Introduction

A custom domain lets you replace the docebosaas.com URL of your platform with a domain of your choice (eg https://learn.mycompanyname.com) that is easier for learners to remember and navigate, and better reflects your desired branding. 

This article sets out how to configure a custom domain for your platform. The process comprises some preliminary steps that must be completed outside the platform, such as purchasing/registering the domain, configuring its DNS records, and procuring an SSL certificate. After that, the final step is to configure the custom domain in the domain management area of the platform.

Prerequisites

Custom domain app 

Activate the Custom Domain app as described in the Managing Apps & Features article of the Knowledge Base. The app is listed in the Docebo Additional Features tab.

Domain name:

You must own the domain name that you want to use as your custom domain. Typically this is done through your registration provider or corporate IT department. 

• A custom domain can be between 3rd and 5th level. 
• An example of a 3rd level domain is learning.yourcompany.com. An example of a 4th level domain is learning.support.mybrand.com.
• Do not reuse an email domain as your custom domain, as the required DNS configurations may conflict: most DNS services do not allow for a CNAME and SPF record to coexist for the same domain.

DNS settings:

The domain you have procured must be configured so that it points to your platform (eg → mycompany.docebosaas.com). This requires updating the DNS records of your domain, and is typically done through your domain registrar, hosting provider, or corporate IT if you have a self-hosted DNS server. 

For example, for a third-level custom domain such as subdomain.yourcompany.com you would need to provide a CNAME record, resolving your third-level domain to yourcompany.docebosaas.com. 

➢ For more information see the article on Domain management: DNS configuration requirements.

When adding a DNS record, please allow for adequate time to pass in order for the record to properly propagate before testing your domain. Also, if you are changing an existing record, please allow the TTL (Time to Live) of the old record to pass before attempting to use the updated record

Remember that a correct DNS configuration must be in place before you can procure an SSL certificate for the domain or configure the custom domain in Domain management.

SSL certificate:

The custom domain will need to be protected by an SSL certificate. You have two options for this: 

• Use a certificate managed by the platform. For this you do not need to prepare anything at this stage.
• Use a certificate that you have procured yourself from a CA authority or vendor. In this case you will need to upload this to the platform before configuring the domain.
  → Follow the instructions in Domain management: custom SSL certificates to Add an SSL certificate to the platform.
  → Alternatively, you can begin configuring the domain with a platform-managed certificate as an interim measure, and subsequently replace it with a certificate that you procure yourself.

Configure the custom domain

Once you have completed all the steps in Prerequisites you can move on to configure the custom domain in the platform. 

1. Select Admin menu > SETTINGS > Domain management.
2. In the Main domain tab, select the Enable custom domain check box, and enter the domain name you previously set up with your registration provider. 
3. Click Test configuration to check that it points to yourcompany.docebosaas.com as expected.
   → If the validation fails, check the DNS settings of your domain and make sure you have allowed enough time for those settings to propagate.
4. Scroll down to the SSL certificate section. Here you need to set whether to use a certificate Managed by the platform, or a Custom SSL certificate.
5. In case of a custom ssl certificate, select the certificate which you previously added to the platform from the drop-down list.
   → the list will only show the certificates that match the domain name
6. In case of managed by the platform, no further action is needed. The platform will: 
   • create the SSL certificate
   • upload the SSL certificate
   • ensure the proper serving of the certificate
   • automatically manage the certificate renewal before its expiration date
7. Click Save changes.

In case of an error with the Managed by the platform certificate, check that the DNS settings of your domain are correct, as set out in the article DNS configuration requirements > Let’s encrypt certificates (managed by the platform).