January 9, 2025
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What is Subdomain: Resolving A Subdomain Not Working Issue in cPanel

PADMA LALA06 mins

What is Subdomain

What is Subdomain

A subdomain is a domain that is part of a larger main domain (or parent domain). It is used to organize and navigate to different sections of a website, often representing different areas or functions. Subdomains are created by adding a prefix to the main domain name, separated by a dot.

Example Structure:

  • Main Domain: example.com
  • Subdomains:
    • blog.example.com
    • store.example.com
    • support.example.com

Uses of Subdomains:

  1. Organization of Content: Subdomains help in organizing different sections of a website. For example, a blog could be hosted on blog.example.com while the main site remains on example.com.
  2. Separate Functionality: Subdomains can be used to separate different functionalities of a website. For instance, an online store could be on shop.example.com, while the main site provides information about the company.
  3. Localization: Subdomains can be used for different language versions of a website. For instance, en.example.com for English, fr.example.com for French, and so on.
  4. Testing and Development: Subdomains are often used for testing and development purposes, such as dev.example.com or staging.example.com.

Resolving A Subdomain Not Working Issue in cPanel

If you’re facing an issue where a subdomain is not working in cPanel, there are several potential causes and corresponding troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Verify Subdomain Creation

  • Log in to cPanel.
  • Go to Domains > Subdomains.
  • Ensure that the subdomain is correctly listed and points to the correct document root (the folder where its files are stored).

2. Check DNS Settings

  • Ensure that the DNS record for the subdomain is correctly configured.
  • Navigate to Domains > Zone Editor in cPanel.
  • Look for an A record (or CNAME record, depending on your setup) for the subdomain. Ensure it points to the correct IP address of your server.
  • If no record exists, add an A record with the subdomain pointing to your server’s IP address.

3. Allow DNS Propagation

  • DNS changes can take time to propagate. If you’ve recently added or modified the DNS record, it might take up to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide.
  • You can use tools like What’s My DNS to check the DNS propagation status.

4. Check .htaccess Configuration

  • If you’re using an .htaccess file in the subdomain’s root directory, ensure that there are no rules that might block access to the subdomain.
  • Common issues might include incorrect redirect rules or permission settings.

5. Verify the Web Server Configuration

  • If you have root access to the server, ensure that the web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) is configured to handle the subdomain correctly.
  • Check the server’s configuration files (e.g., httpd.conf or nginx.conf) to make sure the subdomain is correctly set up.

6. Check File Permissions

  • Ensure that the files in the subdomain’s document root have the correct permissions.
  • Files typically should have 644 permissions, and directories should have 755 permissions.

7. Clear Browser Cache

  • Sometimes, the issue might be local. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies or try accessing the subdomain from an incognito/private window.

8. Test with a Different Network

  • The issue could be due to local DNS caching. Try accessing the subdomain from a different network (e.g., mobile data) to see if it’s working.

9. Check Firewall Settings

  • If your server has a firewall, ensure that it’s not blocking access to the subdomain.
  • You may need to check with your hosting provider if you’re unsure about the firewall configuration.

10. Contact Support

  • If you’ve tried the above steps and the subdomain is still not working, consider contacting your hosting provider’s support for further assistance.