Connect your domain
Point the school's domain at its new website by adding the DNS records JPRAXC provides, without breaking existing e-mail.
A domain (for example, sunrisepublicschool.example) is the name people type to reach your website. It is bought from a domain registrar, and its DNS settings say where the website and e-mail live. To launch your new site, a few DNS records on your domain are changed to point at JPRAXC's hosting. JPRAXC gives you the exact records; you, or whoever manages the domain, add them.
Before you start#
- Know where the domain is registered and who can sign in to that registrar's account. If nobody knows, find out before launch; it is the most common cause of delay.
- The domain should be registered in the school's or the managing trust's name, with an e-mail address the school controls.
- If the school has no domain yet, JPRAXC can register one as part of the service. Ask for it to be registered in the school's name.
- Wait for JPRAXC to send the records. Do not guess them.
Steps#
- Tell JPRAXC the domain name and the registrar, and whether the domain already has a website or e-mail on it.
- JPRAXC sends you a short list of DNS records. Each record has a type (usually A or CNAME), a name or host (such as @ for the main domain or www), and a value. Use them exactly as provided by JPRAXC.
- Sign in to the registrar (or the DNS provider, if the domain's DNS is managed elsewhere) and open the DNS settings for the domain.
- For each record JPRAXC gave you, find any existing record of the same type and name. Edit it to the new value, or add a new record if there is none.
- Remove an old record only if JPRAXC asks you to.
- Leave every other record as it is, especially MX and TXT records. Those carry the school's e-mail.
- Save the changes and tell JPRAXC they are done.
- JPRAXC checks that the domain now reaches the new website, then switches on HTTPS. See HTTPS certificate.
Good to know#
- DNS changes can take from a few minutes to a day or two to reach every network. During that time some visitors may still see the old site.
- If the domain already has a website or another e-mail service, JPRAXC reviews its records first so the change is planned safely. Tell JPRAXC about every service that uses the domain.
- When JPRAXC Business E-mail is added on the same domain, JPRAXC gives you separate records for e-mail (MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC). Add those only when asked.
- A School ERP Cloud can also run on the school's own domain or a subdomain of it (for example, erp.sunrisepublicschool.example). Its records are also provided by JPRAXC.
- Keep the registrar login safe and renew the domain on time. If a domain expires, the website and e-mail on it stop working.
Troubleshooting#
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| The registrar will not accept the record | Check that you chose the right record type and did not repeat the domain name in the name box. Many registrars add the domain automatically. |
| The old site still shows after two days | Check the records against JPRAXC's list, then tell JPRAXC what you see. |
| E-mail stopped after the change | An MX or TXT record may have been removed or changed. Put back the previous values and tell JPRAXC at once. |
| The browser says the site is not secure | HTTPS is switched on after the domain points correctly. Wait for JPRAXC to confirm, then check again. |
