Domain configuration issue - pointing elsewhere without affecting emails?

[Matt Tutt]

Hi there,

I'm working with a client that has 2 domain names: biscuits.co.uk and chocolatebiscuits.co.uk (not their actual domains, unfortunately).

They currently have their in-house email system setup to use "name[at]biscuits.co.uk" but their actual website address is "chocolatebiscuits.co.uk".

I would like to setup biscuits.co.uk so that it 301 redirects to chocolatebiscuits.co.uk - but from their domain management provider there is no option to redirect or forward the domain.

My question is - how can I point the biscuits.co.uk domain elsewhere (eg to a new web host, where I can add a .htaccess file containing the necessary redirects) WITHOUT affecting their current email system? I'm wary of taking down all their emails. Also, the domain management tool seems pretty useless (it's not a well known one) and there seems to be no way of adding redirects. The client has asked about it before and they claimed it wasn't possible.

I also read that changing the Nameservers of the domain will affect email, so obviously want to avoid that route.

Thanks for any help - hopefully the above all makes sense!

 

[nahosting]

Hi Matt,

You just need update the A records for the website for the domain biscuits.co.uk i.e. the blank and www ones. You will probably have mail A records for the MX records i.e. email, just leave those alone and the email will continue to work.

All the best.

 

[HW-J]

You should be able to do this by updating the A record for the domain name. In terms of the MX record, is this currently set to an external mail provider? As you’ve said, changing the name servers would effect the mail, so probably best avoiding that. Although you could change the name serves for the domain and then point the MX record back to what it’s currently set as, but probably just easier updating the A record.

 

[Matt Tutt]

Thanks both - that's reassuring to hear. Really appreciate the advice.

 

[Matt Tutt]

Actually I have another update here.
When checking the DNS settings of these 2 domains, the blank A record and WWW record do have an IP address listed which is the same for both biscuits co uk and chocolatebiscuits co uk.

The only difference I see (which may be of note) is that of the Nameservers, here there are differences.

Also (not sure if this is relevant but I didn't share before): when I go to "biscuits co uk" in my browser, I do see the "chocolatebiscuits co uk" site content loading but it appears to be within an iframe. Here's a screenshot of the source code:

Image here: imgur (dot) com/GU1AXTBl.png


So: in the above situation, could it be that the Nameservers are pointing to a web host where they have the iframe code as shown above? Or am I missing something/barking up the wrong tree?

Again - thanks for the help!

 

[fisicx]

biscuits co uk is getting the content from chocolatebiscuits co uk. They could be on completly different servers, biscuits co uk doesn't care. It just knows to go to chocolatebiscuits co uk and load the content in the iframe.

This is about the worst of all options.

 

[Darren_Ssc]

You need to untangle things first and start again. Best pay someone to do it since it's relatively simple for someone who knows what they are doing.

Nor offence, but I fear you may end up in a bigger mess if you do it yourself.