Set Up a Domain

The process for setting up all domain types in NetSuite is the same. However, the information you enter in the Domain record is different depending on the domain type you select.

To set up a domain:

Go to Commerce > Hosting > Domains > New.
Select the type of domain you want to create from the Domain Type list. The options are:
- Single Domain for Web Store and Checkout
- Web Store Only
- Checkout Only
- Hosted Web Page
- Redirect URL
- Promotional URL
- E-mail Campaign
See Set Up Domains for Web Stores for information about each of these domain types.
Tip:
You can also add or manage domains from the Website Setup record.
1. Go to Commerce > Websites > Website list and click Edit next to the website for which you want to add or manage domains.
2. Go to the Domains tab.
3. Click Add New Domain or Manage Domains.
In the Domain Name field, enter the domain URL without https:// or http://. Example: www.example.com. The domain name can have a maximum of 64 characters.

The CNAME fields populate automatically for the hosting and DNS challenge records using the value you enter in the Domain Name field.

Use these CNAME records to configure DNS settings with your domain name provider. You should configure DNS settings before you finish setting up the domain record in NetSuite. For more information, see Point Your Domain Name at Your Domain (DNS Settings).

Important:
Domain names should always point to a CNAME record. CNAME records must be correctly set up at all times to avoid issues with SSL certificates and securing your domain.
The domain type you selected in Step 1 determines which of the following fields are displayed on the domain setup form. Fill in all visible fields as follows:
- Web Site – Select from the list the website that uses the domain name.
  
  This list contains all websites in your NetSuite account that are compatible with the domain type you selected.
- Hosting Root – Select Live Hosting Files for a live site or Staging Hosting Files for a test site. For information about setting up a domain name for a test site, see the following help topics:
  - SuiteCommerce, SuiteCommerce MyAccount, and SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA) Aconcagua and later – Test a Theme on a Local Server and Test an Extension on a Local Server.
  - SCA (pre-Aconcagua) – Test SCA Customizations on a Local Server.
  - Site Builder – Website Staging Environment.
- Use CDN Cache – Check this box to enable caching of your Commerce web store data assets on the content delivery network (CDN). This optimizes your website and decreases page-loading time.
  
  Important:
  Prior to choosing CDN for checkout, you should review the information about prerequisites, caching, and IP address ranges in CDN Caching for Secure Domains. For more information, see CDN Caching and Configure CDN Caching.
  
  CDN caching must be set up in NetSuite. Third-party CDN setup is not supported.
  
  Note:
  CDN is not available for Site Builder and second-level domains.
- Site Maintenance Domain (optional) – Select the custom site maintenance domain you want to use if your site is down for repairs or routine updates.
  
  For more information about setting up a custom site maintenance page and domain, see Custom Site Maintenance Page.
- Not-Found Page (optional) – Select the hosted page where customers are directed if they go to an inactive page. By default, customers are redirected to your home page.
  
  Begin by entering the page name, then press Tab or click the down arrow for a list.
- Home Page – If you are setting up a Hosted Web Page domain, select the file from your File Cabinet that the domain name should point to.
- Redirect URL – If you are setting up a redirect URL domain:
  - In the Redirect URL field, enter the URL of the web page or site where you want to redirect visitors.
  - Check the Include File Path and Parameters in the Redirect box if you want to preserve the original path requested by the website visitor when redirecting them to the Redirect URL domain.
    
    Checking this box means that https://www.example1.com/product-a?param=1 redirects to https://www.example2.com/product-a?param=1.
    
    Not checking this box means that https://www.example1.com/product-a?param=1 redirects to http://www.example2.com.
If you want to secure your domain with an SSL certificate, complete the steps provided in the help topic, Secure Your Domain.

If you want to secure your domain, you must enter the domain name in the Domain Name field before you download the CSR.

Important:
CNAME records must be correctly set up at all times to avoid issues with SSL certificates and securing your domain.

If you do not want to secure your domain, or if you are setting up a Promotional URL or an E-mail Campaign domain, complete the steps provided in Deploy your Domain.

Secure Your Domain

You can secure the following domain types:

Single Domain for Web Store and Checkout
Web Store Only
Checkout Only
Hosted Web Page
Redirect URL
Email Campaign

Note:

If the domain name is the same as a previously-deleted secure domain, and the certificate belonging to the previous domain is still valid, the old certificate is automatically used to secure the new domain you are setting up. You can view the details of the certificate in the Certificate section of the Domain record page in NetSuite. If you do not want to use the old certificate, you can change it by clicking Change Certificate.

DNS Challenge

With the 2024.1 release of NetSuite, HTTP-based challenges for domain owner verification have been replaced by DNS-based challenges. DNS challenges use the Automatic Certificate Management Environment (ACME) protocol.

ACME is a modern, standardized protocol that is used for the automatic validation, issue, and renewal of X.509 certificates from a certificate authority (CA) to clients. With ACME, machines can receive certificates from a CA without human interaction.

To secure your domain:

Go to Commerce > Hosting > Domains > and click Edit next to the domain name you want to secure.
In the Certificate section, check the Use SSL Certificate to Secure Domain box.

Additional certificate-related fields are displayed so you can specify the type of certificate you want to use.

Note:
The Use SSL Certificate to Secure Domain checkbox is not displayed if you are setting up a Single Domain for Web Store and Checkout or Checkout Only domain. These domain types must always be secure, so all certificate-related fields are displayed by default.
If you want Oracle NetSuite to obtain a domain validated (DV) certificate for your domain, click the Automatic button and then check the box to confirm acceptance of the automatic certificate terms and conditions.

Note:
Automatic certificates are provided at no extra cost and are maintenance–free because Oracle NetSuite handles the renewal process.
If you want to obtain a certificate from your preferred CA, see Manual Certificates for instructions.

Your CSR file is now associated with your domain. The next step is to deploy your domain.

Deploy your Domain

The final step in setting up your domain is deployment.

To deploy your domain:

If you have not done so already, go to your domain provider's website to set up CNAME records for the hosting and DNS challenge records. For more information, see Point Your Domain Name at Your Domain (DNS Settings).

Important:
Domain names should always point to a CNAME record. CNAME records must be correctly set up at all times to avoid issues with SSL certificates and securing your domain.
After you have completed DNS configuration with your domain provider, return to the Domain record in NetSuite and click Save.

If you had saved the Domain record previously, go to Commerce > Hosting > Domains > and click Edit next to your domain name, then click Save to trigger redeployment.

Typical deployments go live in about 90 minutes. In exceptional circumstances, it can take up to six hours.

You can track progress with the Deployment Status field, which changes automatically as the deployment and DNS propagation proceeds. To view deployment status, go to Commerce > Hosting > Domains > and click View next to your domain name.

The possible Deployment Status values are:
- Live – Deployment successful, all processes complete.
- Deployment in progress – DNS propagation underway. If this status has not changed after six hours, edit and save the Domain record to redeploy it.
- Pending – Waiting for certificate upload.
- Removing – DNS switched to new provider, old provider being removed.
- Failed – Deployment failed.
Note:
You cannot make changes to the domain settings until the deployment status is Live.

After you set up your domain name in NetSuite and configure the DNS with your domain provider, your domain name begins redirecting to your website. The time it takes for your web store to go live on your domain depends on your domain provider. Typically, redirection takes place 2 – 48 hours after completing the setup.