3.6.3. Connect domain to Google Sites

Automatic setup

Use presets from the "Google → Google Sites" group.

Manual setup

Important points:

  • In Google Sites you can connect only a subdomain. The main domain like example.com cannot be connected.
  • Domain must be served on our NS. If third-party NS are used, actions should be performed in the panel of the owner of these NS, not in ours.

Configure

Instruction from Google
  1. Confirm ownership of the domain in Google Sites.
  2. Delete all existing DNS records of the subdomain for which you will be adding the CNAME record (only this subdomain, the records of the main domain and other subdomains do not need to be touched).
  3. Add record with the following data:
    • "Subdomain" — subdomain name (e.g. for an address like www.example.com you should specify www).
    • "Type" — "CNAME".
    • "Data" — ghs.googlehosted.com.
  4. Wait for the DNS cache to refresh (usually a few hours, maximum 24).

Redirect

Additionally, you can configure the site to work at the main address (without www) by redirecting requests to the site with www.

To set up a redirect, enable direct web redirect, specify your site address with www in the "Redirect URL" field, and enable "Redirect requests for non-www domain only".

The end result will be the following site accessibility scheme:

  • When accessing the address with www via HTTPS — the site will open directly from Google server (basic mode of operation).
  • When accessing the address with www via HTTP — redirect to the address with www via HTTPS will be performed.
  • When accessing the address without www via HTTP and HTTPS — web redirect will be performed to an address with www via HTTP or HTTPS (depending on how the target address is specified in the web redirect settings).
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