Domain Name Redirect – Namecheap + Cloudflare

Example for HowdyTees.com redirecting to TeePublic site.

ALERT: Do NOT use the below instructions when Domain name is on Namecheap and website is on Cloudlfare Pages.

Final setup (see Start here, below, for step-by-step)

Namecheap

• Continues to own/register howdytees.com
• Nameservers now point to Cloudflare
• Namecheap’s old URL Redirect is no longer doing the forwarding

Cloudflare domain and DNS

• Free plan
• DNS handles @ and www (DNS A record)
• Both point to 192.0.2.1 (DNS A record)
• Both are 🟠 Proxied (DNS A record)
• HTTPS is handled by Cloudflare
• Active 302 Redirect Rule

Cloudflare redirect rule summary that Cloudflare has the exact configuration we intended:

• Status: Active
• Rule: HowdyTees → TeePublic
• Match: http*://*howdytees.com/*
• Action: 302 redirect

Start here:

Cloudflare – Add Domain

Add domain name. Select free plan. Acquire Name Server (NS) records to add to domain name DNS on Namecheap.

Overview:

• Add the domain to Cloudflare.
• Create a proxied DNS record using 192.0.2.1.
• Create a redirect rule to the destination.

1. Cloudflare dashboard > Domains > Overview > click Add Domain button
2. Under Add a site, choose Connect a domain
3. Select a plan for howdytees.com: Choose Free plan
4. Click Continue to activiation
5. Change the proxied DNS record IP address to 192.0.2.1. for howdytees.com A record
6. Change the proxied DNS record IP address to 192.0.2.1. for www.howdytees.com A record
7. Note the Name Server (NS) records:

• fiona.ns.cloudflare.com
• mitch.ns.cloudflare.com

Namecheap – Add Name Server records

1. Copy the Cloudflare Name Server (NS) records to: Namecheap > Domain > Nameservers > Custom DNS:

• fiona.ns.cloudflare.com
• mitch.ns.cloudflare.com

Cloudflare – Add Redirect Rule

1. Cloudflare dashboard > Domains > Overview > click Domain name
2. Rules (in left-hand menu) > Overview > Redirect to a new URL: Click Create from template
3. Create new Single Redirect: add a Name: HowdyTees → https://www.teepublic.com/user/reidwalley/albums/179203-howdy-tees
4. If incoming requests match…: choose Wildcard pattern
5. Request URL: http*://*howdytees.com/* (By using the asterisk (*) character to create a pattern that can match many requests e.g. https://*.example.com/files/*)
6. Target URL: https://www.teepublic.com/user/reidwalley/albums/179203-howdy-tees
7. Status code: 302 – Temporary redirect
8. Preserve query string: Off