NOTE: This article is written for our Classic Cloud Control Panel. You can access this interface from the New Cloud Control Panel by clicking your username in the upper-right of the control panel and choosing the previous control panel from the menu.

Cloud Sites makes it easy for you to purchase a domain name directly through the Rackspace Cloud Control Panel. Below, we will go through the process for Registering a New Domain Name and Transferring Your Existing Domain.

Registering a New Domain Name

NOTE: If you are registering a new domain name through the Control Panel, the DNS will automatically be setup for you to point to the Rackspace Cloud. 

• First, Log in to the Rackspace Cloud Control Panel
• Navigate to Hosting->Cloud Sites

• Click Add New Site
• Select the correct Site Owner (usually "You")
• Next, enter the domain name you want to purchase in the "Domain Name" text box (i.e. www.yourdomain.com)

• Choose the length of time for which you want to purchase the domain name

• The next screen will allow you to review your new domain purchase order. If you are ready to purchase, then click Finish

Transferring Your Existing Domain

Transferring the registrar of your existing domain name to Cloud Sites is the preferred method for moving your website.  By transferring your registrar, you will have all of your domain information accessible in one place which makes it possible for us to help you with the renewal of the domain name and other Support issues. You can transfer your existing domain to Cloud Sites and receive an additional year of ownership for only $10.

NOTE: Transferring your existing domain does not automatically update the DNS at the domain registrar level. You will need to manually update your DNS if you would like to make your domain live on The Rackspace Cloud.

Follow these steps to transfer your existing domain name to Cloud Sites:

• Log in to the Rackspace Cloud Control Panel
• Navigate to Hosting->Cloud Sites

• Enter the domain name in the Domain Name text box

• Check the I already own/manage this domain name check box
• Select Transfer the domain name from the pull-down menu

• Click Next Step

• Last, you will review your order and click Finish once you are ready to process the order

NOTE: Your current registrar may offer "transfer lock" or a similar service as a security measure to prevent unauthorized transfer of your domain name. If this feature is activated, you will need to log on to your account with your current registrar in order to unlock the domain. If you try to transfer a domain that still has the transfer lock enabled, the transfer will be denied by your current registrar. In order to turn the transfer lock function off, you must have access to the administrative email address you used when first registering the domain. Your current registrar will send an email to this account that will require a reply from you, confirming that the transfer is authorized. If you do not have access to this email address, contact customer support for help. You can do a WHOIS search to find the administrative email and the current registrar for the domain. See How do I do a WHOIS search? for more information.

NOTE: All DNS changes take up to 48 hours to take effect. During this time you can check your website by using the test URL (i.e. www.yourdomain.com.websitetestlink.com).

This concludes How to Register Your Domain and Domain Transfers. If at any point you need additional assistance, please contact Support and a Fanatical Racker will answer any questions you may have.

In the next article, we'll discuss DNS record managment for your Rackspace Cloud Sites.