Redirects, DNS and WWW Oh My!

[texken]

I'm looking for the right, best, correct way to setup DNS for today's websites - specifically the right way to handle www.domain.com versus domain.com.

I'll first start by saying I'm not technical or a server admin my trade, but I know enough to be dangerous. I know redirects should be a 301 permanent redirects in most cases.

Recently I've noticed that many websites seem to be redirecting from their domain.com to their www.domain.com (example: target.com). The way we have historically done our DNS is to set up an A record for domain.com set to the appropriate IP address and then www.domain.com with a CNAME record pointed to domain.com. This way either one works.

Feedback?

[AussieWebmaster]

I usually point every thing to www.domain.com and then redirect all other stuff to it - like domain.com, domain.com/index.extensions (htm, html, etc)

[texken]

Originally Posted by AussieWebmaster

I usually point every thing to www.domain.com and then redirect all other stuff to it - like domain.com, domain.com/index.extensions (htm, html, etc)

Thanks for the quick response. Point everything how exactly? I'm trying to figure out the best way to set up my DNS records.

[Jazajay]

Ok change the variables but place this in your .htaccess file

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\.yoursite\.co.uk
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.yoursite.co.uk/$1 [R=301,L]
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^GET\ .*/index\.php
RewriteRule ^(.*)index\.php$ / [R=301,L]

Ok what this says.
If your server is capable of rewriting urls via mod_rewrite
this turns the module on

RewriteEngine On

Ok you need to sort out any cronicalization issues this will redirect any url that is not .co.uk to .co.uk.

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\.yoursite\.co.uk
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.yoursite.co.uk/$1 [R=301,L]

this will rewrite any url to your .co.uk version.
that includes
yousite.com
yoursite.com/page/page/page/product.php

Ok next you need to redirect all urls that are yoursite.co.uk/index.php
to yousite.co.uk
this does that for you

RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^GET\ .*/index\.php
RewriteRule ^(.*)index\.php$ / [R=301,L]

you don't need to but it looks nicer IMO.

That should do you for starters

Jaza

[Jazajay]

Are your DNS('s) set up properly?
Can you access your domain if you type it in the addres bar? Even if it is a blank page?