Custom domain set up for your gym website

Your gym website can be accessed through a subdomain of our service domain (e.g http://{subdomain}.gymdesk.com). All you have to do is pick your subdomain in the website settings.

This article describes how you can use your own domain with our website feature (domain must be purchased separately).

Step 1 - Purchase a domain

To use your own domain you will need to purchase it from a domain registrar or a hosting company. A domain registrar is a company that manages the reservation of domain names.

There are many such companies, and one that we personally recommend after enjoying their services for many years, is Namecheap.

Step 2 - Changing your DNS records

DNS (Domain Name Server) records inform the rest of the internet where your domain should serve information from. To use your domain with our website feature, you need to make a couple of changes to your DNS settings.

It's important to understand where your DNS settings are being managed. Typically, your DNS settings will be managed on the same site where you purchased your domain (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc). In some cases, domains are managed through a 3rd party DNS service such as DynDNS or Rackspace Cloud DNS.

You need to add an A record that points to the IP address of our servers (45.79.19.164).

An A record tells your domain registrar where to point the domain at (in this case, our servers). Specific instructions on how to do so are included for different providers below.

After adding an A record, you should also add a CNAME record for the "www" subdomain, to allow you to add a free SSL certificate through us (which would show your site as secure).

Verifying your DNS changes

It can take a while for DNS changes to propagate through the network (up to 48 hours). You can check if your changes have propagated by entering your domain in this tool. Once all locations show our IP (45.79.19.164) with a green check mark, your domain should be ready for use.

DNS provider specific instructions

Most providers have detailed tutorials for adding A records to a domain. If your provider is not listed below or you're still having difficulties configuring your domain, please contact us and we'd be glad to assist you.

Namecheap

Please refer to the Namecheap guide for changing DNS settings. Please go over that and add our IP (45.79.19.164) as an A record for the www host of the domain you want to use.

A record: Click on "Add new record". Pick "A record", enter "@" in the host field, and in the IP field input "45.79.19.164". Make sure there are no additional A records (if there are, remove those).

CNAME record: Click on "Add new record". Pick "CNAME Record", enter "www" in the host field, and your domain name in the target field.

End result should look like this.

Google Domains

Please refer to Google's guide on adding A or CNAME records.

Go to DNS from the domain menu on the left.

If there are any entries under Synthetic records, delete those first.

Add an A record: Add a new record - put "@" in the first field, pick "A" from the dropdown menu, and in the data field input "45.79.19.164". Make sure there are no additional A records (if there are, remove those).

Add a CNAME record: Add a new record - put "www" in the first field, pick "CNAME" from the dropdown menu, and in the data field enter your domain name.

End result should look like this.

GoDaddy

Follow GoDaddy's tutorial for adding an A record. Under Host enter @, and put our IP 45.79.19.164 in the Points to field.

Repeat the same process to add a CNAME Record - pick CNAME under type, enter www in the Host field, and "@" in the Points to field.

The end result should look like this.

Step 3 - Add the domain in the website settings

Once you've changed your DNS settings, input the domain in the website settings.

• Visit your website settings.
• Under the Web Address section, type in your domain.
• Hit the "Save Settings" button at the bottom.

Your domain will now direct to your gym website! If you have any questions or need further help, please contact us, and we'll be happy to assist you.