Subdomains allow you to create separate sections of your website under your main domain name, each with its own content and purpose. For example, you might use blog.yourdomain.co.tz for your blog and shop.yourdomain.co.tz for your online store. This guide explains how to create, configure, and manage subdomains using cPanel on your SakuraHost account.
What Is a Subdomain?
A subdomain is a prefix added to your main domain name, separated by a dot. It functions as a completely separate website or web application while remaining part of your primary domain. Subdomains are commonly used to organise different sections of a website, create staging or testing environments, host separate applications, or set up multilingual versions of a site.
Creating a Subdomain in cPanel
Follow these steps to create a new subdomain:
https://yourdomain.co.tz:2083.
blog.yourdomain.co.tz). cPanel will automatically suggest a document root directory, typically /public_html/blog. You can customise this path if needed.
Uploading Content to Your Subdomain
Each subdomain has its own document root directory. Any files you place in this directory will be served when visitors access the subdomain URL. For example, if your subdomain's document root is /public_html/blog, uploading an index.html file there means visitors to blog.yourdomain.co.tz will see that page.
Use cPanel's File Manager to navigate to the subdomain's directory and upload files, or connect via FTP targeting the same path. For detailed file upload instructions, refer to our knowledge base article on uploading website files using cPanel File Manager.
Installing Applications on Subdomains
You can install WordPress, Joomla, or other applications directly on a subdomain. When using Softaculous (available in cPanel under Software > Softaculous Apps Installer), simply select the subdomain from the domain dropdown during installation.
Example: Installing WordPress on a Subdomain
blog.yourdomain.co.tz).
SSL Certificates for Subdomains
Each subdomain needs its own SSL certificate for secure HTTPS access. SakuraHost provides free AutoSSL certificates through cPanel, which automatically cover your subdomains. After creating a subdomain, AutoSSL typically issues a certificate within a few hours.
To check SSL status, go to Security > SSL/TLS Status in cPanel. If AutoSSL has not yet covered your subdomain, click Run AutoSSL to trigger certificate issuance manually. For more details on SSL, see the Let's Encrypt documentation.
Redirecting a Subdomain
To redirect a subdomain to another URL, navigate to Domains > Redirects in cPanel. Select the subdomain, enter the destination URL, choose the redirect type (301 permanent or 302 temporary), and save. This is useful when migrating content or consolidating sections of your website.
Deleting a Subdomain
To remove a subdomain, go to the Domains section in cPanel, find the subdomain in the list, and click Remove. Note that removing a subdomain does not automatically delete the files in its document root directory. You will need to manually delete those files through File Manager if they are no longer needed.
Common Subdomain Use Cases for Tanzanian Businesses
- store.yourdomain.co.tz - Separate e-commerce platform from your main corporate site.
- portal.yourdomain.co.tz - Client or employee portal with restricted access.
- m.yourdomain.co.tz - Mobile-optimised version (though responsive design is now preferred).
- dev.yourdomain.co.tz - Development and staging area for testing changes before going live. See MDN's domain name guide for additional context.
If you need assistance with subdomain configuration or DNS settings, our team is available at billing.sakurahost.co.tz or via SakuraGroup SMS support.