[SOLVED] new website opens using ip4 numbers but not using name

Pedroski · 10-15-2023, 07:26 AM

I rented a new cloud server with IONOS, cheap.

I have set it up, and used Filezilla to upload the webpages.

I have tested all the little webpages on my laptop first. Everything works as I want, all very very simple stuff!

I have not set up ssl yet.

Let's say my public ip4 number is 123.456.789.123

If I enter http://123.456.789.123 then my webpage opens, no problem.

Let's say my webpage name is mywebpage.com

If I enter http://mywebpage.com I end up at IONOS, not my webpage. I don't understand this.

I have set up a virtual host like this:

Code:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName mywebpage.com
    ServerAlias www.mywebpage.com
    ServerAdmin webmaster@mywebpage.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/mywebpage.com/public_html

    <Directory /var/www/mywebpage.com/public_html>
        Options -Indexes +FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Order allow,deny
        allow from all
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/mywebpage.com-error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/mywebpage.com-access.log combined
#RewriteEngine on
#RewriteCond %{SERVER_NAME} =mywebpage.com [OR]
#RewriteCond %{SERVER_NAME} =www.mywebpage.com
#RewriteRule ^ https://%{SERVER_NAME}%{REQUEST_URI} [END,NE,R=permanent]
</VirtualHost>

I disabled the default virtual host

Code:

# disable the default
sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf

I enabled my virtual host

Code:

# enable the new virtual host
sudo a2ensite mywebpage.com.conf

I reloaded apache2

Code:

# reload apache2
sudo systemctl reload apache2

Any tips about why the webpage name won't work, but the ip4 number works please??

Turbocapitalist · 10-15-2023, 07:28 AM

Can you verify that the DNS entry for your web host is correct?

scasey · 10-15-2023, 10:44 AM

Yes. The resolution of a domain name to an IP address is done in the domain name system (DNS). The configuration of the web server has nothing to do with it.

Pedroski · 10-15-2023, 11:45 AM

Thanks for the replies!

Maybe they don't work weekends?

I don't know how to verify the DNS entry.

It is not urgent, maybe it will work tomorrow!

Turbocapitalist · 10-15-2023, 11:47 AM

Try host or dig:

Code:

host www.example.com
dig www.example.com

The number shown should match the IPv4 address you have. If not you'll have to edit the DNS entry to use the correct address.

Pedroski · 10-16-2023, 01:05 AM

Thanks for the replies!

Tried the below, using my real webpage name, of course, but nothing shows.

Quote:

pedro@pedro-HP:~$ host www.mywebpage.com
Host www.mywebpage.com not found: 3(NXDOMAIN)

Also this:

Quote:

dig www.mywebpage.com

pedro@pedro-HP:~$ dig www.mywebpage.com

; <<>> DiG 9.18.12-0ubuntu0.22.04.3-Ubuntu <<>> www.mywebpage.com
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NXDOMAIN, id: 48688
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 65494
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.mywebpage.com. IN A

;; Query time: 8 msec
;; SERVER: 127.0.0.53#53(127.0.0.53) (UDP)
;; WHEN: Mon Oct 16 06:59:20 BST 2023
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 50

pedro@pedro-HP:~$

IONOS know my webpage name and details. I am not sure why they didn't register the name with the public ipv4 address I have.

Also, I am not sure why there are 2 ipv4 addresses, one beginning with 217. and another beginning with 195. (the public and login ipv4 number)

I will go through IONOS dns information, see if I can figure this out without calling them!

Pedroski · 10-16-2023, 01:14 AM

SOLVED!

I went to https://my.ionos.co.uk/domain-dns-se.../mywebpage.com

TYPE was set A, HOST NAME was set wwww VALUE was set to 123.456.789.123 SERVICE was empty ACTIONS was empty

I clicked the button Add record I think it was and now I can access www.mywebpage.com!

Now I just need to set up LetsEncrypt for https

Thanks for your help and advice!

Turbocapitalist · 10-16-2023, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedroski

SOLVED!
Now I just need to set up LetsEncrypt for https

No problem. LetsEncrypt has a rather complex but easy to configure client for GNU/Linux systems. It will be able to make certificated for several host names, say example.com and www.example.com, so that you can both with www in front of the name and without it.

Pedroski · 10-16-2023, 02:24 AM

@Turbocapitalist: I remember you helped me with my previous cloud server, and I managed to use LetsEncrypt on that webpage.

I hope I can repeat that for this new cloud server!

Pedroski · 10-16-2023, 02:26 AM

But somehow, I have set the DNS wrong: www.mywebpage.com works, but mywebpage.com does not!

I will try again tomorrow!

Turbocapitalist · 10-16-2023, 02:47 AM

Be sure to double check the spelling of each domain.