Add the certificate record for a custom domain

A custom domain needs two records at your registrar and one check in Avaloi, after the ownership record that proves the domain is yours (see Connect a domain). The first record points the domain at Avaloi. The second record lets Avaloi request an HTTPS certificate without access to your DNS. Avaloi orders no certificate for a domain until its ownership record resolves.

Add the certificate record

1. Open your site, then Domains, and find the domain you added.
2. Copy the CNAME record shown under Certificate. It has this form:
   • Name: _acme-challenge.<your domain>
   • Type: CNAME
   • Value: <site id>.acme.<Avaloi zone>
3. Sign in to your registrar or DNS provider and add that record. Leave any other records alone.
4. Back in Avaloi, select Check DNS on the domain.

If the check still says the record is missing, wait a few minutes for DNS to update, then check again.

What happens next

When the record resolves, Avaloi requests a certificate for your domain. This takes a few minutes. Avaloi also renews the certificate about 30 days before it ends, so you do not need to repeat these steps.

Your domain becomes active when:

• the certificate record resolves to the Avaloi value, and
• your domain or its www name points at Avaloi. A CNAME to the Avaloi target works, or an A record on an Avaloi address works.

If the check fails

• "Add a CNAME record at _acme-challenge...": the record is missing or points somewhere else. Copy the value exactly, with no trailing spaces.
• "Point your domain at ...": the domain or www does not point at Avaloi yet. Change it when you are ready to move traffic.
• A certificate could not be queued: Avaloi could not start the request. Check again in a few minutes. If it keeps failing, contact support.

Avaloi never asks for your registrar password or a DNS token for your domain.