Constellations

Tag: SOPs

  • Create a New Subdomain and Connect It to Namecheap Hosting

    I use Squarespace to manage morgantaveras.com and its DNS, but my other WordPress sites are hosted on Namecheap Stellar Plus shared hosting. This is how I create a new subdomain like wiki.morgantaveras.com without disturbing my main site.

    1. Create the subdomain in Namecheap

    Log into Namecheap.

    Go to:

    Dashboard → Hosting List → Stellar Plus → Go to cPanel

    In cPanel, go to:

    Domains → Domains → Create A New Domain

    Enter the complete subdomain, for example:

    wiki.morgantaveras.com

    Make sure “Share document root” is UNCHECKED. The new site needs its own folder rather than sharing files with another site.

    cPanel should create/suggest a document root resembling:

    /home/[username]/wiki.morgantaveras.com

    Create the domain.

    2. Point the subdomain to Namecheap

    My DNS is managed through Squarespace, so creating the subdomain in Namecheap isn’t enough. I also have to tell the internet where wiki.morgantaveras.com lives.

    Go to:

    Squarespace → Domains → morgantaveras.com → DNS Settings

    Create an A record:

    Host: wiki
    Type: A
    Data / Value: the IP address for my Namecheap shared hosting

    How do I find the IP again?

    I do not need a new IP for every subdomain.

    My sites on the same Namecheap shared-hosting account can point to the same shared IP address. Namecheap/cPanel figures out which website to serve based on the requested domain.

    Two easy ways to find it:

    • In cPanel → General Information → Shared IP Address
    • Or look at the existing Squarespace A record for me.morgantaveras.com and copy its IP.

    So me and wiki can have separate A records pointing to the same IP.

    Mental model: The IP address is the house. me. and wiki. are different doors into the house. cPanel knows which room/site belongs behind each door.

    3. Install WordPress

    Once the subdomain exists and points to Namecheap:

    cPanel → Softaculous Apps Installer → WordPress → Install

    Choose:

    wiki.morgantaveras.com

    Leave “In Directory” BLANK so WordPress installs directly at wiki.morgantaveras.com, not something like wiki.morgantaveras.com/wp.

    Create the WordPress admin login and install.

    DNS changes can take a little time to propagate, so the new address may not work immediately.