Host Name

Overview

Host names can be used to create URLs that are more user-friendly than the default Portal URL.

Example:

You may want to give your users knowledgebase.yourcompany.com as the URL for your Knowledgebase portal. Working with your IT department, appropriate DNS records can be created that will point the user-friendly address to your portal.

Setting a Host Name for a Portal

On-Premise customers can do as follows:

In Win2008 R2 Installations

1. Go to Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Internet Services (IIS) Manager. The Internet Information Services (IIS)
   Manager page is displayed. 
2. Browse to the Customer Portal Website.
   
3. Right click the Customer Portal website name, and select Properties.
   In the Properties dialog box, the Web Site tab displays the website information.
   
4. Click Advanced. The Advanced Web Site Identification dialog box is displayed.
   
5. Click Add. The Add/Edit Web Site Identification dialog box is
   displayed. The IP address field indicates the IP address of the system where the Customer Portal is installed.
6. In the TCP port field, specify the port number used to connect to the Customer Portal.
7. In the Host Header value, specify a friendly URL for the Portal. 
   For example: knowledgebase.yourcompany.com
8. Click OK.
9. Click OK on the Advanced Web Site Identification page.
10. Login to the customer portal(admin),
11. Click the name of the Portal for which you want to set the Host name.
12. Click Edit.
13. Click Configuration to see the portal-config.xml file.
14. Scroll to the lines:
    <!-- Host
    Name: Default is blank. Only 1 hostname can be provided. 
    Example: <hostName>www.test.com>/hostName> --<
    <hostName></hostName>
    
15. Type the url that you wish to use :<hostName> knowledgebase.yourcompany.com</hostName>
    
16. Click Save.
    
17. Reset IIS.
     

In Win2012- installations

1. Click File Explorer (bottom menu-bar left)
2. Click Favorites > Desktop
   
3. Right-Click Computer>Manage
   
4. In the Server manager window's top right menu Click Tools>Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
   
5. Click Customer Portal Website, in the Connections panel.
   
6. Perform steps 3 to 17 as described in "Win2008 R2 installation"
   
7. After the settings are saved, click View, in the customer portal to check that the changed host name url works as expected.
    

Cloud Customers must contact their Account Manager to create or change the host name.