Overview
This article provides answers to common questions about hosting a domain at DreamHost.
General hosting questions
How many domains can I host?
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Shared, VPS, and Dedicated Hosting plans have no limit on the number of domains you can host. The only services that are limited to a single domain are DreamPress (a dedicated service catered to a single WordPress site) and Shared Starter Hosting.
How much does hosting cost?
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See this page for a listing of current hosting prices.
Can I host a subdomain only?
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Yes. Simply add the primary domain in the panel, then the subdomain. You’ll then be able to view the IP address for the subdomain. See this article for further details.
Can I host an OpenNIC TLD (e.g., Namecoin, Emercoin, New Nations, and so on) at DreamHost?
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DreamHost's managed hosting system is not configured to support OpenNIC TLDs. However, you can configure a DreamCompute instance for this purpose. Unfortunately, support is not available due to the high level of customization that's required. See this page for more information.
Can I restore my site if I accidentally remove hosting from the domain?
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Maybe. If your site was hosted on a shared server, VPS, or Dedicated Server, the site files are not automatically deleted when the domain is removed. If you set the domain to Fully Hosted again, you can point it to the previous FTP user and directory to restore the site.
DreamPress servers are automatically deleted when the domain is removed from DreamPress, and their data cannot be restored once the server is deleted.
Accessing your hosting files
How can I upload and access my domain files?
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Using a client, you can access the server via FTP or SFTP. You can also use a terminal to access it via SSH. Information about the various types of DreamHost users can be found in this article.
How do I view and access my domain if the DNS is not yet pointed to DreamHost?
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See this article to learn more about how to preview your site before a DNS change by using a dreamhosters.com subdomain.
Can I access the domain using an IP address?
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This is only possible if you purchase a Unique IP, which assigns a specific IP for your site. Otherwise, it is not possible.
Miscellaneous hosting questions
My domain is now fully hosted — Where is the public_html file?
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When adding hosting to your domain, you are prompted to enter a web directory. This directory is where you place your website files on your web server. Upload your index file in the web directory named after your site (e.g., /example.com) so it displays when you visit your page.
Other hosts reference this as the public_html directory. It functions the same way at DreamHost. See this article for further details.
I added a domain to the panel as Fully Hosted, and the nameservers are already pointed to DreamHost — How long until I can access my site?
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If you recently added hosting to the domain, it can take anywhere from 4–8 hours to resolve online. You can use either of the following links to check on the DNS propagation status:
- whatsmydns.net — A popular site that checks DNS records around the world.
- Viewing your DreamHost DNS records — Use DreamHost's DNS propagation checker in the panel.
Is DreamHost HIPAA compliant?
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DreamHost is not HIPAA compliant and is therefore unable to issue a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created to establish national standards for protecting medical records. More specifically, the Security Rule specifies standards to protect electronically transferred health information. The Security Rule requires appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of electronically protected health information. Further information can be found at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.