You’re right — the existing www A record must normally be deleted first, otherwise it conflicts with the new CNAME record. I’ve also restored the horizontal rules and used the older plain copy-and-paste format.
Suggested Category
DirectAdmin > Domains
Article Title
How to Point a Domain to Shopify or Systeme.io Using DirectAdmin
WHMCS Tags
directadmin domains, dns management, external website setup, shopify domain, systeme.io domain, dns propagation
Full Article Content
How to Point a Domain to Shopify or Systeme.io Using DirectAdmin
You can connect a domain hosted or managed through DirectAdmin to an external website platform such as Shopify or Systeme.io.
This is done by changing the domain’s DNS records so that visitors are directed to the website hosted on the external platform.
This guide contains separate instructions for:
- Shopify
- Systeme.io
Only follow the instructions for the platform you are connecting.
Before You Begin
Before changing any DNS records:
- Confirm which external platform the domain must connect to.
- Make a note of the existing DNS records.
- Do not remove MX records if email must continue working.
- Do not remove SPF, DKIM, DMARC, or email verification TXT records unless instructed to do so.
- Confirm that the domain is using the HostworX nameservers.
Important: Changing the website DNS records will stop the domain from loading the website currently hosted on the HostworX server.
DNS changes may take several hours to update fully. In some cases, propagation can take up to 48 hours.
How to Point a Domain to Shopify
Shopify uses an A record for the main domain and a CNAME record for the www version of the domain.
Step 1 – Add the Domain in Shopify
Log into your Shopify Admin dashboard.
Click: Settings
Then click: Domains
Click: Connect existing domain
Enter your domain name without www, for example: yourdomain.co.za
Click: Next
Keep the Shopify page open while you update the DNS records in DirectAdmin.
Step 2 – Log Into DirectAdmin
Open your browser and visit: https://cp.yourdomain.co.za (Replace yourdomain.co.za with your own domain name.)
Enter your DirectAdmin username and password.
Click: Log In
Step 3 – Open DNS Management
Click: Account Manager
Then click: DNS Management
If more than one domain is available, select the domain you want to connect to Shopify.
Step 4 – Update the Main Domain A Record
Locate the A record for the main domain, for example:
yourdomain.co.za.
Edit the record.
Set the value to:
23.227.38.65
Save the record.
Important: The main domain should not have multiple conflicting A records. Remove any other A records for the root domain that point to the previous website server.
Do not delete unrelated records such as mail, FTP, or DirectAdmin service records.
Step 5 – Delete the Existing WWW A Record
DirectAdmin normally creates an A record for www when the domain is added.
Locate the existing A record for:
www
or:
Delete this A record.
This record must be removed before adding the Shopify CNAME record because a DNS name cannot normally have both an A record and a CNAME record.
Important: Only delete the A record for www. Do not delete the main domain A record that you changed in the previous step.
Step 6 – Add the Shopify WWW CNAME Record
Click: Add Record
Select: CNAME
Locate: Name
Enter: www
Locate: Value
Enter: shops.myshopify.com.
Click: Add
DirectAdmin may automatically add the domain name or final full stop. Check the record after saving to make sure it has been created correctly.
The finished record should point:
to:
shops.myshopify.com
Step 7 – Check for Conflicting AAAA Records
An AAAA record points a domain to an IPv6 address.
Locate any AAAA records for:
yourdomain.co.za
and:
If an existing AAAA record points to the old hosting server, it may conflict with Shopify.
Remove or replace the conflicting record according to the DNS information shown in your Shopify account.
Do not remove unrelated AAAA records unless you are sure they belong to the website address being changed.
Step 8 – Verify the Domain in Shopify
Return to the Shopify Admin dashboard.
Click: Settings
Then click: Domains
Select the domain you added.
Click: Verify connection
Shopify will check the DNS records.
The domain may not verify immediately if the DNS changes are still propagating.
Shopify DNS Record Summary
Main domain A record:
Name: yourdomain.co.za.
Value: 23.227.38.65
WWW CNAME record:
Name: www
Value: shops.myshopify.com.
Important: Delete the existing www A record before adding the www CNAME record.
How to Point a Domain to Systeme.io
Systeme.io provides unique CNAME records for each custom domain.
Do not copy CNAME values from another domain, another Systeme.io account, or an online example.
Use only the DNS records shown inside your own Systeme.io account.
Step 1 – Add the Domain in Systeme.io
Log into your Systeme.io account.
Click: Your Profile Picture
Then click: Settings
Click: Custom Domains
Click: Add Domain
Enter the domain using www, for example:
Click: Save
Systeme.io will display the CNAME records required for the domain.
Keep this page open while you add the records in DirectAdmin.
Step 2 – Log Into DirectAdmin
Open your browser and visit: https://cp.yourdomain.co.za (Replace yourdomain.co.za with your own domain name.)
Enter your DirectAdmin username and password.
Click: Log In
Step 3 – Open DNS Management
Click: Account Manager
Then click: DNS Management
If more than one domain is available, select the domain you want to connect to Systeme.io.
Step 4 – Delete the Existing WWW A Record
DirectAdmin normally creates an A record for www automatically.
Locate the existing A record for:
www
or:
Delete this A record.
The existing A record must be removed before adding the Systeme.io CNAME record because it will conflict with the CNAME.
Important: Do not delete the main domain A record unless Systeme.io specifically instructs you to change it.
Step 5 – Add the First Systeme.io CNAME Record
Return to the custom domain instructions displayed in your Systeme.io account.
Locate the first CNAME record.
This record will normally use:
Name: www
The destination will be a unique address supplied by Systeme.io.
In DirectAdmin, click: Add Record
Select: CNAME
Locate: Name
Enter the name exactly as displayed in Systeme.io.
Locate: Value
Enter the destination exactly as displayed in Systeme.io.
Click: Add
Step 6 – Add the Verification CNAME Record
Systeme.io will normally provide a second CNAME record used to verify the domain and issue its SSL certificate.
The name often begins with an underscore.
In DirectAdmin, click: Add Record
Select: CNAME
Locate: Name
Enter the verification name exactly as displayed in Systeme.io.
Locate: Value
Enter the verification destination exactly as displayed in Systeme.io.
Click: Add
Do not use example verification records. Each domain receives unique values.
Step 7 – Redirect the Main Domain to WWW
Systeme.io normally connects the www version of the domain.
The main domain should therefore redirect:
yourdomain.co.za
to:
In DirectAdmin, click: Account Manager
Then click: Site Redirection
Click: Create New Redirect
Locate: Local URL Path
Enter: /
Locate: Redirect Type
Select: Permanent – 301
Locate: Destination URL
Enter: https://www.yourdomain.co.za
Save the redirect.
Step 8 – Wait for Systeme.io to Verify the Domain
Return to Systeme.io.
Click: Settings
Then click: Custom Domains
Check the status of the domain.
Systeme.io will verify the CNAME records once the DNS changes have propagated.
The domain and SSL certificate may take several hours to become active.
Systeme.io DNS Record Summary
WWW CNAME record:
Name: www
Value: Use the unique value shown in your Systeme.io account
Verification CNAME record:
Name: Use the unique verification name shown in Systeme.io
Value: Use the unique verification value shown in Systeme.io
Root-domain redirect:
From: yourdomain.co.za
To: https://www.yourdomain.co.za
Important: Delete the existing www A record before adding the www CNAME record.
Important Email Warning
Changing website DNS records does not normally require changing the email records.
Do not delete the domain’s MX records if email must continue working.
Website records such as A, AAAA, and CNAME records control where the website loads from.
MX records control where email is delivered.
Removing or changing MX records can cause email delivery to stop.
Troubleshooting
DirectAdmin Will Not Allow the CNAME Record
Check whether an A record already exists using the same name.
For example, if you are trying to add a CNAME for www, first delete the existing www A record.
A DNS name cannot normally have both an A record and a CNAME record.
The Domain Does Not Verify
Check that:
- The record names were entered correctly.
- The record values contain no spelling mistakes.
- The existing www A record was deleted.
- There are no other conflicting A, AAAA, or CNAME records.
- The domain is using the HostworX nameservers.
- Enough time has passed for DNS propagation.
The WWW Address Works but the Main Domain Does Not
For Shopify, check that the main domain A record points to the correct Shopify address.
For Systeme.io, check that the main domain redirects to the www version.
The Website Works but Email Has Stopped
Check that the existing MX records were not removed or changed.
Restore the correct email DNS records or contact HostworX support.
Need Help?
If you are unsure which records can safely be removed, contact HostworX support before changing the DNS zone.
Please include:
- The domain name
- The external platform being connected
- The DNS records supplied by Shopify or Systeme.io
- A screenshot of any error or verification message
