DNS setup¶

SpawnWP uses two hostnames you choose, both pointing at your server:

Variable	Example	Serves
`DOMAIN`	`dev.example.com`	WordPress sites (`/` and `/<site>/`)
`COCKPIT_DOMAIN`	`cockpit.example.com`	The cockpit + per-site Adminer/Mailpit

You can pick any names you control. Common patterns:

Sibling subdomains: dev.example.com + cockpit.example.com
Root + subdomain: example.com + cockpit.example.com
Two unrelated names, as long as both resolve to the same server.

Both must resolve before you install

During installation, SpawnWP obtains a single Let's Encrypt certificate covering both hostnames using HTTP validation on port 80. If either name does not yet point at the server, certificate issuance fails. Set up DNS first and let it propagate.

1. Find your server's public IP¶

curl -4 https://ifconfig.me      # IPv4
curl -6 https://ifconfig.me      # IPv6 (optional)

2. Create the DNS records¶

In your DNS provider, add an A record (IPv4) for each hostname pointing at the server IP. If your server has IPv6, optionally add AAAA records too.

Type	Name	Value
A	`dev` (for `dev.example.com`)	`<server IPv4>`
A	`cockpit` (for `cockpit.example.com`)	`<server IPv4>`
AAAA (optional)	`dev`	`<server IPv6>`
AAAA (optional)	`cockpit`	`<server IPv6>`

Cloudflare users

Set the records to DNS only (grey cloud), not proxied, at least for the initial install so Let's Encrypt HTTP validation reaches your server directly. You can enable the proxy afterwards if you wish.

3. Verify propagation¶

From your laptop (or the server):

dig +short dev.example.com
dig +short cockpit.example.com
# Each should print your server IP.

or:

getent hosts dev.example.com cockpit.example.com

Propagation is usually quick but can take from a few minutes up to an hour depending on your provider and TTL. Once both names return the server IP, continue to Installation.