A Custom Domain for Your GitHub Pages Site Using GoDaddy

Posted on 31 Mar 2014 by Ty Thorsen

A quick note on how to set up a custom domain name for your GitHub Pages site using GoDaddy:

Setting up my custom domain for thorsent was my first foray into working with DNS. I stumbled around a bit with forwarding and masking before arriving at the proper solution of DNS mapping. It's a fairly simple process if you know what you're looking for. Just follow the steps below.

1. Find and register a domain name. I used GoDaddy, but the registrar you use is really up to you.

2. Add a file called CNAME to the root of your Page repository. This file should contain a single line, listing your custom domain.

   1 www.thorsent.com

3. Log in to your GoDaddy account. Navigate to the 'Domains' screen. There is a 'DNS' drop-down menu. Select 'DNS Manager'. Once in the DNS Manager you should see your custom domain name. Select 'Edit Zone' to open up the zone file editor. In the DNS Zone Editor you need to ensure that you have three records: two 'A' (Host) records that point to the GitHub Pages servers at 192.30.252.153 and 192.30.252.154, and a 'CNAME' (Alias) record that points to your GitHub Pages url (username.github.io).

4. Profit.

After allowing some time to allow your DNS changes to propagate (up to 24 hours), your custom domain should now be pointed at your GitHub Pages site.

comments powered by Disqus