GoAdmio
GoAdmio Documentation

Addon Domains

From the GoAdmio knowledge base.

Addon Domains

This page explains Addon Domains in GoAdmio. An addon domain lets a hosting account host a completely separate domain — with its own document root, email, and (optionally) databases — without creating a new hosting account.

Location: Admin Panel → Domains → Addon Domains
Location (User Panel): Domains → Addon Domains


Overview

An addon domain is an additional domain that is hosted under the same hosting account as the primary domain. It is completely independent from the primary domain: it has its own website files, its own document root, and can have its own email accounts, databases, and SSL certificate.

This is the standard way to host multiple domains under a single hosting account — useful for agencies, resellers, and customers who own several domains but want one account to manage them.

> Note: An addon domain is not the same as a subdomain (which lives under the primary domain) or a domain alias (which serves the same content as the primary domain). See the comparison below.


Addon Domain vs. Subdomain vs. Alias

| Feature | Addon Domain | Subdomain | Domain Alias |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example | otherdomain.com | blog.example.com | alias.com → example.com |
| Separate domain | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (under primary domain) | ✅ Yes |
| Own document root | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (serves the primary site) |
| Own email accounts | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Sometimes | ❌ No |
| Own databases | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Own DNS zone | ✅ Yes | ❌ Part of the primary zone | ❌ Points to primary |
| Typical use | Hosting a second domain | Sections of a site, staging | Branding, alternate names |


Prerequisites

Before adding an addon domain:

  1. The domain is registered and you control its registrar settings.
  2. The domain's DNS points to the server (or you will point it after creation) — typically an A record for the domain and www. See DNS Manager.
  3. The account is not suspended (see Suspend Account).
  4. The account's package allows addon domains. Check Add/Modify Packages for the limit.
  5. You have disk space and email/database limits available for the addon domain.
> Tip: If the domain's nameservers are already pointed at GoAdmio's nameservers, GoAdmio can create the DNS zone automatically. If not, create the zone manually or point the domain's DNS at the server first.

How to Add an Addon Domain

Via the Admin Panel

  1. Log in to the GoAdmio Admin Panel.
  2. Navigate to Domains → Addon Domains.
  3. Select the account to which the addon domain will be attached.
  4. Enter the new domain name (e.g., otherdomain.com).
  5. Choose a document root:
- Default — GoAdmio creates a directory (e.g., ~/otherdomain.com or ~/public_html/otherdomain.com). - Custom — specify an existing directory.
  1. Optionally configure:
- Subdomain — the subdomain under which the addon domain is accessible (some panels create otherdomain.example.com as an alias). - SSL — install a certificate immediately. - Email — create email accounts for the addon domain.
  1. Click Add.

Via the User Panel

If enabled for the account:

  1. Log in to the User Panel.
  2. Navigate to Domains → Addon Domains.
  3. Follow the same steps.
> Note: The number of addon domains allowed depends on the account's package. The limit is shown on the Addon Domains page.

What Gets Created

When you add an addon domain, GoAdmio typically creates:

| Item | Created automatically |
|---|---|
| DNS zone for the addon domain | ⚠️ If DNS is managed by GoAdmio |
| Document root directory | ✅ Yes |
| Web server virtual host | ✅ Yes |
| PHP configuration | ✅ Yes (inherits the account's version) |
| Email capability | ⚠️ If you configured email during creation |
| SSL certificate | ⚠️ Only if you enable it, or later via Install Free SSL Certificate |
| FTP access | ⚠️ Shares the account's FTP user by default |


After Adding an Addon Domain

| Task | Why |
|---|---|
| Upload content to the document root | There is no site until you add an index file |
| Install SSL for the addon domain | Browsers warn about insecure sites; see Install Free SSL Certificate |
| Verify DNS resolves the addon domain | See Track DNS |
| Set the PHP version if needed | See MultiPHP Manager |
| Create email accounts for the addon domain | See Email Accounts |
| Create databases if required | See MySQL Databases |
| Test the site in a browser | Confirm HTTP and HTTPS both work |

> Tip: If the addon domain was previously hosted elsewhere, back up the old site and upload the files to the new document root. Update DNS to point to the GoAdmio server once the files are ready.


Managing Addon Domains

| Task | Where |
|---|---|
| List addon domains | Domains → Addon Domains (the page lists existing addon domains) |
| Change document root | Domains → Change Document Root — see Change Document Root |
| Delete an addon domain | Addon domain list → Delete |
| Promote to primary domain | Domains → Make Primary — see Make Primary |
| Change PHP version | MultiPHP Manager |
| Install SSL | Security → Install Free SSL Certificate |
| Manage DNS | Domains → DNS Manager |

> Warning: Deleting an addon domain removes its configuration but may leave the document root directory, email accounts, and databases on disk. Clean up manually if they are no longer needed.


Related Pages

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Addon domain limit reached" | The account's package caps addon domains | Raise the limit in Add/Modify Packages or Modify Account |
| "Domain already exists" | The domain is already assigned to another account | Remove it from the other account or choose a different domain |
| Addon domain does not resolve | DNS not pointing to the server | Add the zone in DNS Manager; verify with Track DNS |
| Addon domain shows the primary site | Document root conflicts with the primary site's root | Set a unique document root via Change Document Root |
| 404 on the addon domain | No index file in the document root | Upload an index.html or index.php |
| SSL not working on addon domain | Certificate does not cover the addon domain | Install SSL via Install Free SSL Certificate |
| Email not working for addon domain | No email accounts created, or mail routing misconfigured | Create email accounts; verify mail exchanger settings |
| Cannot add the domain in User Panel | Feature disabled for the account | Enable it in the account's package permissions |


Last updated: 2026-11-08

↑