Kinsta’s domain management is an integral part of their Managed WordPress Hosting service, offering a comprehensive and user-friendly approach to managing your domains. Here’s an overview of what the product does and its key features:
What Kinsta Domains Does
Kinsta’s domain management allows you to add, verify, and configure your custom domains to point to your Kinsta-hosted applications. This process ensures that your visitors can access your website through your chosen domain names.Key Features and Functionality
Adding and Verifying Domains
To add a domain, you navigate to the Applications > Domains section in MyKinsta, where you can enter your domain name and initiate the verification process. This involves adding specific TXT records to your domain’s DNS settings, which may be managed through Cloudflare or another DNS provider. The verification process typically takes a few minutes to an hour, depending on the DNS propagation time.Pointing Domains
After verification, you need to point your domain to Kinsta by setting up the necessary CNAME records. For the root domain, you remove any existing A, AAAA, or CNAME records and add the specified CNAME record. You can also point the www version of your domain by repeating these steps for the subdomain.Primary Domain Management
You can designate a primary domain from your list of added domains. This is done by locating the desired domain in the domains list, clicking the kebab menu, and selecting Make primary domain.SSL Certificates
Every custom domain added to Kinsta automatically includes a free SSL certificate. For temporary kinsta.app domains, a wildcard certificate is provided. You also have the option to add a custom SSL certificate if needed.DNS Management
Kinsta offers a premium DNS service powered by Amazon Route 53, which is included with all Managed WordPress Hosting plans at no additional cost. This service supports latency and geolocation-based routing, ensuring quick response times. You can manage your DNS records directly in MyKinsta, including adding A records, CNAME records, and other necessary configurations.Redirects and HTTPS
Kinsta allows you to set up redirection rules for each domain, including 301 redirects, from the “Redirects” menu in MyKinsta. Additionally, you can force all HTTP traffic to HTTPS using the “Force HTTPS” option, although Kinsta typically handles this automatically.Integration with Cloudflare
For domains connected to Cloudflare, Kinsta provides a detailed guide on how to verify and point your domain using Cloudflare’s DNS settings. This integration ensures seamless management and optimization of your domain’s performance and security.Additional Features
- Content Delivery Network (CDN): Kinsta includes a premium CDN (KeyCDN) with all plans, which helps improve site speed by serving cached versions of your site from locations nearest to your visitors.
- Performance Optimization: MyKinsta offers various performance optimization tools, including cache management, PHP version modification, edge caching, and automatic image optimization.
- Security and Backup: Kinsta provides free SSL certificates, one-click HTTPS, and automatic backups. You can also manage security settings like password protection and database access via SSH or web interface.