Set up custom subdomain for Jekyll Blog hosted in Github Pages

Question

I created a Jekyll-powered blog and am hosting it with GitHub Pages.

Now, I want to set up a subdomain (blog.example.com), but can't make it work.

I have added a CNAME file with the text: blog.example.com. And I have added to A records in my Dreamhost account for the subdomain, both pointing to 204.232.175.78, provided by GitHub.

Any idea about what the missing part is, or if I'm doing something incorrectly?

Answer 1

The setup is different for domains like example.com and sub-domains like blog.example.com.

In case of a sub-domain: blog.example.com

1. Go to Domains | Manage Domains in your webpanel
2. Locate blog.example.com, click Delete in the Actions column
3. Wait 10 minutes, and then click the DNS link below example.com
4. Add a CNAME record:
   • Name = blog
   • Type = CNAME
   • Value = yourusername.github.io. (yes there is a . at the end!)

In case of a domain: example.com

1. Go to Domains | Manage Domains in your webpanel
2. Locate example.com, click Edit in the Actions column and switch to DNS only hosting (it's at the bottom)
3. Go back to Domains | Manage Domains in your webpanel
4. Click the DNS link below example.com
5. Add an A record:
   • Name = (blank, nothing)
   • Type = A
   • Value = 185.199.108.153 (GitHub, from this page)
6. Add a CNAME record:
   • Name = www
   • Type = CNAME
   • Value = yourusername.github.io. (yes there is a . at the end!)

(Yes, you need both the A and CNAME records in this case.)

Btw, the only reason I know this is because I did the same thing last weekend. I was quite lost, but the helpful support guys helped me half way, and I figured out the rest. This procedure works for me, I needed both cases so I tested both.

Answer 2

Because of the way DNS records are cached across the internet, these sorts of changes can take a few hours to take effect. It looks like the address you provided resolves correctly now.