404.shtml / redirect-question

[Prosperous]

I got a domain name recently -let's call it "examplename.com"- that still shows thousands and thousands of search-results in Google.
However, almost all those Google results show the domain name with hundreds (possible in the thousands!) of different sub-domains. So, for example I get that lengthy list of results as:
subdn132.examplename.com
And one for: subdn821.examplename.com
One for: subdn442.examplename.com
And: subdn652.examplename.com
subdn333.examplename.com
subdn452.examplename.com
etc.

So, I made a .shtml 404-page hoping that that would take care of business, i.e. someone clicks on one of those results my (sub-)domain name gets in Google, but since the sub-directories don't excist anymore they'd get my 404-page (which would re-direct them to the index-page).
But that didn't work; the 404 only works for the domain without sub-directories, as in examplename.com/doesntexist.html and examplename.com/doesntexisteither.html etc.

So, my guess is that instead I'll now have to set up all these hundreds of sub-domains and then place a 404.shtml in each... I.e. tons of work!

So, now the question is, is there a simpler way to take care of this?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

 

[Chosen]

"To redirect requests for non-existent subdomains to the main doman`s index.html-file you need to set up a wildcard DNS entry for the domain - and for that to work you need the domain to be hosted on a dedicated IP."

This is what I got from my host-provider when I asked for the same.

What would be nice was if the registrar supported this kind of thing. Actually I dont know, since I havent checked it out.

 

[phrone]

cPanel has something to manage the error pages.

 

[redhippo]

Originally posted by phrone
cPanel has something to manage the error pages.

care to explained a bit more??

 

[bensontwenty]

http://www.cpanel.net/docs/cp/

All explained in here hippo but it doesn't deal with the subdomain problem - don't know a way round that one - sorry Rob

 

[CreativeLogic]

If you have access to your apache config file you can make all sub domains redirect automatically without a refresh to www.examplesite.com.

 

[Prosperous]

Thanks for your help, guys!
OK, Manu at DNF told me of two ways how to take care of this (the first of which I am gonna put into practice, with the help of my webhost who are happy to help me out); I am sure he won't mind me sharing it with you here:

You would have to edit the zone file for the domain so you have a "catch all" for sub domains.

You can do this two ways:

1. via your hosting control panel (althou the editing of the zonefile isnt really allowed unless you have root access or are a reseller on a CPanel machine which has WHM)

2. via your registrar - eNom has a facilty to catch all subdomains by specifying a * (other) tag in the DNS setting (zone file) section of your selected domain. (No idea how other registrar's utilize this - not even sure many actually allow you access to these options)

I hope it'll be up and running soon. :tu:

Cheers!
Rob

 

[Kodeking]

Ask RJ, I think you can do it by setting up virtual hosts. Its what he used for namebuys.com i think

 

[redhippo]

"virtual hosts"? thats a new creature!!