What is domain mapping?

If want to use your own domain, you can have it "alias" to your Shutterbug Storefront site with a concept called domain mapping.  (Please note... this is NOT "domain forwarding!"  Read about this under web strategies...)

There are 2 basic scenarios to use Domain Mapping to "alias" to your Shutterbug Storefront site:

1. Directly from a Domain Name ("www.yourdomain.com")
2. From a subdomain off your existing site ("photos.yourdomain.com")

1) From your domain name directly:  'www' is just a subdomain like any other. To set up 'www' as a CNAME, please follow the steps outlined below under #2. Depending on your domain register, you will be required to turn off domain parking or domain forwarding for 'www'. Your domain register should be able to tell you if this is the case.

2) From a sub-domain off your existing site : Usually, you will have created a subdomain off your regular, existing "content" web site.  This would then usually be handled through your hosting company.

• To do this in either scenario, you have to (or have them) create a ‘CNAME’ record for your desired domain (or sub-domain).   The CNAME record MUST be filled in with the following entry:  ‘accounts.shutterbugstorefront.com’
• Please note that it is 'accounts.shutterbugstorefront.com'.  DO NOT use your Shutterbug Storefront site URL.
• Only one domain can be mapped to an Shutterbug Storefront account.
• After you have setup the CNAME, you can go back to your Shutterbug Storefront administrative log in.  Go to:  'Account -> Domain Mapping' in Shutterbug Storefront.  Enter the mapped domain and within 2-4 hours your new domain should fully active. 

NOTE:  Your Shutterbug Storefront administrative site WILL NOT let you complete this second part of the process until the CNAME entry you made in your domain (subdomain) has fully propagated on the Internet.  This may take up to 24+ hours.

Please note that domain mapping is not the same as forwarding or a url redirect. Domain mapping uses your registrar's DNS servers to create an alias. This means you do not need to know our IP address.

Checking your CNAME entry:

To verify that you, or your DNS registrar, correctly setup  your CNAME, please follow these steps:

1. Go to http://www.dnsstuff.com/
2. Enter your mapped domain in the 'DNS lookup' box (top right)
3. Set the drop down menu from 'A' to 'CNAME'
4. Click on 'Lookup'

On the next page you get a table. For the first row, these values have to appear. ANYTHING ELSE IS INCORRECT!

Domain: your mapped domain
Type: CNAME
Class: IN
Answer: accounts.shutterbugstorefront.com. (notice the period behind .com)

Make sure you use 'accounts.shutterbugstorefront.com' and not your Shutterbug Storefront login.

If the above values are incorrect, please contact your domain registrar as we are unable to assist you until they are correct. Once they are correct, it can take up to 48 hours before our servers will be able 'find' your cname and be able to activate it for your account.

Note: not all domain registrars offer DNS services, and not all DNS services allow for CNAMEs. You can get free DNS services at ZoneEdit.com.

 

---

Go-Daddy - typical setup:

As reported to us by our users who use "Go_Daddy" as their domain manager, the correct way to enter the CNAME alias information in their administrative area is as follows:

• CNAME alias = your domain name
• Points-to-name = accounts.shutterbugstorefront.com

If you use PAIR Internet Services - PAIR Setup Instructions:

1. Click "domain name management"
2. Click the domain that you want to add the subdomain to.
3. Click the "add" button under Custom DNS Entries
4. From the drop down, select CNAME, click "proceed"
5. In the boxes provided, put the name you want for your subdomain
   (if you want gallery.example.org, type "gallery" here), and in the second box, type accounts.shutterbugstorefront.com
6. Save your settings