How to Point a Domain to an Existing Website Directory

If you have been building a website using a temporary or working address and want it to become available under your final domain name, you can configure the new domain to use the same website directory.

In this example, the website is currently available under:

oldsite.mybox.dev

and you want it to be available under:

yourdomain.com

Instead of moving files, you can simply point the new domain to the existing website directory.

Step 1: Check the Current Website Directory

Log in to the mybox Panel and go to:

Websites

Select the website currently using the working address.

In the website details, locate the directory path assigned to the website.

Example:

~/oldsite.mybox.dev/public_html/

Make a note of this path, as you will use it when adding the new domain.

Step 2: Add the Target Domain

In the Websites section, click:

+ Add

and select:

Blank Website

Step 3: Enter the New Domain Name

In the website address field, enter the domain that should become the main address of the website.

Example:

yourdomain.com

The system will automatically suggest a new web directory based on the domain name.

Example:

yourdomain.com

Step 4: Change the Website Directory

Instead of using the newly suggested directory, replace it with the directory used by the working website.

For example, change:

yourdomain.com

to:

oldsite.mybox.dev

The selected directory path should now match the existing website location:

~/oldsite.mybox.dev/public_html/

This tells the server to load the website files from the existing directory rather than creating a new one.

Step 5: Save the Configuration

Complete the website creation process.

After a few minutes, once the server configuration has been reloaded, the new domain will begin serving content from the existing website directory.

Additional Configuration

Depending on the CMS or application you are using, additional updates may be required.

Common examples include:

WordPress

Update:

• WordPress Address (URL)
• Site Address (URL)

or modify the values stored in the database.

PrestaShop

Update:

• Shop URL
• Domain settings

Joomla

Update:

• Configuration settings
• Base URL settings (if applicable)

Custom PHP Applications

Update:

• Configuration files
• Base URLs
• Redirect rules

DNS Considerations

Before the domain becomes publicly accessible, ensure that:

• The domain points to the correct hosting server.
• DNS records are configured correctly.
• DNS propagation has completed.

Propagation can take up to:

24 hours

depending on the domain registrar and DNS provider.

Summary

To use an existing website directory with a new domain:

1. Check the directory used by the current working website.
2. Add the new domain as a Blank Website.
3. Replace the automatically suggested website directory with the existing one.
4. Save the configuration.
5. Update CMS or application settings if required.

Once the configuration has propagated, the new domain will display the website already stored in the existing directory without requiring any file migration.