Re: [cobalt-users] main site URL without www

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Edward Bishop wrote:

> For the main site on the server, how does one make URLs both with and
> without the www bit work? I have tried removing the www bit in the DNS
> server and then using
> 
> ServerAlias *mysite.com
> 
> in /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf, but that makes the URL work without the www
> but not with. I also tried
> 
> ServerAlias www.mysite.com - same result.

Forget about DNS for the moment.  Click on the wrench for your main site
and then on "Site Settings".  On my RaQ3 the checkbox says "Web Access
by Domain", on any other RaQ it might be slightly different.

If it's checked, then your main site will work for both domain.com and
for host.domain.com, where host may or may not be "www".  If it's NOT
checked, then your main site will only work for host.domain.com.

> If I put the www back in the DNS, the URL won't work with the www regardless
> of what I use in the ServerAlias line.

Once you've made the above changes, then make sure you have an A record
for both domain.com, and for host.domain.com (again, where "host" may or
may not be "www"), if you've checked that box, and only one A record,
for domain.com, if you didn't.

> Is there a solution other than making this site a virtual site rather than
> the main site?

Yes, as above.  However, that said, I NEVER use the "main" site for an
ftp site; I do EVERYTHING with virtual sites.  I've written about
several reasons before, but a new one has recently come to light:  most
script kiddies that attack websites attack and deface only the main
sites, and not any virtual sites.  We recently had a crack-attack on a
W2K box; the main site was defaced, but it was never being called
<smile>.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672, Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205