Addon domains in DirectAdmin-host multiple sites

Addon domains in DirectAdmin allow you to host multiple independent websites on a single hosting account. Each addon domain gets its own document root (file folder), SSL certificate, and cPanel-style control. This is ideal for agencies, freelancers, or businesses managing several client sites.

Add an addon domain

Adding a new addon domain to your DirectAdmin account takes just a few clicks:

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Navigate to Account Manager (top left)
3. Click Domain Setup or Account Domains
4. Click Add Another Domain or the + button
5. Enter the new domain name (e.g., example2.com)
6. Optional: Set custom bandwidth and disk quotas for this domain (or leave unlimited)
7. Click Submit or Add

DirectAdmin instantly creates the domain entry. Your domain is now configured in DirectAdmin, but DNS still needs to point to your server before the website goes live.

File structure and directories

When you add an addon domain, DirectAdmin automatically creates a folder structure for it:

/home/username/domains/
├── primarydomain.com/
│   └── public_html/           (main website files)
│
├── example2.com/
│   └── public_html/           (addon domain #1 files)
│
└── example3.com/
    └── public_html/           (addon domain #2 files)

Key locations:

• /home/username/domains/example2.com/public_html/ — Upload website files here (via FTP/SFTP or File Manager)
• /home/username/domains/example2.com/ — Contains subdirectories for logs, cgi-bin, SSL certificates
• Each domain's email accounts and databases are separate and organized by domain

You do NOT upload addon domain files to the primary domain's folder. Each addon domain has its own isolated public_html directory.

DNS setup: Pointing your addon domain

After creating an addon domain in DirectAdmin, you need to point the domain to your server using one of two methods:

Method 1: Update nameservers (recommended)

1. Get UnderHost's nameservers (provided in your hosting welcome email)
2. Log in to your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
3. Find Nameservers or DNS settings
4. Update nameservers to UnderHost's nameservers
5. Wait for propagation (24-48 hours)

Method 2: Add A record (faster if you already have UnderHost nameservers)

1. Log in to your domain registrar's DNS panel
2. Find or create an A record for the domain
3. Set the value to your UnderHost server's IP address
4. Save; typically takes 1-6 hours to propagate

Both methods achieve the same result: directing traffic from your addon domain to your UnderHost server.

DNS propagation and testing

After updating DNS, your domain must propagate through the global DNS system. This typically takes 24-48 hours, but can sometimes be faster (1-6 hours).

To test DNS propagation before it's fully live:

nslookup example2.com 8.8.8.8    # Uses Google's DNS (public)
dig example2.com @8.8.8.8         # Detailed DNS lookup
host example2.com 1.1.1.1         # Uses Cloudflare's DNS

Or use an online tool like MXToolBox or WhatsMyDNS to check propagation status from multiple locations worldwide.

What you should see: An A record pointing to your UnderHost server IP. Once this appears globally, your addon domain will go live.

Manage and edit addon domains

DirectAdmin gives you full control over your addon domains:

• Edit resource limits: Click the domain → adjust bandwidth and disk quotas
• Enable/disable: Temporarily suspend an addon domain without deleting it
• View statistics: See storage used, bandwidth consumed, number of email accounts and subdomains
• Configure SSL: Each addon domain gets its own free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate (auto-renewing)
• Create email accounts: Add user@example2.com email addresses specific to that domain
• Database management: Create MySQL/MariaDB databases assigned to this domain

Addon domains vs subdomains

Key differences:

Choose addon domains if: You host separate client websites, run multiple businesses, or want completely independent sites.

Choose subdomains if: You're organizing sections of a single website (portfolio, help desk, API, etc.).

Remove an addon domain

Important: Removing an addon domain in DirectAdmin does NOT delete your files. You must manually delete the website files if you don't need them.

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Go to Domain Setup
3. Find the addon domain you want to remove
4. Click Delete or the delete icon
5. Confirm the deletion

After deletion:

• Visitors to that domain will see a "not found" or "no website configured" error
• Files remain in /home/username/domains/example2.com/ (not automatically deleted)
• Use DirectAdmin's File Manager to manually delete the folder if needed
• Email accounts and databases tied to that domain are removed automatically

Related: DirectAdmin overview | cPanel addon domains | DNS propagation | Configure DNS

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