Question
Problem adding a custom domain to the App Platform
- Posted October 7, 2020
- DigitalOcean App Platform
Hello!
So, I wanted to move my static website to the new App Platform.
- I deployed the site from Git.
- I disabled Cloudflare from my own account, since it says in the documentation that it won’t work otherwise.
- Then, I tried to add a custom domain with the CNAME on Namecheap, as it says in the documentation. The CNAME propagation took place quickly.
But the domain didn’t work properly, which I expected. It showed a plain 404 error text and also performed a redirect from www to non-www, which means it still used the .htaccess found on the old server.
Now, I’m wondering: If the site goes automatically through Cloudflare in the App Platform, doesn’t it mean that they are basically my DNS providers, since that’s how Cloudflare works? You swap NS with Cloudflare’s, and then add MX, TXT, CNAME, etc. in Cloudflare.
In that case, how should I add the CNAME to Cloudflare if I can’t use my own account and can’t edit any DNS on the App Platform either?
Am I missing something?
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Go to the Website module (by clicking the Website menu) then click the Settings option. Within the Settings screen, click Domain name (under Site settings). From the Domain name management screen, click the Add custom domain name button. Enter your domain name, then click the Save button.
Hi RaduB,
You can certainly use Cloudflare as your DNS provider. Just make sure that on the CNAME you create for your app you turn off the orange cloud (it should look gray).
Hi @RaduB.
You can see where your DNS is being managed from by your Nameservers. If the Nameservers of the domain are Cloudflare’s that your DNS is being managed there. Even if the DNS is being managed from Cloudflare, you can change your DNS there.
To check your Nameservers, you can perform a whois for your domain
whois domain.com
At the bottom, you should see a section for Nameservers. Get the information from there and should know from where to manage your DNS.
Regards, KFSys
My CNAME propagation took place immediately as well, but my domain isn’t working properly either. I’m using DreamHost for my domains.
My app shows a CloudFlare page with a 1001 error. I never used CloudFlare with the domain whatsoever so my assumption is it’s going through the App Platform too. Curious to hear other experiences with the App Platform and custom domains.
@upstreamsalmon I have the exact same issue for my static site but with Name.com domain. I tried changing the nameservers from Name.com to Digital Ocean ones but that did not work as well. Not sure where Cloudflare comes in the picture here but I am out of options and would love some help.