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How to set Plesk 301 Redirect?

When it comes to managing and optimizing your website, implementing Plesk 301 redirects is a crucial aspect of ensuring a seamless user experience and maintaining search engine rankings. Plesk, a powerful web hosting control panel, simplifies the management of websites and server configurations. 

One essential feature for website owners and administrators is the ability to set up Plesk 301 redirects. As a part of our Plesk server management service, we’re providing this detailed guide to assist you with Plesk. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up Plesk 301 redirects, demystifying the technicalities for users of all levels.

Understanding the Importance of Plesk 301 Redirects

Before we delve into the technical details, let’s grasp the significance of 301 redirects. When a URL is permanently redirected to another URL, this is referred to as a 301 redirect. This is crucial for maintaining SEO value, ensuring a smooth user experience, and addressing changes in your website structure or domain. Whether you’re rebranding, updating content, or restructuring your site, Plesk 301 redirects help preserve your website’s integrity.

How to create a Plesk 301 redirect

Creating a 301 redirect might sound technical, but it’s a useful way to guide people from one web address to another. You have various options for setting up these redirects, and it’s essential to know that they can redirect not only entire websites but also individual pages.

Here are the different ways you can set up a redirect:

Redirect with a Domain Alias

Redirect-with-Domain-Forwarding

Step 1: Login to Plesk

In order to log into your Plesk control panel, you will need to remember your credentials.

Step 2: Add Domain Alias

  • Click on the “Add Domain Alias” button.
  • Enter the domain you want to forward.
  • Select the domain you want to redirect it to.
  • Leave checkboxes at their defaults unless you don’t want to forward mail. In this case, you should make sure that the “Mail Service” box is unchecked.
  • Click OK to save your settings.

Your domain -> domain redirect is now in place, and Plesk automatically sets up a 301 redirect for you.

Advanced Usage Note:

If you want to forward the DNS/Mail services but redirect to a specific page, you can disable the “Redirect with the HTTP 301 code” function and add the following code to your site’s .htaccess file:

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www.)?youraliasdomain.tld [NC] 
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://yourmaindomain.tld/location [L,R=301]

This allows you to redirect users to a particular location rather than aliasing the whole site.

Redirect with Domain Forwarding

Step 1: Login to Plesk

If the domain isn’t added yet, click on the “Add Domain” button and select “Forwarding” as the hosting type. If the domain already exists, proceed to step 2.

Redirect with Domain Forwarding-1

Step 2: Change Hosting Type

  • You will need to find your domain in the list of options and then select “Hosting Settings.”
  • Look for “Hosting Type” and click the link to change it.
  • Select “Forwarding” as the hosting type.
Redirect with Domain Forwarding-2
  • Enter the destination URL.
  • Choose the forwarding type/response code carefully (e.g., “Moved Permanently” or “Moved Temporarily”).
  • Click OK to save your settings.

Your domain -> URL redirect has been successfully set up.

Redirect with Subdomain Forwarding

Step 1: Login to Plesk

  • Click on the “Add Subdomain” button.

Step 2: Create Subdomain

  • Put in your subdomain and leave everything else as it is.
  • Press OK to create the subdomain.

Step 3: Configure Subdomain Forwarding

  • Under the subdomain’s settings, choose “Hosting Settings.”
  • Look for “Hosting Type” and click the link to change it.
  • Select “Forwarding” as the hosting type.
  • Enter the destination address.
  • Click OK to save the settings.

Your subdomain -> URL redirect has been successfully set up.

Custom Web Server Directives or Code

This is a bit more technical, and it applies to Web settings. It’s like creating custom instructions for the web server to say, “When someone goes to this URL, take them to that URL.”

Registrar Domain Forwarding

Your domain registrar might offer a forwarding option. It’s like telling your registrar, “If someone looks for my website, send them to this new address.” However, we don’t always recommend this unless your domain is registered with us, as some registrars may not use the best methods for redirects.

In simpler terms, it’s like giving directions to your website. Whether you’ve changed your domain or just a specific page, these methods help people find the new location without getting lost on the internet highway.

Setting up Plesk 301 Redirects

Plesk simplifies the process of implementing 301 redirects through its user-friendly interface. Follow these steps to set up seamless redirections:

1. Accessing Plesk:

  • In order to log into your Plesk control panel, you will need to remember your credentials.
  • Navigate to the “Websites & Domains” tab to access the domain settings.

2. Selecting the Domain:

  • Identify the domain for which you want to set up a Plesk 301 redirect.
  • To gain access to the domain name’s settings, click on the domain name.

3. Navigating to the Redirects Section:

  • Within the domain settings, locate and click on the “Redirects” option.
  • This will open the Redirects Manager, where you can configure the redirection rules.

4. Adding a New Redirect Rule:

  • Click on the “Add Redirect” button to create a new redirection rule.
  • Specify the source URL (the old URL) and the destination URL (the new URL) in the provided fields.

5. Configuring Redirect Settings:

  • Choose the type of redirect – in this case, select “Permanent (301)” to ensure a lasting redirection.
  • Decide whether the redirection should apply to all paths or a specific one.
  • Opt for the “Wildcard” option if you want to include all subdirectories.

6. Testing the Redirect:

  • Before saving, use the “Test” button to ensure the redirection works as intended.
  • Verify that the redirection leads visitors from the source URL to the destination URL seamlessly.

7. Saving the Redirect Rule:

  • Once satisfied with the test results, click “OK” or “Apply” to save the redirection rule.
  • Plesk will implement the Plesk 301 redirect, ensuring a smooth transition for your website visitors.

Setting up HTTP Plesk 301 Redirect

Follow these simple steps to establish a secure and SEO-friendly 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS using Plesk. This ensures that users are directed to the preferred domain securely.

Setting up HTTP Plesk 301 Redirect

Step 1: Open Plesk

  • After logging in, give Plesk a few seconds to load. You’ll be greeted with a window that looks like the following.

Step 2: Navigate to Domain Settings

  • It is necessary to find the “Preferred Domain” option inside the domain settings.
  • Select the domain to which you want users to be redirected.

Step 3: Configure Security Settings

  • In the Security settings section, check both “SSL/TLS support” and “Permanent SEO-safe 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS.”

Step 4: Choose SSL Certificate

  • From the drop-down menu, choose the SSL certificate you want to use for the site.
  • Under the certificate settings, click the drop-down menu and select “Default Certificate (other repository).”
Choose SSL Certificate

Step 5: Save Settings

  • Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
  • Save your settings by clicking “OK.”

Step 6: Confirm Secure Connection

  • If everything is set up correctly, you should see a confirmation message stating:
  • “Your site now uses a secure connection for any page request.”
Confirm Secure Connection

By following these steps, you ensure that your website benefits from a secure HTTPS connection, providing a safe and trusted environment for your users. Additionally, the implemented Plesk 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS contributes to improved SEO and user experience.

Common Pitfalls and Troubleshooting

1. Clearing Browser Cache:

  • After setting up the redirect, it’s advisable to clear your browser cache to avoid any cached redirects causing confusion.

2. Checking for Conflicting Rules:

  • Ensure that no conflicting redirection rules exist, which might override the intended 301 redirect.

3. Verifying SSL Configuration:

  • If your website uses SSL, double-check that the SSL configuration is consistent with the redirection settings.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can easily set up redirects in Plesk, ensuring a seamless transition for your website visitors. Whether it’s a domain alias, domain forwarding, or subdomain forwarding, Plesk provides user-friendly options to meet your redirection needs. And you can also ensure that your website benefits from a secure HTTPS connection, providing a safe and trusted environment for your users. Additionally, the implemented Plesk 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS contributes to improved SEO and user experience.

With this extensive guide, you have gained a thorough understanding of the importance of Plesk 301 redirects, How to set Plesk 301 Redirect, and best practices for maintaining a search-engine-friendly website. Empowered with this knowledge, website administrators can confidently enhance user experience, preserve SEO equity, and navigate the ever-evolving landscape of web management. If you’ve any queries or issues about Plesk and other services then contact our support team anytime of the day. We’re always there to assist you with the issues you may be experiencing.