domain resolution

[nateb0t]

What is the best practice if I want 3 domains to all resolve to the same domain name?

I know I can put redirects in the virtual hosts but that requires another trip to the client and back, does it not? That's surely not the best state of affairs.

Should I be setting a ServerAlias of the domain names I want to point to the main domain name? I am hazy on this point becasue ServerAlias works in Virutal Hosts, not the main host....

[nateb0t]

and while I am at it, I might as well ask if anyone knows the consequence of having several domain names point to the same IP with the same content... is there a penalty applied by most search engine services for multiple domains pointing to the same IP?

[Chris]

What is the best practice if I want 3 domains to all resolve to the same domain name?

If the 3 domains are going to point at your main VDS domain, then you can use the control panel to set this up. See:
http://help.hardhathosting.com/question.php/12
(alias, bottom half of page)

If they are pointing at a secondary domain, then you would need to setup ServerAlias's.

[Chris]

and while I am at it, I might as well ask if anyone knows the consequence of having several domain names point to the same IP with the same content... is there a penalty applied by most search engine services for multiple domains pointing to the same IP?
I've heard both pros and cons. I am not convinced either way. I remember a while back, the Googleguy, was quoted as saying "it doesn't penalize your site to have multiple domains pointed at one IP address." However, ask most SEO so-called experts, and they will tell you differently. Who knows :)

[nateb0t]

I've heard both pros and cons. I am not convinced either way. I remember a while back, the Googleguy, was quoted as saying "it doesn't penalize your site to have multiple domains pointed at one IP address." However, ask most SEO so-called experts, and they will tell you differently. Who knows :)


thanks Chris, I've went with 301 redirects and am researching the google/webmaster subsite for thier best practices suggestions. i'll post here anything I find that might be of interest to this community.