Multiple Domain Resolution in Joomla
It seems sad to write this at Joomla 3.92 expecting Joomla 4 to change everything, but still, here we go.
Joomla is a fantastic system. That said, it is a fair bit of work to maintain and there is an attraction to getting one system setup and capable of hosting Multiple Domains on the one Joomla system.
It is pretty easy to have one system show the same information on a variety of domains. This is done primarily in DNS and pointing correctly. That said, why do it? Better to have it resolve to one domain, give one SSL and one set of information.
But with multiple domains you want different SSL, Different Menu Navigation and Different Content.
The advantage of having it in one system still is that you can generally maintain one system.
The negative is that you have to make sure you don't trip over yourself.
I have been testing "Virtual Domains" on this system.
- I can get different templates to resolve to different host name calls.
- I can get different menus to resolve
- I should be able to get SSL to respond to different Host Name calls in Apache (To Do)
- Module need to be controlled as well
- What I find is that the Module needs to not show on "All" first and foremost
- I can get content from another domain to show in certain calls: IE WidgetKit can put Accorians in that give a full Category of information.
- That works until you go click on something like "Read More" when all goes into 404 Page not found land (should work shouldn't it?)
I have a second system I have tested that is much more complicated called Chameleon. I will likely test it more but it is a whole bunch to get your head around
Other systems are also out there but lets see about getting Virtual Domains working.
Virtual Domains basically ends up "Filtering" Menus. As such, in order to have consistent control you want to add all of your Different Domain Menus to the Menu Position.
You can sort them in case you want some menu aspects to show up on multiple Domains. Generally though only the content for the filtered Domain will show itself.
There are several ways to get at the Menu Assignment and this is in fact an important part of Joomla. One can work through the Menu Administrative Panel, Virtual Domains (and Chameleon), as well as through one of my favorite tools, JSN PowerAdmin
It is important with all of this to have a Checklist, lets call it "1,2,3". Menu, Content, Filter. Technically it is also important to say "1,2,3" for every set of that as in Main Page, Menu Filter, Publishing SEO" being set for each piece of content (including this one).
Related to these subjects are DNS and SSL control and having these also be working well. This article has information on those subjects.
Turnkey and Apache SSL configurations