How to use your personal domain with .Mac/iWeb 08

Since the release of iWeb 08 a few days ago, the minds of .Mac users have been all aflutter wondering how to use their personal domains with their accounts. What follows is one mans search for the truth and the answers he found.

dreamhost


In my quest to throw my personal site, scottmcdaniel.org onto .Mac, here's what I had to do (note - I'm still working on it, sheesssshhhh!).

Note: these settings are for Dreamhost web hosting. Your hosts settings should be somewhat similar. Worst case scenario, email them and ask them to 'change your www cname to web.mac.com'.

To begin, you must first tell .Mac to use your personal domain. To do so, go to your account page, then click 'Use personal domain'. Enter your domain name into the form, then proceed to telling your domain where to go!

Note: These instructions are for Dreamhost users. Your mileage may vary!

First, log into your control panel and go to 'Domains'.
picture-6.png

Next, locate your domain and look to the right. You should see something like this:
picture-3.png

Click 'Delete'. Note: This will NOT delete your files/databases from Dreamhost. They will still be accessible via ftp/ssh.

Once the page refreshes and you've been told your hosting has been deleted, go back to the main domain page, then click 'DNS' under your domain name:
picture-4.png

Enter the following information:
Name: www
Type: CNAME
Value: web.mac.com
Comment: None necessary, but you may want to remind yourself what the point was...

Click 'Add record now'. Now we want to add another record the same way, except for name, use '*'. Yes, simply use an asterisk. What this does is to tell the server to send requests for non-www pages to the same place. This will allow your site to be accessed using www and without.

Note: Don't edit any other settings, or you could mess up your email or any databases you have on your site!

Within a few minutes you should be able to type in your domain name and pull up your .Mac/iWeb created sites, blogs and galleries.

Hope this helps someone out there, and if you have any details on other hosts or registrars, please feel free to comment!

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  • mjc
    Thanks for the step by step instructions. Better instructions than either Apple or dreamhost provided!
  • I notice on your url there is a "sm" in www.scottmcdaniel.org/sm/gallery.
    Is there a way to get rid of the "sm" so that it'll just be www.scottmcdaniel.org/gallery/?
  • this worked great for me, but the '*' is not working. I still have to type 'www' for it to work :-( any thoughts?
  • Awesome! Thank you. At first, I was confused that I was deleting the actual subdomain but then I took another look and realized what you were saying to do. Thanks again!
  • Brad
    Scott. I am contemplating the .Mac/iWeb08 vs. WordPress. I noticed that your www.scottmcdaniel.org website is now using WordPress. How does that product compare with the ease of use, look-and-feel, etc. of the .Mac/iWeb?
  • I just got an imac and I need to transfer my domain from microsoft office live to iweb any suggestions?
  • miraclemart
    This is great!!!

    Anyone tried this with netsol.com? I just bought the domain from them? Even call tech support, they ask about the ns1 info...

    Cheers
  • Thanks for this, it's a wonderful little how-to that makes it super clear.
  • stephen
    i have a question.. i want to point my domain register to web.mac.com but cannot access the cname records.. i emailed my registrar and got this response : Unfortunately, within our system you are unable to enter CNAMES. For your domain to point to your website it would need to be entered as a DNS. I do apologize for this inconvenience.

    so, i'm guessing i need to transfer my domain to another registrar? i am having trouble finding a company that will just charge me to host a domain without web hosting fees added on.
  • First, let me say thank you for the step by step guide. I have gotten it to work.

    However, I do have a question. Prior to changing the CNAME, I was hosting my site on DreamHost at my personal domain. I also have some files and images stored on my domain (at DreamHost) which is now pointing to .Mac.

    Is disabling the "fully hosted" necessary? How do I access my files and images hosted at Dreamhost via a web browser?

    Thanks for your help.
  • Cods
    Great tip. Thanks - very useful for anyone who's not necessarily been using either DreamHost or .mac / dot mac for too long.

    I assume all this does is redirect anyone who types "www.mywebsite.com" into their browser to "http://web.mac.com/mydotmacwebsite/"?

    Further, from your post I assume that this doesn't affect email or anything else hosted with DreamHost (just tested and the DreamHost hosted email @mywebsite.com works fine).

    Cheers again, just what I needed!

    Cods
  • Just wanted to thank you for making this handy little tutorial, I was stuck for a few minutes till I found your site, stupid me; I forgot to turn off the "Fully Hosted" option, but you thankfully reminded me! :)

    Thanks

    Atnhony
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