MobileMe seems to be useless for hosting a website - please help!

[mattwrit]

I'm on the MobileMe trial and have published a website using iWeb - but thought it was rubbish that my web address had to be xyz.me.com or whatever.

So I went to 1and1.co.uk and bought my own xyz.com domain and email so that I could have me@xyz.com

However, because I'm telling 1and1 to point to my MobileMe website, my me@xyz.com email cannot receive emails.

Their technical services say "Checking on the dns for the domain xyz.com, it is currently using an alias. You change the dns to have it pointed somewhere else. Make sure you have our mailservers pointed to us."

I'm so confused and would really be grateful for some help!! Is it possible to have my own domain with MobileMe AND have an email address with the same name?

Thanks...

 

[BroadcastDoc]

The problem lies with 1&1. Their DNS does not allow a CNAME with separate MX records.

The best way to fix it it to keep 1&1 as your registrar, but use a separate service for your DNS like ZoneEdit. You'll then be able to do what you're wanting to do.

It's not a MobileMe issue.

 

[jc1350]

You need to create/edit the MX record to point xyz.com to your correct mail server. You cannot use your personal domain for MM mail. Apple allows you to use xyz.com only for your web site.

 

[mattwrit]

The problem lies with 1&1. Their DNS does not allow a CNAME with separate MX records.

The best way to fix it it to keep 1&1 as your registrar, but use a separate service for your DNS like ZoneEdit. You'll then be able to do what you're wanting to do.

It's not a MobileMe issue.

Excellent, thanks. Could you quickly explain what a CNAME and MX is?

And ZoneEdit seems to be free - is it?!

 

[BroadcastDoc]

Sure!

In simple terms, CNAME is an alias assigned to your domain name. In the case of MobileMe, you assign the "www" part of http://www.yourdomain.com to web.me.com. So, if someone goes to http://www.yourdomain.com, the request goes to web.me.com. Apple keeps a list of set-up domains on their server, so when they see the request, they know to serve up your page.

Note that the alias only works for "www". If you just type in "yourdomain.com" the forwarding won't work.

As for MX: MX stands for Mail eXchanger. It's simply the name of the server that handles your mail. That could be your ISP (if they host your mail) or something different if you just forward email to that domain to a different address.

The bottom line in all of this is that 1&1 will not allow you to set up a CNAME independent of anything else. It's all or nothing. ZoneEdit however does. You can set up CNAME, and anything else you'd like which gives you a lot of flexibility.

ZoneEdit's basic functions are free for up to 5 domains. After that, you have to buy "credits" for $10.95. I've used them for almost 10 years and have never had a problem with them.

 

[mattwrit]

Thanks!

I'm getting a little concerned that I need three companies (Apple, 1&1 and ZoneEdit) just to get what everyone else seems to have.

I'm sure I'm going about this completely the wrong way...

I know I'm sounding thick, but what part exactly will ZoneEdit play?

 

[BroadcastDoc]

"What everyone else seems to have" is not true. I have it that way, since I used 1&1 for my registrar as well. Unfortunately not all registrars allow CNAME editing, so really, your situation is more common than you think.

All ZoneEdit does is handle DNS queries for your domain. You could transfer your domain to ZoneEdit as well so that they handle two of the three things you've mentioned, but there isn't a real compelling reason to do so. I've done it that way (1&1, ZoneEdit, Apple) for a long time without any issues. It's pretty common.

 

[mattwrit]

Great, that's reassuring.

When I purchased the domain I honestly didn't think it mattered who I bought it from - I thought it became mine. But I guess I'm still renting a service whilst it's active.

Thanks so much for the advice - I owe you a beer! Well, I've sent an email to 1&1 asking tham to change their 'nameservers' as ZoneEdit recommended... here's hoping...

 

[mattwrit]

BroadcastDoc - I'm sorry to keep going on, but I'm so confused...!

So, I've bought mydomain.com from 1&1, I've gone to ZoneEdit and input mydomain.com and they've told me to get 1&1 to change their nameservers - but, after doing all this, how is it going to finally point to xxxx.me.com?

 

[BroadcastDoc]

No problem!

What you need to do is go to 1&1's admin page and and change the DNS servers to the ones that ZoneEdit gave you. Picture 1 a screenshot of what it should look like on 1&1.

Next, go to ZoneEdit and set up the alias. Picture 2 shows the Alias screen on ZoneEdit. Under Alias, type www and under actual name, type web.me.com then click on add new alias.

Picture 3 shows what the overview looks like.

Now, that takes care of the web stuff. Mail is a different animal. The easiest way to set that up is to creat MailForwards in ZoneEdit, and forward mail to your domain to a separate email account, one of mine forwards to my GMail, the other forwards right to my MobileMe account.

 

[mattwrit]

I think I've done something wrong....

Mine says 'unmodifiable'.

 

[BroadcastDoc]

Hmmm.

It's possible that if you just registered the domain name they will not allow you to change the DNS right away. They may make you wait 30 days.

In the meantime, you could simply forward your domain to your MobileMe site.

Select the domain name in the 1&1 Control Panel, and click the "Destination" button. On the next page, under "Destination", click on "Edit".

For "Select Destination Type", select "Forward your Domain". Under Destination, type in the web address of your MobileMe site. For forwarding type use HTTP Redirect.

That will allow you (for now) to simply forward traffic to your site. If you still wish to use a CNAME, you can easily add the ZoneEdit info later on.

 

[mattwrit]

Right, I see. That disables my 1&1 Instant Mail again.

I'm wondering if it's just worth giving up on MobileMe altogether and asking 1&1 to host the site too...

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Note that the alias only works for "www". If you just type in "yourdomain.com" the forwarding won't work.

For what it's worth, I registered my website with GoDaddy.com and, using their DNS controls, I was able to get my MobileMe-hosted website to show up using both the "www" and the "yourdomain.com" by adding the domain name sans-www as a CNAME, as well.

Haven't tried to set up any email, though, as I'm content with my @mac.com email address.

 

[BroadcastDoc]

Right, I see. That disables my 1&1 Instant Mail again.

I'm wondering if it's just worth giving up on MobileMe altogether and asking 1&1 to host the site too...

Huh. You must have a different package than me. I have all of those options available.

Sorry I can't help you further. I gave it a shot though!

 

[maxoutkast]

This might help...

http://faq.1and1.com/domains/dns_settings/13.html

 

[markthespark]

Seriously, this has been nothing short of a complete pain in the bum. I'm ticked off that I even bothered trying to make this work.

So, I have a domain name with 1and1 and couldn't get email@mydomain.com to work.

I followed BroadcastDoc's instructions to create a ZoneEdit account, directed my 1and1 domain to the ZoneEdit nameservers they gave me, and then set up a cname alias in ZoneEdit to point to my MobileMe hosting, and created a MailForward for mail@mydomain.com.

It didn't work. Maybe I didn't wait long enough, I dunno. BroadcastDoc's instructions seemed good and clear and easy, and I really appreciate his help, sorry, I'm not ticked at you BroadcastDoc, I'm ticked at 1and1 and MobileMe for having such rubbish options.

I'm sick of jumping through hoops trying to make this work, but now I can't even go back to my original 1and1 cname settings, because they've given me the whole 'unmodifiable' thing. Now my website simply does not work, or my email, or anything. So annoyed. Of course, 1and1 have no FAQ for 'unmodifiable'. Muppets

Anyone who could help, please, that would be massively appreciated. BroadcastDoc, if the setting you described really do work for MobileMe domains plus mail through ZoneEdit's MailForward, if you could spare the time to walk me through it once more, that'd be too cool, thank you heaps

Very grateful to this forum, very annoyed with bollocks companies!

 

[markthespark]

Oh, this was 1and1's reply to my email asking what the story was...

<Thank you for contacting us.

As further checked, your email is not hosted with us. You have pointed
your domain to a different server. Any 1&1 application is not going to
function once your DNS is not pointed to 1&1 especially the webmail
feature. This is the reason why you cannot receive anything in the
webmail.

********.info is an alias for web.me.com.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

--
Sincerely, blah blah blah...>

Hats off to 1and1. What am I paying them for again?

 

[BroadcastDoc]

Seriously, this has been nothing short of a complete pain in the bum. I'm ticked off that I even bothered trying to make this work.

So, I have a domain name with 1and1 and couldn't get email@mydomain.com to work.

I followed BroadcastDoc's instructions to create a ZoneEdit account, directed my 1and1 domain to the ZoneEdit nameservers they gave me, and then set up a cname alias in ZoneEdit to point to my MobileMe hosting, and created a MailForward for mail@mydomain.com.

It didn't work. Maybe I didn't wait long enough, I dunno. BroadcastDoc's instructions seemed good and clear and easy, and I really appreciate his help, sorry, I'm not ticked at you BroadcastDoc, I'm ticked at 1and1 and MobileMe for having such rubbish options.

I'm sick of jumping through hoops trying to make this work, but now I can't even go back to my original 1and1 cname settings, because they've given me the whole 'unmodifiable' thing. Now my website simply does not work, or my email, or anything. So annoyed. Of course, 1and1 have no FAQ for 'unmodifiable'. Muppets

Anyone who could help, please, that would be massively appreciated. BroadcastDoc, if the setting you described really do work for MobileMe domains plus mail through ZoneEdit's MailForward, if you could spare the time to walk me through it once more, that'd be too cool, thank you heaps

Very grateful to this forum, very annoyed with bollocks companies!

How long did you wait? I know the mail forwards can take an hour or so to "kick in". Plus DNS servers generally cache information, so if you check the forwarding, change DNS info, and check again right away you won't see the changes.

If you can, I'd suggest making the changes again and waiting an hour or two. That should be all it takes for everything to change. Also, make sure the mail forward goes to an active account, not to the 1&1 mail account for that domain - 1&1 won't allow email on a domain they don't host DNS for. You could have it forwarded to your MobileMe mail, however.

Sorry it isn't working for you! I know how frustrating it can be!

 

[snourse21]

No problem!

What you need to do is go to 1&1's admin page and and change the DNS servers to the ones that ZoneEdit gave you. Picture 1 a screenshot of what it should look like on 1&1.

Next, go to ZoneEdit and set up the alias. Picture 2 shows the Alias screen on ZoneEdit. Under Alias, type www and under actual name, type web.me.com then click on add new alias.

Picture 3 shows what the overview looks like.

Now, that takes care of the web stuff. Mail is a different animal. The easiest way to set that up is to creat MailForwards in ZoneEdit, and forward mail to your domain to a separate email account, one of mine forwards to my GMail, the other forwards right to my MobileMe account.

Hi,
I am new to this forum but found it cos I have EXACTLY the same problem! I have changed my nameservers on 1&1 and ZoneEdit is now recognising this but I litarally CANNOT find the place to set up an alias on zone edit anywhere! Please help!!! Where do I find how to do this so I can carry on.... Thanks... any help gratefully received!

 

[Galley]

If you want to use your custom domain name's e-mail with MobileMe, you can use Google Apps to host your e-mail, and then forward all mail to your MobileMe account, while keeping a copy in your Gmail archive, all for FREE.

 

[snourse21]

That sounds great! I'm sorry though - could you give me some pointers in the right direction of how I go about this? I'm not great with all this techy stuff - it's a steep learning curve! Thanks