL certificate or not, we will provide one for you.
- The entire Virtual Summits Software network (as well as every integrated domain) is protected behind the cloud based server our system uses, so you don’t need to connect your own CloudFlare or other related account based on what server we may be using for our own back-end server needs. Any domain provider should work as long as you follow the instructions within this documentation.
- One important thing to note is that this custom domain feature is a re-branding tool for your Virtual Summits Software based URLs. Though we do have options to help forward/redirect your users to your pages when they visit the primary URL, our system is not intended to fully replace a website and all the micromanaging you may be used to.
- If you are unsure of how to approach your setup, please contact our support channels and include screenshots of all your DNS records and any forward/redirects on your external domain. As we are happy to help point you in the right direction but we do not have access to external content and need your help to fill in those gaps in our knowledge.
Root domain vs Sub-domain
The first step of the configuration process is to decide whether you want to point your Custom Domain to www.Domain.com or to SubDomain.Domain.com.
Using a Subdomain
Point your CNAME record to your Summit
The CNAME is a record that has to be created in your domain registrar, which is the service managing your domain property and DNS. This CNAME record is what’s going to bind your domain with your Virtual Summits Software account.
So, you will need to log into your domain registering service and create a new CNAME record. Every registrar has a different interface, so it’s difficult for us to navigate you from here, but chances are that you should see a “DNS Management” or “Domain Management” area when you log in. At any rate, if you ask their support team to show you how to create a CNAME record, they will definitely be able to point you in the right direction.
This new CNAME record needs to target your desired subdomain to subdomain.web.virtualsummits.com.com (replace “subdomain” with your Summit default domain).
Again, every domain registrar’s interface is different, but the following screenshot should illustrate most common cases:
- Type: select CNAME.
- Host: this will be your desired subdomain. If your desired custom domain is meant to be “summit.YourDomain.com“, then enter “summit“.
- Target or Value: enter subdomain.web.virtualsummits.com (replace “subdomain” with your Summit default domain).
- Finally, use TTL, set to whatever automatic or default value they offer.
Using a Main Domain
- Type: create A new record
- Host or Name: this will be your desired domain, you can enter @ for the root domain.
- Target or Value: enter the IP address 34.72.40.116.
- Finally, use TTL, set to whatever automatic or default value they offer.
Waiting for activation
Once everything has been configured, you will see your domain in “Processing…” status.
Your new DNS configuration might take up to 24 hours to propagate through the whole internet. Virtual Summits Software automatically checks every few minutes to verify whether the process has been completed, in which case the status will change to “Connected“.
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