Trouble changing CNAME record to allow adding a domain

[bwbecker]

Website URL

localpr.free.nf

Error Message

Error adding domain…

Alternatively you can create a CNAME record pointing 6596ae1c31d87936e0e9a5a4ff4996f0.localpr.ca. to ns1.byet.org.

Other Information

I’m trying to move an existing web site, localpr.ca, to InfinityFree. The current domain name registrar is NameCheap. I don’t want to change that because I have other domains registered there as well.

The new web site is set up and available at localpr.free.nf.
I think the steps I need to follow to make localpr.ca point to this are:

1. In the control panel, use “Addon Domains” to add localpr.ca. Get an error message (as shown above).
2. Create a CNAME record at NameCheap to verify that I own the domain. Wait for the DNS changes to propagate.
3. Go back to “Addon Domains” and try again. It should now work.
4. Go back to NameCheap and change the A Record to use the IP address given in the “Account Details” section at InfinityFree.

I’m stuck at step 2. I’ve made the following change at NameCheap:

This isn’t working, even after waiting several days for DNS to propagate. I’ve also tried reversing the Host and Value fields.

What am I not understanding correctly?

[KangJL]

Swap the fields?

[bwbecker]

Tried that already.

[JxstErg1]

You might also need to remove the domain name from the record on the Host field (so only leave the hash), then wait some time for the DNS record to propagate before adding your domain on your hosting account.

[bwbecker]

JsxtErg1 – You mean to remove the “ns1.byet.org” in the CNAME image I posted? The NameCheap control panel won’t let me do that. It looks like the “at” sign is sometimes used as a placeholder. The error message " Alternatively you can create a CNAME record pointing 6596ae1c31d87936e0e9a5a4ff4996f0.localpr.ca. to ns1.byet.org." seems to indicate that the “ns1 byet org” should be used. Willing to try, just skeptical…

[Greenreader9]

Set 6596ae1c31d87936e0e9a5a4ff4996f0 as host and ns1.byet.org as the value.

Reason is because most DNS providers automatically add your domain at the end of the CNAME record.

[bwbecker]

Thanks, Greenreader9. Made the change. Waiting for DNS propagation.

This little tidbit would be a helpful addition to the error message

[Greenreader9]

It would be, and I agree it’s worded quite badly. Unfortunately, that message is controlled by iFastNet, not InfinityFree, so it’s not an easy change.

[bwbecker]

Thanks, Greenreader9. That solved it!

[Admin]

Note that you can also add domains through the client area, which is a little bit easier to use.

@Greenreader9

Reason is because most DNS providers automatically add your domain at the end of the CNAME record.

@bwbecker

This little tidbit would be a helpful addition to the error message

@Greenreader9

It would be, and I agree it’s worded quite badly.

Please understand that it is an error message, not a step-by-step guide. And as you said, most DNS providers automatically add the domain, but some do not, and it’s not practical to give specific instructions for every DNS host out there.

@bwbecker

I don’t want to change that because I have other domains registered there as well.

Please note that you can just change your domain’s nameservers at Namecheap. You don’t need to transfer your domain name to a different registrar just to use different DNS servers. In fact, InfinityFree doesn’t even provide domain registration services.

Note that if you proceed with the CNAME validation, you will need to configure additional DNS records yourself to make your website work. Changing nameservers is much easier.