What is Domain Forwarding? How to Set It Up (Simple Guide)

Domain forwarding is the process of directing traffic from one domain name to another address or server. It's used when moving your site to a new server, redirecting old domains to new ones, or connecting a custom domain to your e-commerce platform. In this guide, we explain domain forwarding types, DNS record types, and how to do it step by step.

What is Domain Forwarding?

Domain forwarding is the process of pointing a domain name (e.g., mystore.com) to a specific server IP address, another domain name, or a specific URL. Forwarding is done through DNS (Domain Name System) records.

DNS is like the internet's phone book: when a user types "mystore.com" in the browser, the DNS system translates this domain to the correct server's IP address and displays the website.

DNS Record Types

To set up domain forwarding, you need to understand the DNS record types:

Types of Domain Forwarding

1. DNS Forwarding (A Record / CNAME)

The most fundamental type. Points your domain directly to a server IP address (A record) or another domain (CNAME). The URL in the browser doesn't change; the user sees content from the target server directly.

2. URL Forwarding (301 / 302 Redirect)

Redirects from one URL to another at the browser level. The URL changes in the user's browser.

3. Frame (Masking) Forwarding

Shows the original domain in the URL bar while loading another site in the background. Harmful for SEO and not recommended by Google. Avoid using it if possible.

A Record Domain Forwarding (Step by Step)

An A record points your domain directly to a server IP address. It's the most common method for connecting your e-commerce site or web server to your domain.

Steps

1. Access your DNS management panel — Go to the DNS section in your domain registrar's (Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.) control panel
2. Add a new A record
   - Host / Name: @ (for root domain) or www
   - Type: A
   - Value: Your server's IP address (e.g., 185.230.63.171)
   - TTL: 3600 (or Auto)
3. Add an A record for www as well — So both mystore.com and www.mystore.com work
4. Wait for propagation — DNS changes typically propagate within 1-48 hours worldwide

Adding A Record by Registrar

CNAME Subdomain Forwarding

A CNAME record points a subdomain to another domain name. It's frequently used when connecting a custom domain to e-commerce platforms.

Steps

1. Add a new CNAME record in your DNS management panel
   - Host / Name: www or shop (subdomain name)
   - Type: CNAME
   - Value: Target address (e.g., shops.beekod.com)
   - TTL: 3600
2. Verify the domain in your e-commerce platform — In platforms like Beekod, add your domain from the admin panel
3. Wait for SSL activation — Automatic SSL (Let's Encrypt) typically activates within a few minutes

Important: CNAME records should not be used for the root domain (@). Use an A record for the root domain. CNAME is only suitable for subdomains (www, shop, blog, etc.).

How to Set Up 301 Redirects

Use a 301 redirect to permanently forward your old domain to your new address. This method is critical for transferring SEO value.

301 Redirect with .htaccess (Apache)

Add the following lines to your .htaccess file on your web server:

# Redirect old domain to new domain
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^olddomain\.com$ [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.olddomain\.com$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newdomain.com/$1 [R=301,L]

301 Redirect with Nginx

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name olddomain.com www.olddomain.com;
    return 301 https://newdomain.com$request_uri;
}

301 Redirect with Cloudflare (No Code)

1. Go to Rules → Page Rules in Cloudflare dashboard
2. URL match: olddomain.com/*
3. Setting: Forwarding URL → 301 Permanent Redirect
4. Destination URL: https://newdomain.com/$1

www vs non-www Redirect

For SEO purposes, you should keep only one version of your domain (www or non-www) active. Otherwise, the same content is published on two different URLs (duplicate content).

Recommendation: In modern e-commerce, non-www (bare domain) usage is more common and looks cleaner. Whichever version you choose, don't forget to 301 redirect the other.

Email MX Record Setup

When forwarding domains, be careful not to break your email service. MX records are required for custom email addresses like info@mystore.com to work.

DNS Propagation Time

DNS changes don't take effect immediately. It takes time for DNS servers worldwide to update.

Check Tool: You can monitor DNS propagation status in real-time at whatsmydns.net or dnschecker.org.

Conclusion

Domain forwarding is one of the fundamental skills for managing your website. Use A records to connect to your server, CNAME for subdomain forwarding, and 301 redirects to preserve SEO value from old URLs. Always back up your existing records before DNS changes and ensure your email service (MX records) isn't affected.