Wordpress - http:// or http://www.

[nickreynolds]

I've read on here a bit about http://example.com vs. http://www.example.com, although being a simple soul I've struggled to get my head round it. Anyway hopefully someone can help me with this.

I've decided to set up several blogs with different webhosting to the reseller account I usually host my websites on. I've set up a package where I can add further domains as an addon in cpanel. It's a low budget approach!

When I come to install Wordpress, the cpanel uses Softaculous and installs Wordpress MU which I can then upgrade.

At the Wordpress installation I was offered the options to choose protocol between http:// https:// http:// www and [www....]

I chose http:// but now I can only get to the site in my browser if I type http://example.com - if I type in www.example.com - I get server not found.

So is this because I chose http:// as the protocol in setup or is something else at play here?

[mromero]

You might want to contact your webhost. On our webhost all websites www.example.com is same as http://example.com

[bunltd]

WordPress should redirect the www version to the non-www version for you (internally) based on what you see in the Settings > General > WordPress address (URL).

Check with your host, they may have something misconfigured with either Apache or your DNS record.

[phranque]

there are 3 pieces to this puzzle:
1 - you DNS should be configured to resolve requests for www. subdomains or wildcard subdomains to you web server's IP address.
2 - your web server should be configured to accept requests for www. subdomains or wildcard subdomains.
3 - your web server should 301 redirect requests for www.example.com to http://example.com

[nickreynolds]

Many thanks - bunltd's info about wordpress settings sorted it.

[phranque]

does the solution involve a 301 status code response or is another method used to forward the www request to non-www?