Q:“Can I use my own domain name for my Magnify site?”
Yes, of course. If you already manage your own domain name you can have this set up in five minutes, for free.
To set up your custom domain name, select the appropriate starting point below.
Are you an advanced webmaster (or do you have one on staff)?
There are only two steps required to use a custom domain name for your Magnify channel:
Point a hostname in your zone file at our web load balancer address via a CNAME alias to live.magnify.net (or an A record for IP 208.70.246.59);
Then enter your selected hostname into your channel's administration panel to complete the association.
Whoa. Need a refresher on the way DNS works?
Setting up a custom domain name for the first time can be a little tricky, as you'll be dealing with a few new terms that you might not have previously encountered. However, if you're technically savvy, you should be able to figure it out as you go along. To get you started, here's a Introduction To The Domain Name System.
After reading the introduction, you're ready to register a domain name, as described below.
Need to register a domain name?
If you do not already own a domain name (www.example.com) you will need to purchase one. You can use any domain name registrar, but we recommend using one that also provides name server hosting with a web-based administration console, such as eNom or any equivalent service. When purchasing the domain name, you're often presented with a choice of possible associated services. Make your selections here carefully. If you are using Magnify to host your main web site, you may not need web hosting services. If you can forward email to existing email accounts, you may not need email hosting services.
Once you have your domain name ready, follow the below directions.
Want to use your domain name exclusively for a Magnify channel?
If you own a domain name and would like to use it exclusively for your Magnify channel, you will need to go back to your name server (usually the same service where you purchased your domain name) and set up a "root A record" and a "www CNAME record". The root A record allows you to type in your new domain name without a prefix, like example.com, and have your Magnify channel appear. You will also need to set up a CNAME alias for "www.", to handle people who type in your domain name with the prefix "www.", like www.example.com.
Here are step by step instructions on setting up a domain name exclusively for a Magnify Channel.
Want to add a new web address for Magnify within your existing domain?
This will allow you to use your Magnify channel as a "sub-domain" address, such as video.example.com, while hosting other web pages elsewhere, such as www.example.com. If you have an active domain name and now you would like to add a sub-domain to point to your Magnify channel (video.example.com). You will need to go back to the name server (usually the same service where you purchased your domain name) and set up a "CNAME" record. A CNAME allows you to type in your sub-domain (video.example.com) and have your Magnify channel appear.
Here are step by step instructions on using a sub-domain for a Magnify Channel.
Please also be aware of the following unsupported options:Want to use Magnify as your name server?
Sorry, but we currently do not offer this service. If you have registered a domain name from a service that does not provide free bundled domain name hosting, you will need to use a third-party name service hosting service such as dyndns.com. For more information see our explanation, or if you're not sure what the difference is between domain registration, name service, and web hosting, see our introduction.Want to use a frameset or redirect to send traffic to Magnify?
Sorry, but this isn't recommended for reasons more fully explained here.
Want to use Magnify as your mail server?
Sorry, but we currently do not offer this service.
