Domain & Subdomains

Product Support Self-hosting

AI-generated summary

In a discussion titled “Domain & Subdomains” under the Hosting category, MSat7 asks how to structure their server setup to host both a main website (www.example.com) and a Discourse forum (forum.example.com) on the same DigitalOcean droplet. IAmGav clarifies that typically, the two should be on separate servers — the forum on DigitalOcean and the main site on a separate web host — and recommends creating an A record pointing forum.example.com to the DO IP. MSat7 asks if hosting both on the same server is possible, to which IAmGav replies that it’s an advanced setup and links to a meta.discourse.org guide for reference. MSat7 acknowledges the complexity and plans to revisit the topic later. pfaffman reinforces the recommendation to follow standard install instructions on a separate server, and IAmGav corrects a typo (“Social Ocean” → “Digital Ocean”) with a link. pfaffman jokes about typo editing, and MSat7 confirms their plan to proceed with separate hosting and promises to return with more questions.

1

Hey y’all,

tl;dr at the end

I couldn’t find a similar question in the forums so I’m creating a new topic. If this question’s already been answered, apologies!

I am planning to start a forum using discourse but I am a newb when it comes to server-side stuff and have never set-up a website on a server before.

I’d like to know where I should put the files for my main site (www.example.com) once I have discourse (forum.example.com) up and running.

  1. What will the file structure look like after discourse is installed?
  2. What should it look like when it’s set-up in the above way?
  3. Do I need to make any changes in the domain settings tab (A record, etc.) for this to work? (I don’t think so, but I’m not sure)
    3.a. If so, what do I need to do?

I am planning to follow the 30 min install guide to get discourse installed on a $5 Digital Ocean droplet first and then upload my files for the main site.

TL;DR :

  • I own a domain and want my main site on it - www.example.com
  • Discourse will be on forum.example.com
  • I will be using DO and setting up discourse first.
  • What will the file structure look like when I setup discourse on the server and where do I put the files for my main site, for it to work correctly?
2

Your website and discourse will not be on the same server.

Forum.website will point to DO and www.website will point to your web hosting.

You would need to create an A Record for forum to the DO IP address

3

Can I not host my website on the server as well?

4

It’s a more advanced setup. You will have to follow this:

5

Yep, that’s definitely more advanced lol.

Ok, I’ll get back to this when I have a bit more experience.

Thanks for your help Gavin!

6

Like he said, you want to follow the standard install instructions on another server. Digital ocean is recommended because it’s easy.

7

Digital Ocean

8

Thanks! Usually Jeff edits my typos. Too bad you can’t!

9

Yep, that’s what I plan to do!

I’m going to keep coming back to ask questions tho. Thanks y’all!