Redirecting a domain name managed by OVHcloud

Objective

Redirecting a domain name means redirecting it to a new target. Different types of redirections exist, each responding to a specific need.

Find out about the different ways to redirect your domain name.

Requirements

OVHcloud Control Panel Access

  • Direct link: Domain names
  • Navigation path: Web Cloud > Domain names > Select your domain name

Instructions

Understanding domain name redirection

This feature allows you to redirect a domain name/subdomain to:

  • Another existing domain name/subdomain:
    • Example: domain.tld
  • A website URL (Uniform Resource Locator):
    • Examples: http://www.domain.tld/welcome/ or https://www.domain.tld/welcome/ (if the target domain name has a compatible SSL certificate).

There are several ways of doing this:

  • From the OVHcloud Control Panel, where a configuration wizard can be used to set up your redirection.
  • Via a method that requires programming. You will need to create the redirection yourself in a file (usually a .htaccess).
Warning

Setting up a redirection can affect your website's SEO ranking. Be careful about the changes you make, or contact a specialist provider for SEO if necessary.

Please note: a redirection created from the OVHcloud Control Panel does not allow you to redirect a https:// URL to another domain name or URL. To create this type of redirection, you must use a URL rewrite, for example via a ".htaccess" file.

Redirecting a domain name from the Control Panel

Apart from "pointing" redirections to DNS A, AAAA and CNAME records, 3 redirection options are available from the OVHcloud Control Panel.

If needed, refer to our documentation on DNS records.

Warning

To use one of the 3 options below, the active DNS zone for your domain name must be managed in your OVHcloud Control Panel. These redirection options will modify your DNS zone configuration in order to work.

Otherwise, the redirections will not work.

Info

Whichever redirection option you choose, the change requires a propagation time of 4 to 24 hours maximum before it is fully effective.

Click on the options below to view the content.

Option 1 - Permanent visible redirection to a web address

This option allows you, after entering the redirected domain name, to display the target domain name in your browser's address bar instead of the redirected domain name.

  • Example: if you redirect domain1.tld to domain2.tld, domain2.tld will be displayed in the address bar of your browser.
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This "standard" redirection will return an HTTP 301 code.

Click on the tabs below to view each of the 7 steps.

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7

Go to the Domain names page, then choose the domain name concerned.

Domain names
Option 2 - Temporary visible redirection to a web address

As with option 1, this option displays the target domain name in your browser's address bar instead of the redirected domain name after you enter the redirected domain name.

However, this option should be used on a one-off basis, for example for temporary events.

Positioning on search engines is less efficient than with a permanent visible redirection of type 301 (HTTP code).

  • Example: if you redirect domain1.tld to domain2.tld, domain2.tld will be displayed in the address bar of your browser.
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This redirection will return an HTTP 302 code.

Click on the tabs below to view each of the 7 steps.

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7

Go to the Domain names page, then choose the domain name concerned.

Domain names
Option 3 - Invisible redirection to a web address

This redirection allows you, after entering the redirected domain name, to keep it displayed in your browser's address bar instead of replacing it with the target domain name.

Warning, this action is not compatible with all websites and affects your website's SEO.

  • Example: if you redirect domain1.tld to domain2.tld, domain1.tld will be displayed in the address bar of your browser.
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Invisible redirection works with an iFrame HTML tag. This allows your redirected domain name to integrate the content of the other page corresponding to the target domain name into its own HTML page.

This encapsulation prevents your website visitors from viewing the target domain name.

This option will return an HTTP 200 code.

Warning

Please note, pages embedded with an iFrame tag may not be readable on smartphones. Their content is generally not taken into account by search engines for your website's SEO and indexing.

Click on the tabs below to view each of the 7 steps.

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7

Go to the Domain names page, then choose the domain name concerned.

Domain names

Redirecting a domain name via a ".htaccess" file

Warning

OVHcloud provides services that you are responsible for with regard to their configuration and management. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that they function properly.

This guide is designed to help you with common tasks. Nevertheless, we recommend contacting a specialist provider if you experience any difficulties. We will not be able to assist you with the steps documented below. You can find more information in the Go further section of this guide.

".htaccess" files are configuration files in which commands can be specified. When the web server (Apache) runs your website's code, the commands are interpreted and executed.

You can use such commands to create redirections.

Editing a ".htaccess" file can make your website inaccessible. If in doubt, contact a specialist provider.

You can find all of our documentation on ".htaccess" in the Go further section of this guide.

Tip

We recommend that you back up your .htaccess file before making any changes. This way, you can restore the previous version of the file if you make a mistake.

Below are 4 variables for creating redirections via the ".htaccess" file.

Variable 1 - "Redirect permanent"

This variable allows you to redirect a website as a whole, or only part of a website, to another website or another part of a website. Visitors are automatically redirected to the correct address/URL when they try to access your website via the historical address/URL.

Code to place in the ".htaccess"
HTTP code

To redirect an entire website:

Redirect permanent / http://domainTarget.tld/

To redirect one directory to another:

Redirect permanent /old_folder http://domain.tld/new_folder

To redirect a file to another:

Redirect permanent /old_file.php http://domain.tld/new_file.php

Variable 2 - "Redirect gone"

This variable is useful for deleted files. It replaces the 404 document not found message with a more explicit message such as 410 document no longer exists. Your website visitor is informed that the file they are trying to access no longer exists.

Code to place in the ".htaccess"
HTTP code
Redirect gone /fileDeleted.html

Variable 3 - "Redirect seeother"

If you change the extension of a file, the seeother variable allows you to change the file type. The visitor who tries to access the old file will be automatically redirected to the one with the correct extension.

Code to place in the ".htaccess"
HTTP code
Redirect seeother /example.doc http://domain.tld/example.pdf

Variable 4 - "Redirect Temp"

This variable can be used when you temporarily move files to another website. Visitors who try to access your website via the historical address/URL are automatically redirected to the new temporary address/URL.

Code to place in the ".htaccess"
HTTP code
Redirect temp / http://OtherWebsite.tld/site/

Go further

Blocking access to my website for certain IP addresses via a ".htaccess" file.

Protecting your website's administration interface with a ".htaccess" file.

Rewriting URLs using mod_rewrite.

Performing other operations with ".htaccess" files.

How do I edit my DNS zone?

For specialised services (SEO, development, etc.), contact OVHcloud partners.

If you would like assistance using and configuring your OVHcloud solutions, please refer to our support offers.

Join our community of users.

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