Install the website software on a separate domain name

Install the website software on a separate domain name

We have purchased a domain name for our club, and wanted to install the site software on it, what are the requirements for that and what is the procedure?

Thanks.

Ashwani Kumar Sinha
Area Director, District 21, Area A13

Please do not put contact information in forum posts. Very unwise. I have hidden your contact information.

Please do put your club number in your forum signature--it will expedite getting support. Please see the link in my forum signature for how to do that.

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It is not an installation procedure. It is a configuration procedure. It is somewhat technical, and you will need to exercise some persistence and patience to get it working correctly. We can coach you through the process. Always remember as you go through the process, that you can *always* access your FTH website via your club number:
You will need to do some configuration on your domain registrar's website to enable them to correctly route traffic to the FTH server (& your FTH website). You will also need to enter your custom domain name in the admin console. However, you will not be allowed to do the latter until the former task is completed correctly. In other words, when you try to enter the domain name into the admin console, the system will check if the registrar configuration has been completed correctly, and will not allow you to save the domain name in the admin console if the registrar configuation is not completed correctly.

What you must understand as a starting place is that having a custom domain name affects two things... people finding your website and your club's ability to use email with the new domain name. The email address format is different (simpler) with a custom domain name, and your club will need to get used to that and make updates anywhere that a club email address is currently being used. For example, your club's Find-A-Club entry on the TI website.

Here are the docs that you should review and get familiar with first:
support.toastmastersclubs.org/doc/item/a...whats-the-difference
support.toastmastersclubs.org/doc/item/dns-settings-overview

Thanks Steve, so we don't need to copy any software on the domain. Further question, I don't need to buy hosting, just the domain?

And instead of having it on your sub-domain the dns settings will point to your server, correct?

Correct... no software copying. You are just configuring some interfaces so they connect with each other properly.

Also correct, you do not need to buy hosting. FTH handles that.

Also correct, the DNS settings should point to the FTH server. The server code will look up the domain name and find your website because you entered the domain name in the db (via the admin console) so it could be found.

Just get the domain name.

What you do need to consider carefully is whose name the domain name will be purchased under and what will happen if it expires in the future (it eventually will expire) and you are not around. In my view, this is a much more important consideration than you might think. If you put it in your name and then leave Toastmasters in the future, how will the club be able to access the registrar's account to renew the domain registration when it eventually expires? If it expires and they cannot renew it because it is registered under a former member's name, the registrar will block access to the website, and it is major headache to get it sorted out then.

My recommendation is to put the registration under the club founder or long time member's name, but put the email address for the registration as a FTH email list or officer alias, but *after* you have the domain up and running properly. (Keep in mind that officer aliases can be disabled.) Make sure you use the club number version of that email address, because if the domain expires, the domain name version will not work. Then make sure you white list the registrar's email address so your club actually gets the expiration warning notices in the future. You may have to white list some registrar email addresses and black list some others, because registrars tend to send out a lot of spam trying to upsell you on their services.

All of your important email addresses that you would want to be unaffected by a potential future domain expiration should be put as the club number version, because it will *always* work, even if the domain expires. example: find a club contact email address.

Lastly, please do your club a favor and save all the relevant registrar information in the box for that in the admin console, including the login information for getting into the registrar's website. (very important)

Thanks Steve, I am speaking with the club members in my Area, who want this implemented, and once all is sorted, will connect with you after following these steps if I happen to run into any challenges.

Thanks once again for your support, and clarifying responses. Really appreciate it.

Ok, it looks like you are trying to use FTH for an area or division website, but it is really only designed for a district or club website. I am not saying you cannot do something non-standard. However, if you run into problems, don't blame us.