Rudimentary question about how domains work in Cloudron

[Reveller]

Interested in testing Cloudron, but need clarification about how domain mapping works. I'm probably overthinking this, but by searching through the docs and forums, somehow I'm coming away with different understanding each time.

• I understand that Cloudron installs each app on it's own subdomain of the root domain (e.g. nextcloud.example.com)

• Aliases allow for any number of additional domains to access the original nextcloud.example.com directly (that is, without redirect - so all domain aliases work like standalone websites, and are essentially mirrors of the original)

So use case question... let's say I want to setup the following apps:
mastodon.example.com
nextcloud.example.com
nodebb.example.com
wordpress.example.com

And then I want to access them (via Aliases) like so:
bigtoot.io --> mastodon.example.com
bigcloud.io --> nextcloud.example.com
bigforum.io --> nodebb.example.com
bigsite.io --> wordpress.example.com

1. Is this in fact, how the Aliases work (e.g. root level domains not associated with the Cloudron domain)?
2. Is there then any way to prevent the original Cloudron installed locations from displaying content - to help prevent duplicate content, domain confusion, etc?

Thanks.

BTW... first time using NodeBB. Pretty slick interface. Thanks for maintaining such a quality space.

[girish]

In general, aliases work only for specific apps because most apps do not support having more than one domain. Usually, there is a configuration in apps that specifies the "domain". This domain in most apps is a single item and not an array of domains.

So, while cloudron's setup is flexible, I would say most apps don't support it. It's best to just install apps separately in each subdomain you want them.

I think WordPress is bit outlier here as it does support aliases (via multi-site). Apps like EspoCRM have a way to setup customer portals on different subdomains (but this is not for a mirror of the main EspoCRM itself). Kutt supports aliases as well. NodeBB/Nextcloud/Mastodon don't support aliases to my knowledge.

[jdaviescoates]

@Reveller said in Rudimentary question about how domains work in Cloudron:

I understand that Cloudron installs each app on it's own subdomain

You can install apps on the root level of the domain too, not just on subdomains.

@Reveller said in Rudimentary question about how domains work in Cloudron:

And then I want to access them (via Aliases) like so:
bigtoot.io --> mastodon.example.com
bigcloud.io --> nextcloud.example.com
bigforum.io --> nodebb.example.com
bigsite.io --> wordpress.example.com

You are overthinking this.

In most cases you don't want nor need to use any aliases. I'm running 57 apps, I'm not using a single alias.

If you want Mastodon at bigtoot.io then just install it there. Likewise all the rest.

[scooke]

I really hope OP comes back to let us know they get it.

[Reveller]

@jdaviescoates Thanks. Overthinking is one of my unfortunate specialties. But the docs are very clear that the apps are installed on subdomains - https://docs.cloudron.io/installation/

But by looking closer at the demo, I can see how the location can be changed (app's location tab) - so I assume that's how it's done.

[scooke]

On the very same page it's also very clear that other domains can be added:
More domains can be added after installation in the in the Domains view.
If the documentation had been more clear about using additional domains, then there'd be users here asking "I only want to use one domain and not buy more. How can I install apps using my main domain?" In fact, I reckon the majority of users do use just the one domain, so the docs are geared towards them. I think it is super how easy Cloudron does make it to have as many domains as you want. A few other (self-host) services like Cloudron don't make it easy, or base their pricing tiers on # of domains. At any rate, keep reading those docs, they really do cover most questions we all have, but when you're stuck this forum is awesome.

[jdaviescoates]

@Reveller said in Rudimentary question about how domains work in Cloudron:

@jdaviescoates Thanks. Overthinking is one of my unfortunate specialties. But the docs are very clear that the apps are installed on subdomains - https://docs.cloudron.io/installation/

I see what you mean, I think @staff ought to update this part of the docs which give the wrong impression:

Domain Setup

Provide a domain like example.com. The way Cloudron works is that the dashboard gets installed at my.example.com, and apps are installed under subdomains that you specify like git.example.com, chat.example.com, and so on.

@Reveller said in Rudimentary question about how domains work in Cloudron:

But by looking closer at the demo, I can see how the location can be changed (app's location tab) - so I assume that's how it's done.

Yes, you can always change location there, but you can also just directly install on the root domain in the first instance too.