Domain redirection

A domain redirect makes a different website, another domain, or a chosen directory appear under your domain address. You set it up in the DirectAdmin panel under Domains → Redirects, choosing type 301 or 302 and either the FRAME or REDIRECT method. This article walks you through it step by step: from the definition, to configuring it in the panel, to picking the right redirect type. Nodea is a Polish hosting and domain registrar based in Leszno — you manage domains and redirects from a single panel.

What is a domain redirect?

A domain redirect tells traffic from your domain to go to a different URL, another domain, a directory, or a profile (for example on Facebook). Instead of showing your own site, the address sends the visitor wherever you set the target.

The variants differ by target: a redirect to another domain leads from one address to another (say from oldcompany.com to newcompany.com), a redirect to a URL points to a specific subpage, and a redirect to a directory points to a section of a site (such as /shop). You use a redirect when several domains should point at one site, when you move a shop to a new address, or when you want to send visitors to a social profile. It is worth distinguishing this from a domain transfer: a transfer changes the registrar that holds the domain, whereas a redirect only changes the destination the user reaches. Before you set a redirect up, the domain must be correctly connected to your hosting.

How to set up a domain redirect in DirectAdmin step by step

You set up a domain redirect in DirectAdmin in 4 steps: log in, open Domains → Redirects, click Create new redirect, and enter the target URL.

1. Log in to your client panel, then to the DirectAdmin instance tied to your account.
2. Go to Account Management → Redirects (in some panel layouts: Domains → Redirects).
3. Click Create new redirect.
4. Fill in the Local URL path, choose the redirect type, enter the Destination URL, and click CREATE — the redirect is saved.

In the Local URL path field, leave the default / character if you are redirecting the entire domain address. Enter something like /shop when you want to redirect only a selected subpage. In the Destination URL field, type the address with its protocol — http or https — depending on whether the target site has an SSL certificate. The wrong protocol triggers browser warnings, so always use https for sites that have a certificate.

What types of redirects are there (301, 302, 303)?

Redirect types are standard HTTP server response codes: 301 means a permanent move, 302 a temporary one, and 303 sends the browser to a different address after form data is submitted with POST.

• 301 (Moved Permanently) — a permanent redirect. Use it when the change is final, for example when moving a site to a new domain.
• 302 (Found) — a temporary redirect. Use it when you are pointing a page elsewhere only for a while, such as during maintenance work.
• 303 (See Other) — a redirect used when data was sent with an HTTP POST request (typically after a form submission), so the browser fetches the result from another address with GET.

The exact set of available codes depends on the panel configuration [type to be verified by a Nodea expert]. For everyday domain work, the first two — 301 and 302 — are usually enough.

When should you choose a 301 redirect versus a 302?

Choose a 301 redirect for a permanent change and a 302 for a temporary one; 301 preserves the page's Google ranking, while 302 does not de-index the domain.

• 301 (permanent) — when the change is final. It is the best choice for SEO because it passes the old address's value to the new target. It is the type most often used when moving a site or shop.
• 302 (temporary) — when you redirect a page only briefly, for example during work on the site. Google treats the change as temporary and does not de-index the domain from search results.

A practical tip: do several domains point at the same site? Set a 301 from the secondary domains to the main address — that way all the value and traffic collect under a single address, and the search engine does not treat the copies as separate sites.

What is the difference between a FRAME and a REDIRECT?

FRAME and REDIRECT differ in what address the user sees in the browser bar: FRAME keeps your domain, REDIRECT shows the destination address.

• FRAME (framed, with masking) — displays the target page, but your domain stays in the browser address bar. Use it when you want to keep your own address visible.
• REDIRECT (full redirect) — the destination address appears in the address bar. Use it for a permanent address change and anywhere a frame will not work.

Note: some services (Facebook, Allegro) and mobile browsers do not allow their pages to be displayed inside a frame — the masked redirect simply will not load. In those cases use a full REDIRECT. The method works at the server and domain layer, so the same rules apply to its propagation as to changes in the DNS system.

How long does a domain redirect take to go live?

A domain redirect starts working once you save the settings — a full refresh takes [propagation time to be confirmed by a Nodea expert — e.g. a few minutes up to 24 h]. During that window, some users still reach the old version stored in the browser or DNS resolver cache. To check the result, clear your browser cache or open the address in a private window.

How to redirect a domain without hosting?

Redirecting the domain alone — with no active hosting account — is done at the domain-management level, provided the registrar offers that option [to be confirmed by a Nodea expert]. If you hold only a domain at Nodea, check the domain-management section and its records in the client panel. With a full hosting account, the easiest way is to set the redirect exactly as described above — in DirectAdmin, under Domains → Redirects.