06Web hosting & WordPress
Create a website in the web panel and connect a domain
Create a new website in the Nexthosting web panel, use the preview address, add domains and subdomains and get an SSL certificate automatically.
In short
In the web panel, click Add new under Websites and choose whether to start empty, install an app such as WordPress, or clone an existing website. Every new website immediately gets a preview address under staging.nexthosting.app. Use it to build the site before your domain is switched over. As soon as the domain points to the website, the SSL certificate arrives automatically.
What a “website” is in the web panel
Section titled “What a “website” is in the web panel”A website is its own area with its own folder for files, its own PHP version, its own databases and its own domains. How many websites you can create depends on your plan (Webspace: 1, 3, 10 or 25; WordPress: 1, 3, 5 or 10). See the overview.
A website can have several domains:
| Type | Example | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Primary domain | meinverein.de |
The main address of the website. www.meinverein.de is included automatically. |
| Additional domain / alias | meinverein.com |
Shows the same website, e.g. for other endings. It is best to redirect it to the primary domain. |
| Subdomain | shop.meinverein.de |
A part of your domain, often used for a separate website. |
| Preview address | meinverein-a1b2.staging.nexthosting.app |
Created automatically, for testing without your own domain. |
Creating a new website
Section titled “Creating a new website”- Log in to the web panel and open Websites on the left.
- Click Add new.
- Choose how the website should start:
- Start from scratch – an empty website; you upload your own files.
- Install an app – the web panel installs an app, for example WordPress. See Install WordPress.
- Clone a website – a copy of one of your existing websites. See Staging and cloning.
- Enter the domain under which the website should later be reachable (e.g.
meinverein.de). If you do not have one yet, use the domain you want to order or transfer; until then the website is reachable via the preview address. - Leave the Make this a staging site checkbox unticked if this should be a normal website.
- Confirm with Add. After a short while the website appears in the list.
The preview address
Section titled “The preview address”Every new website gets an address following the pattern name-xxxx.staging.nexthosting.app (your name plus four random characters). You will find it on the website’s dashboard and under Domains, marked PREVIEW.
- The preview address works immediately, even if your own domain still points elsewhere.
- The SSL certificate for the preview address can take a few minutes. During this time the browser warns about an insecure certificate. Wait a moment and reload the page.
- Search engines can find preview addresses. While the site is under construction, enable Discourage search engines from indexing this site in WordPress (see Install WordPress) and untick it when the site goes live under your domain.
Connecting a domain
Section titled “Connecting a domain”For visitors to see your website under your domain, two things are needed: the website must know the domain, and the domain must point to the server via DNS.
- Enter the domain in the web panelWebsite → Domains
- Switch DNSNameservers or A/AAAA records
- minutes to 48 hrs
- Does DNS point to the server?
- SSL is issuedautomatically, Let's Encrypt
- Website is online under your domain
Adding another domain or subdomain
Section titled “Adding another domain or subdomain”- Open Websites and click the website.
- Choose Domains at the top.
- Click Add domain.
- Choose the type (additional domain, alias or subdomain) and fill in the form.
- Confirm with Add.
Setting up DNS
Section titled “Setting up DNS”How you set the DNS records depends on where your domain is held. The web panel shows you the values (IP address or nameservers) for the website.
The included domain of your plan is registered at Nexthosting. Check under Domains in the web panel that the domain is entered for the right website. You manage the DNS records in the web panel’s DNS editor. Details: Managing DNS records.
You have two options: switch the nameservers to Nexthosting (ns1.nexthosting.net and ns2.nexthosting.net), or set A and AAAA records (and www as a CNAME) pointing to the server at your current provider. Both are explained step by step in Connecting a domain to a website.
DNS changes take time to arrive everywhere: usually minutes to a few hours, and up to 48 hours when you change nameservers. Why that is, is explained in DNS basics.
Changing the primary domain
Section titled “Changing the primary domain”The primary domain is the address under which the website is listed in the web panel. To change it:
- On the website’s dashboard, open Domains.
- Click the menu (three dots or arrow) next to the domain you want and choose Make primary.
- Save with Save.
With WordPress you also have to change the WordPress address; otherwise WordPress keeps redirecting to the old address. See Solving WordPress problems.
SSL certificate
Section titled “SSL certificate”For every domain that points to your website via DNS, the web panel automatically requests a free certificate from Let’s Encrypt. This usually takes only a few minutes. Until then the server serves a temporary, self-signed certificate, which makes the browser show a warning. The certificates are valid for three months and are renewed automatically in good time.
If it does not work, the cause is almost always DNS: the domain (or www) does not yet point to our server, or does not point only to it. More in SSL certificates and HTTPS.
Setting up redirects
Section titled “Setting up redirects”For simple redirects (e.g. meinverein.com → meinverein.de) you do not need a .htaccess file:
- Open the website and choose Advanced → Redirects.
- Click Add redirect.
- Choose 301 for a permanent or 302 for a temporary redirect.
- Choose the domain and enter the target address. Confirm with Add.
What 301 and 302 mean is explained in Error 404 and redirects.
Uploading files
Section titled “Uploading files”On an empty website, everything visitors should see belongs in the public_html folder. The home page is called index.html or index.php. You can upload via the file manager in the browser or via SFTP/FTP: Uploading files.
Node.js apps (Webspace Pro and Business)
Section titled “Node.js apps (Webspace Pro and Business)”From Webspace Pro upwards you can run Node.js applications on a website. You will find this under Advanced → Node.js → Deploy app. There you set the start command (e.g. npm start), working folder, Node version and port, and turn on the proxy so the app is reachable under your domain. In automatic mode, the app is restarted if it crashes. Node.js is meant for experienced users; you are responsible for your own app code.
Frequently asked questions
Section titled “Frequently asked questions”The preview address shows a certificate warning.
Section titled “The preview address shows a certificate warning.”This is normal in the first minutes after creating the site. Wait a few minutes and reload. If the warning lasts longer than an hour, contact Support and tell us the preview address.
I only see an empty page or a default page.
Section titled “I only see an empty page or a default page.”With “Start from scratch”, the public_html folder is empty or contains only a placeholder page. Upload your files and make sure the home page is called index.html or index.php.
Can I delete a website and create it again?
Section titled “Can I delete a website and create it again?”Yes. Download everything you want to keep first (files, database export). When you delete a website, its data is gone.
How many domains can I connect?
Section titled “How many domains can I connect?”That depends on the plan, for example with Webspace from 5 additional domains in Starter to 100 in Business. The table is in the overview.