Virtual Hosts (VHOSTs) are a way of supporting many websites using a single pool of web servers. Each project on SourceForge.net is allocated on the PROJECTNAME.sourceforge.io
VHOST for their Project Web site.
Some projects elect to register a vanity domain (such as PROJECTNAME.com). Through our Custom VHOST service, project administrators may configure our servers to answer traffic for those domains.
Note: The VHOST facility is not available for the Developer web space.
Domain name registration is not typically free; there is an initial cost that registers the domain name for some period of time, then ongoing renewal fees to keep the domain registered. You are responsible for these fees.
To register a domain, you should contact an ICANN-accredited domain registrar.
If you eventually decide to let your domain lapse, remember to update any links (to avoid the risk of someone else, like a porn website, registering that domain and surprising your users when they try to access information about your project.
To have your domain point at some server that answers the traffic, you need to configure DNS (Domain Name Service) for the domain.
SourceForge.net does not provide DNS services. Many domain registrars provide DNS services on a for-pay basis. Your DNS provider will supply documentation on how to use their service. You are responsible for any fees if you choose a for-pay DNS service.
Point your DNS to vhost2.sourceforge.net
(or 204.68.111.101
)
Using the tools provided by your DNS provider, configure like the following example:
yourdomain.com IN A to 204.68.111.101.
www.yourdomain.com CNAME to vhost2.sourceforge.net.
Please note that DNS does not allow you to use a CNAME at the "apex" (top-most) name in your domain, though some DNS providers support a record that allows you to map to a hostname, such as using an "alias" or an "ANAME" record.
SourceForge.net servers will not properly route the traffic for your domain until you configure your project's custom VHOSTs. Custom VHOSTs are managed through a self-service tool, which may be accessed as follows:
VHOST additions typically become active within 5 minutes.
We currently limit the number of custom VHOSTs to ten.
Documentation: Project Web Services
Documentation: Project Web and Developer Web
Documentation: ToC