topic Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com in Everything else

PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

SimonTodd — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 18:17:35 GMT

PlusNet (PN) have been supplying my domain for years at no charge and continue to renew it annually without incident. As this facilitates the ability for me to have multiple email boxes/addresses associated to my domain name along with a 'capture all' option, I'm pretty happy at getting all this without additional payment when most of the webhost companies I have researched would insist on me going for one of their upper tier packages to have similar options.

I have also run a website using my domain name, which is written using WordPress(WP) that is installed on the web space PN also supplies me with, as a part of my package.

However, I managed to break said website a while back when I stupidly amended some URL settings relating to SSL, having not first knowing what I should be doing.

Now, I could get some help to fix this but I understand (after trawling though this forum) that installing an SSL certificate onto the PN servers has limitations, in that I would not be able to use it for my domain name, but would need to use a PlusNet URL. This is of no use to me.

So (if you're still with me), as I'm familiar with the WP user interface, the sensible option to me is to host my website on wordpress.com and get my domain name to point to it. This would allow me to continue to get my domain name for free and to leave my email set-up untouched.

I've been in contact with WP support and have established which of their packages I'd need and am comfortable with that and its price. That said, they then asked a few questions that I was unable to answer as, despite being OK at the design part, I'm not greatly skilled when it comes to settings/tech stuff.

So my hope is that there's someone out there that has either already achieved when I'm aiming to do and can maybe guide me through some steps.

If not then perhaps someone may be able to advise which on the following taken from my chat with WP and answer the email DNS question so that I can get back to them and hopefully build a new site on their platform.

Do you know the DNS records for their email service?

Where do I find this?

There are two ways to connect a domain with WordPress.com.

1. Update name servers to:

ns1.wordpress.com
ns2.wordpress.com
ns3.wordpress.com

This method would make the domain's DNS records manageable at WordPress.com. Also, if you have an existing email address with another company, you will need to add the DNS records of your email service at WordPress.com. Here's the guide: https://en.support.wordpress.com/add-email/add-other-email/

2. Add A records of WordPress.com on your domain registrar.

In this method, the domain will be completely managed at your domain registrar. You'll just need to add the WordPress.com IP address on the domain.

Option 2 looks simpler, but is it a PN option?

Would PN assist me with any of the options or do I do it all myself?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

bobpullen — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:33:45 GMT

Option 2 is the only option of you're keeping the domain registration with Plusnet.
Is it just an A record you need to add?

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

SimonTodd — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 22:14:26 GMT

Hi Bob,

That’s what it appears is all that is required according to the support chat, but as I’m not sure what an A Record is…..

They did say I’d need to add the WP URL. Is that how it’s done, with an A record?

Any idea where I should be looking to get these email DNS settings they refer to?

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

bobpullen — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 07:43:06 GMT

You can add CNAME (to a nother hostname) and A records (to an IP address) via the Plusnet website, however the controls are finicky and very picky about formatting etc. Because of this, I'm happy to help configure things for you if you are able to provide the specific records that Wordpress are suggesting you add.

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

SimonTodd — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 07:51:27 GMT

That's very kind of you, Bob. I'll get back on to WP and see if I can obtain more detail.

Will update this thread once I have more. Thanks again, much appreciated.

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

SimonTodd — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 11:00:20 GMT

Bob,

This guide shows the process I'll need to follow to go with option #2.

https://wordpress.com/support/domains/connect-a-domain-alternative-method/

I won't have the settings detail until I purchase my package with them, so I'll get on that soon and then take you up on your kind offer to assist.

From what I'm reading, my PN email set-up will be untouched, so all looks good, unless you can spot an issue with the set-up guide?

Thanks,

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

bobpullen — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:07:09 GMT

Yep, that all looks achievable 👍

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

SimonTodd — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:29:46 GMT

Great, thanks Bob.

Will be in touch in due course.

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

SimonTodd — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 15:33:31 GMT

OK Bob,

I'm ready to go and have the A and CNAME details required.

Not sure that I should be posting them on a public forum, so how should I proceed? Put them in a Private message, or this going to be a case of you walking me through the process. I must stress that I have no problem at all being spoken to like a 5 year old, regarding this process.

Re: PlusNet supplied Domain to point to Wordpress.com

bobpullen — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 06:47:08 GMT

@SimonTodd drop me a private message and I'll take a look for you.