Domain & DNS Issues

Fix domain and DNS problems including subdomain issues, custom domain problems, and SSL errors.

Subdomain Shows "404 Not Found"

Problem: Visiting tenant.yoursite.com shows a 404 error.

Solutions:

Apache

1. Check that ServerAlias *.yoursite.com is in your virtual host config

2. Make sure mod_rewrite is enabled: sudo a2enmod rewrite

3. Restart Apache: sudo systemctl restart apache2

Nginx

1. Check that server_name yoursite.com *.yoursite.com; is in your server block

2. Test config: sudo nginx -t

3. Restart: sudo systemctl restart nginx

cPanel

1. Verify the wildcard subdomain exists in cPanel → Domains

2. Make sure it points to the correct directory

DNS

1. Verify the wildcard DNS record exists: *.yoursite.com → your server IP

2. Check propagation at dnschecker.org

3. Wait up to 48 hours for full propagation

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Subdomain Shows Wrong Website / Default Page

Problem: Subdomains show your hosting provider's default page instead of the CRM.

Solutions:

1. The wildcard subdomain is pointing to the wrong directory

2. In cPanel: Edit the wildcard subdomain to point to your Perfex CRM root directory

3. In Apache/Nginx: Make sure DocumentRoot (Apache) or root (Nginx) points to your Perfex installation

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Custom Domain Not Working

Problem: A tenant's custom domain doesn't show their CRM.

Solutions:

1. Check DNS: Use dnschecker.org to verify the domain points to your server IP

2. Check web server: Make sure your Apache/Nginx is configured to accept the domain

3. Check the module: Verify the custom domain is correctly entered in the tenant's settings

4. Wait for propagation: DNS changes can take up to 48 hours

Apache — Add custom domain support:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName yoursite.com
    ServerAlias *.yoursite.com
    ServerAlias tenant-domain.com  # Add each custom domain
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/perfex
</VirtualHost>

Or use a catch-all virtual host that accepts ANY domain:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName yoursite.com
    ServerAlias *
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/perfex
</VirtualHost>

Nginx — Add custom domain support:

server {
    listen 80 default_server;
    server_name yoursite.com *.yoursite.com;
    # Add _ to catch ALL domains:
    server_name _;
    root /var/www/html/perfex;
}

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SSL Certificate Issues

"Your connection is not private" Warning

Problem: Browser shows a security warning when accessing a subdomain or custom domain.

Solutions:

1. For subdomains: Install a wildcard SSL certificate or use Let's Encrypt

2. For custom domains: Each custom domain needs its own SSL certificate

3. Quick fix: Use Cloudflare (free plan) — it provides SSL for all domains

SSL Certificate Expired

Problem: SSL was working but now shows an expiration warning.

Solutions:

1. Let's Encrypt: Check auto-renewal: sudo certbot renew --dry-run

2. cPanel: Run AutoSSL from cPanel → SSL/TLS Status

3. Manual certificate: Purchase and install a new certificate

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"ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS" Error

Problem: The browser shows a redirect loop error.

Solutions:

1. Cloudflare + server SSL conflict: Set Cloudflare SSL mode to "Full" (not "Flexible") if your server has its own SSL

2. Check .htaccess: Look for conflicting redirect rules

3. Clear browser cookies: Sometimes old cookies cause redirect loops

4. Check landing page mode: Try switching between "proxy" and "redirection" modes in Landing Page Settings

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Tenant Gets "403 Forbidden"

Problem: Tenant can access the URL but sees a "403 Forbidden" error.

Solutions:

1. Check directory permissions: chmod 755 on the Perfex directory

2. Check file permissions: chmod 644 on PHP files

3. Check .htaccess for any IP restrictions

4. If using Apache, make sure AllowOverride All is set in the virtual host

Still having DNS issues? Make sure to wait the full propagation time (up to 48 hours) before concluding there's a problem. Use dnschecker.org to monitor propagation in real-time.