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How to point a domain to a VPS

Use the IPv4 address assigned by the VPS provider. Make sure provider firewall and server firewall allow HTTP and HTTPS before expecting the domain to load.

By WebHostWatch Editorial

· · 4 min read

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Common VPS task

How to point a domain to a VPS

A VPS doesn't automatically receive your domain. DNS needs the correct A record, optional www CNAME, firewall rules, web server vhost, and SSL.

By WebHostWatch editors Updated April 28, 2026

Use this as a focused checklist for one common hosting task. The larger setup guides still cover full-site and full-server builds.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 30 to 90 minutes
Images: 4 official examples

1. Confirm the VPS public IP and firewall

Use the IPv4 address assigned by the VPS provider. Make sure provider firewall and server firewall allow HTTP and HTTPS before expecting the domain to load.

Hetzner creating a server documentation — Hetzner create a server: Record the server IP, region, image, SSH key, and firewall choices.

DigitalOcean firewall rule section — DigitalOcean cloud firewall quickstart: HTTP and HTTPS must be allowed when the web stack is ready.

2. Create the domain records

example.com A SERVER_IP
www.example.com CNAME example.com

Keep email records unchanged unless email is also moving. If Cloudflare is used, disable proxying until the origin server and SSL are working.

DigitalOcean DNS quickstart: DNS is part of VPS setup even when the server is already running.

3. Configure the web server or panel for the domain

Create the site inside Nginx, Apache, CloudPanel, HestiaCP, SPanel, or your chosen panel. DNS alone doesn't tell the web server which site to serve.

CloudPanel WordPress documentation — CloudPanel WordPress docs: A panel can create the site, but DNS and SSL still need verification.

4. Issue SSL and test redirects

dig +short example.com
curl -I http://example.com
sudo certbot --nginx -d example.com -d www.example.com
curl -I https://example.com

Wait until the domain resolves to the VPS before requesting SSL. Then verify both root and www versions redirect to the intended HTTPS URL.

Official sources checked

DigitalOcean DNS quickstart

Used for VPS DNS setup context.

DigitalOcean cloud firewalls

Used for public web port context.

Hetzner create a server

Used for VPS public IP and creation context.

CloudPanel WordPress docs

Used for panel-based site creation context.

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