Learn how to choose which website appears under a domain or subdomain. A virtual host maps each address to a folder in your hosting.
Who is this guide for?
This guide applies exclusively to Essential Hosting without cPanel on the new Webland platform (WHMCS).
Do you use the System Configurator or Domain Manager? Sign in at classic.webland.ch. The steps below do not apply to the classic platform.
Does your hosting use cPanel? Manage your website domains and their target directories in cPanel.
What is a virtual host?
A virtual host determines which folder the web server uses to serve content for a particular domain or subdomain. This folder is called the Document Root.
Example:
Website address | Document Root | Content displayed |
|
| Main website |
|
| The same main website |
|
| Website in the “blog” subfolder |
A virtual host does not create an automatic browser redirect. It determines which content is displayed at the requested address.
Requirements
You have an active Essential Hosting service on the new Webland platform.
You are signed in to the client area and have the required management permissions.
The relevant domain is assigned to your hosting or can be added.
The intended website folder exists.
You can check and, if necessary, update the domain or subdomain’s DNS records.
Additional domains require Website Standard or a higher-tier plan. Website Light supports only one domain.
1. Open your Essential Hosting service
Open Services in the main menu of the client area.
Find your Essential Hosting service.
Click View Details.
2. Check the domain assignment
Check the Domains section in the service overview.
If the intended domain is already listed, continue to step 3.
If it is missing:
Select the domain from the dropdown menu.
Click Add Domain.
For more information, see “Essential Hosting: Adding More Domains to Your Web Hosting”.
3. Open web hosting addresses
Click Manage Web Hosting Addresses.
The overview displays the existing virtual hosts for your hosting plan.
4. Add a virtual host
Go to the Add New Virtualhost section:
Enter the intended domain or subdomain, such as
example.comorblog.example.com.Under Document Root, select the folder containing the intended website content.
Check the address and target folder.
Click Add Virtualhost.
The Document Root must point to a folder, not to a file such as index.php or index.html.
If your main website should be accessible both with and without www, create a virtual host for each address and select the same target folder.
Creating a virtual host does not create website files. These must be present in the selected folder.
5. Check the DNS records
The DNS records for each configured address must also be correct so that visitors reach the right web server.
You can find your hosting plan’s IP address:
In the service overview.
Below the fields for adding a new virtual host.
Check that the A records for the relevant domains and subdomains point to this IPv4 address. A CNAME record, for example for www, must point to a domain name that resolves to the correct hosting.
If the domain uses external nameservers, make DNS changes with the responsible DNS provider.
6. Open the website
Open each configured address in your browser and check that the intended content appears.
If you changed DNS records, cached responses may delay visibility. This does not establish a fixed activation time of one to two hours.
Frequently asked questions and troubleshooting
The website does not load.
Check that:
The domain is assigned to your hosting.
A virtual host exists for the exact address you are opening.
The Document Root points to an existing folder.
The website files are stored in that folder.
The DNS records lead to the correct web server.
The domain displays the wrong website.
Check the selected Document Root and the DNS records. Also check for conflicting mappings for the same website address.
The website works without www but not with www.
The www address needs both an appropriate virtual host and a DNS record.
The browser displays a certificate warning.
Check that a valid SSL certificate covers the domain or subdomain you are opening. Creating a virtual host alone does not confirm that HTTPS is already configured correctly.
I cannot use the intended domain.
Check that it is assigned to your hosting and that your plan supports the additional domain. If the problem continues, contact our support team and include the domain and any error message.