How to Create a Domain Pointer in DirectAdmin

A domain pointer directs a domain name to a specific location on your hosting account — either your main domain's website or a subdirectory within it. It's similar to a domain alias but gives you more flexibility in where the domain points.

Common uses:

Pointing mysecondbusiness.com to a subfolder like public_html/mysecondbusiness so it shows a different website
Pointing an old domain to your current main domain
Setting up multiple domain names that each show different content from the same hosting account

Domain Pointer vs Domain Alias — Which Should I Use?

	Domain Alias	Domain Pointer
Shows the same site as your main domain	✓	✓
Points to a specific subfolder	✗	✓
Can redirect to a completely different URL	✗	✓
URL in browser stays as the second domain	✓	Depends on settings

Use a Domain Alias if you simply want two domain names to show the same website.
Use a Domain Pointer if you want the second domain to point to a subfolder with different content.

Before You Start

The domain you want to add must already be pointed to Hostking's nameservers. See: How to Point Your Domain to Hostking (Nameserver Information)

Step-by-Step

Step 1 — Log into DirectAdmin via my.hostking.host → your service → Login to DirectAdmin.

Step 2 — Under Domain Settings, click Domain Pointer.

Step 3 — In the Domain to Point field enter the domain name you want to add as a pointer. Example: mysecondbusiness.com

Step 4 — In the Point To field, select where this domain should point:

Select your main domain if you want it to show the same website
Select a subfolder option if you want it to point to specific content in a subdirectory

Step 5 — If you want visitors to be redirected (URL changes in the browser), tick the Redirect option and choose 301 or 302. Leave this unticked if you want the original domain to stay in the address bar.

Step 6 — Click Add.

DirectAdmin adds the domain pointer and creates the necessary DNS records automatically.

Setting Up Separate Content for the Pointed Domain

If you want mysecondbusiness.com to show different content from your main site:

Step 1 — Create a subfolder in your public_html directory via File Manager. Name it after your second business, e.g. mysecondbusiness

Step 2 — When creating the domain pointer, point it to that subfolder

Step 3 — Upload your website files into that subfolder, or install a separate WordPress into it via Softaculous

Each subfolder/pointed domain can run a completely independent website this way.

SSL for a Pointed Domain

Install a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate for the pointed domain after setting it up. Go to SSL Certificates in DirectAdmin and add the domain. See: How to Install a Free SSL Certificate in DirectAdmin

Removing a Domain Pointer

Go to Domain Pointer in DirectAdmin, find the entry in the list and click Delete. This removes the pointer and its DNS records without affecting your main domain or any files on your account.

Need Help?

Our support team is available every day from 7am to 10pm via live chat at hostking.host or by opening a ticket at my.hostking.host.