What is a host and how can I create one?
Hosts are simply websites that the dotCMS manages. A single dotCMS server can manage literally hundreds of Hosts or websites. To add/manage a new website in dotCMS a *Host must first be added to the system. For information about adding a new host to dotCMS please see the Adding Hosts documentation.
As of dotCMS version 1.9, a Host system structure has been added to allow users to customize host properties and to dynamically pull host information on front end pages as needed.
Viewing, Editing, and Switching between Hosts from the Website Tab
From the website tab (see above), a right-click and edit on the host, will display the host's properties as shown below. A Host's properties by default include the following fields:
- Language: Language version of Host name
- Host Name: Typically the domain name of the host
- Aliases: alternate domains that also have their DNS pointed at the dotCMS server
- Host Thumbnail: Thumbnail image of host (logo, banner, etc.), that can be pulled dynamically on the front end
- *Custom Fields: any structure field can be added to the Host structure to customize host properties
Although some mandatory default fields are placed in the dotCMS system structure, any structure field can be added to the host structure to *customize the properties of each host as needed. All of these custom fields can also be pulled dynamically on the fronte end of each host as desired. For more information on adding a host, or adding fields to a host, please see the Adding Hosts documentation.
From the Website tab, users can switch between hosts by clicking on the Change Host button (see right). A host can then be selected from the drop down list or clicking on Manage Hosts will bring users to the Host portlet where users can view all hosts or do a filtered search to manage/edit specific hosts.
Managing Multiple Hosts from the CMS Admin Tab
All hosts can be seen and managed by clicking on the CMS Admin tab and then Hosts from the drop down menu. A complete list of Host Names and Aliases will then be displayed as shown below. From the Hosts portlet, any host can be edited by right-clicking on the title of the Host and selecting Edit from the drop down menu.
Hosts can be filtered by Host Name or Alias using the keyword search box.
A new Host can be added by clicking on the "+Add Host" button. For more information on adding a host, or adding fields to a host, please see the Adding Hosts documentation.
