Unlimited domains

Hi all.

I have a couple of domainnames and want to add some more and want get a new hosting plan at dreamhost. I've heard you can arrange that people going to mysite1.com end up in a directory I want at my dreamhost hosting account and people going to mysite2.net end up in a other directory at my same dreamhost webspace and mysite3.nl... etc etc.

I've heard this and see the "Unlimited domains" option at all hosting plans but is this possible? How does it work?

Thanks all.

Regards,
speirs

Unlimited Domains means that as long as you pay for the domain registration, you can host as many domains as you like under a single account. For example, you can have:

http://mysite1.com/
http://mysite2.com/
http://mysite3.com/

and/or

http://mysite.com/
http://mysite2.com/ that points to http://2.mysite.com/ or http://mysite.com/2/
http://mysite3.com/ that points to http://3.mysite.com/ or http://mysite.com/3/

or any combination like that. The DreamHost control panel allows you to easily setup new domains, create subdomains, and redirect or mirror sites with ease. Redirecting domains to specific folders or subfolders is also a simple process.

For each separate domain name you register, you will need to make sure that the DNS record points to the DreamHost nameservers (ns1.dreamhost.com, ns2.dreamhost.com, and ns1.dreamhost.com).

In addition to what Simon wrote, incase it's not obvious, there aren't any catches to worry about. You don't have to register the domains with DH to host them here, so if you already have them registered somewhere else (or just have a preferred registrar you like to deal with), you can still add the domains here.

It's also easy enough to change their status at any time, so if you go on a domain buying spree, you can add them as mirrors or redirects, etc... until you want to actually do something with them, then go back and change them to fully-hosted or whatever else you want. Or you can just be like me and let them sit for years without doing anything with them. :D

The only "catch" at all is just that all of the sites share the same total disk space and bandwidth limitations. I always make sure to mention that.

In reply to:
The only "catch" at all is just that all of the sites share the same total disk space and bandwidth limitations.

I doubt this would be a problem for most customers. Even the Level 1 plan provides 20GB of storage and 1000GB of traffic, enough for quite a few 'normal' sites.

One other thing worth mentioning is the CPU resource limit. There is a limit of 60 CPU minutes per plan. This is, as far as I know, shared among all the sites hosted under that plan. This is to prevent an extremely popular site (or an extremely inefficient site) from slowing the server for other customers.

In reality this is unlikely to be a problem for those with only a small or medium number of sites hosted, but it could be a problem if you take the 'unlimited domains' literally and host a great many sites.

Thanks all, you've been great help. As you all say it's pretty easy with the dreamhost control panel so after I signed up I'll have to figure it out.

One more question though:

"...For each separate domain name you register, you will need to make sure that the DNS record points to the DreamHost nameservers (ns1.dreamhost.com, ns2.dreamhost.com, and ns1.dreamhost.com)..."

Which DNS record? Should I say against my registar that they should point to these DNS servers? What do you mean exactly?

Thanks again.

In reply to:
Which DNS record? Should I say against my registar that they should point to these DNS servers? What do you mean exactly?

If you have the domains registered some place other than Dreamhost, you need to configure the DNS records for the domain to point at the Dreamhost name servers. This ensures that your domain name resolves to the correct IP address for your site. Your domain registrar should provide an admin panel or some other means to configure these DNS records.

If the domains are registered here at Dreamhost, the DNS records will already be configured correctly.

Check our most recent newsletter. We changed this, just to make you look silly in public =)

In reply to:
We changed this, just to make you look silly in public =)

Now, you've confused me smile

I assume you are referring to the DNS records of domains registered here not being pre-configured any more, but I've just scanned the May newsletter and cant see any mention of that.

As I said, you have confused me (not that this is too hard to do smile ).

Edit: It just occured to me to check the threaded view to see which of my posts you were replying to.

I now assume you are referring to the CPU limit, but I still cant see any mention of this in the May newsletter! frown

Pay just $22.40 for 1 year Dreamhost hosting, use promo-code MOJO97
Save $97 on all 1 and 2 year plans!! (Max saving on monthly plans too!!)Edited by Mojo on 05/31/06 10:15 PM (server time).

OK, I just received the other May newsletter and all has been revealed. smile

I am kind of in two minds about the removal of the CPU minutes restriction. On the one hand, it will go a long way to reassure those worried about hosting popular sites on DreamHost, but on the other hand I just hope it doesnt lead to slower sites for those of us unfortunate enough to be on the same box as one of these mega popular sites.

Other May newsletter?

I only have a version 8.4 May newsletter and never did find the Da Da Vinci code. frown

Where is the new version. I bet it is hiding in that Wiki thing?

--
Norm
Opinions are my own views and are not the views of DreamHost.
Any advice offered by me should be acted upon only at your own risk.

In reply to:
Other May newsletter?

Yep, it just arrived via email (v8.5 May 2006), no doubt your copy is winging its way to you as I type smile

To quote the first paragraph;

"Hey look, it's ANOTHER May 2006 newsletter, just like the last one! Of course, the last one was just a joke, and was ACTUALLY the April newsletter, just like the one before it was ACTUALLY the March newsletter, even though IT said it was APRIL! Really funny jokes all around here."

Goodness me! You have been peeking! It has just arrived.

No more CPU minutes then. Hmmm I wonder what that will do to the servers? Still it will be one less worry to uhm worry about.
Just as long as this newsletter is not a joke newsletter as well.

--
Norm
Opinions are my own views and are not the views of DreamHost.
Any advice offered by me should be acted upon only at your own risk.

Hi all. Thanks, I'll sign up in a few days!