Using Cloudflare to manage your domain’s DNS settings provides additional benefits like enhanced security, performance optimization, and DDoS protection. You can easily point your domain to your OzSpeed Website Development project through Cloudflare while taking advantage of these features. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Step 1: Add Your Domain to Cloudflare #
If you haven’t already added your domain to Cloudflare, follow these steps:
- Go to Cloudflare and sign in to your account (or create one if you don’t have it).
- Click “Add Site” and enter your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com).
- Click “Next” to start the setup process.
Cloudflare Plan Selection: #
- Choose a plan that suits your needs. The Free Plan is sufficient for basic DNS management and security features.
Step 2: Update Nameservers at Your Domain Registrar #
Cloudflare will provide you with two nameservers (e.g., ns1.cloudflare.com and ns2.cloudflare.com).
How to Update Nameservers: #
- Log in to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).
- Navigate to the DNS Management or Nameservers section.
- Replace the existing nameservers with the Cloudflare nameservers provided.
- Click Save to apply the changes.
Tip: #
- It may take up to 24-48 hours for the nameserver changes to propagate.
Step 3: Configure DNS Records in Cloudflare #
After updating the nameservers, you’ll need to point your domain to OzSpeed by adding the correct DNS records in Cloudflare.
Step 1: Access Cloudflare DNS Settings #
- Log in to your Cloudflare account.
- Select your domain from the Dashboard.
- Click on the DNS tab.
Step 2: Add an A Record #
- Click Add Record.
- Choose A as the record type.
- Enter the following details:
- Name:
@(this represents your root domain, e.g., yourdomain.com). - IPv4 Address: Enter the IP address provided by OzSpeed (found in your hPanel under DNS Settings).
- Proxy Status: Set this to Proxied if you want to use Cloudflare’s CDN and protection features, or DNS Only if you prefer direct traffic.
- Name:
Example A Record:
| Type | Name | Content | Proxy Status | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 203.0.113.123 | Proxied | Auto |
- Click Save to add the A record.
Step 3: Add a CNAME Record for WWW #
- Click Add Record again.
- Choose CNAME as the record type.
- Enter the following details:
- Name:
www(this points the www version of your domain to your root domain). - Target:
yourdomain.com. - Proxy Status: Set to Proxied.
- Name:
Example CNAME Record:
| Type | Name | Content | Proxy Status | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNAME | www | yourdomain.com | Proxied | Auto |
- Click Save to add the CNAME record.
Step 4: Enable SSL in Cloudflare and hPanel #
To ensure your website is secure, enable SSL in both Cloudflare and OzSpeed’s hPanel.
How to Enable SSL in Cloudflare: #
- Go to the SSL/TLS tab in Cloudflare.
- Set the SSL/TLS Encryption Mode to Full or Full (Strict).
- Full (Strict) provides the highest level of security but requires a valid SSL certificate on OzSpeed.
How to Enable SSL in hPanel: #
- Log in to hPanel at ozspeed.com.au.
- Go to Security > SSL/TLS.
- Click Enable SSL for your domain.
Tip: #
- After enabling SSL, check your website for any mixed content issues and update all URLs to use HTTPS.
Step 5: Test Your Domain Connection #
Once you’ve updated your DNS records and enabled SSL, test your domain to ensure it’s connected correctly.
How to Test: #
- Open your browser and visit yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com.
- Verify that your OzSpeed website loads correctly.
- Use a tool like DNSChecker to confirm that the DNS changes have propagated.
Tip: #
- If your website shows a “Not Secure” warning, clear your browser cache or check the SSL settings in Cloudflare and hPanel.
Troubleshooting Tips #
- Website Not Loading:
- Check that the A record points to the correct IP address from OzSpeed.
- Verify that the nameservers have been updated correctly and allow time for DNS propagation.
- SSL Certificate Error:
- Ensure that SSL is enabled in both Cloudflare and hPanel.
- Set the SSL mode in Cloudflare to Full or Full (Strict).
- Redirect Loop Detected:
- This issue can occur if the SSL mode is set incorrectly in Cloudflare. Switch the SSL mode to Full and disable Always Use HTTPS temporarily to fix the loop.
- Slow Website Performance:
- Enable Cloudflare’s CDN and caching features to improve website speed.
- Use the Speed tab in Cloudflare to optimize your website settings.
Additional Tips: #
- Enable Caching: Use Cloudflare’s caching features to reduce server load and improve loading times.
- Monitor DNS Changes: Use the Audit Log in Cloudflare to track any DNS changes and ensure they were applied correctly.
- Use Page Rules: Set up Page Rules in Cloudflare to automatically redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS or apply specific settings to certain pages of your website.
