In this article
A "CNAME" (Canonical Name) refers to a domain alias. It allows an alternative domain name to be used to either access Forsta hosted surveys or branded email sends. A CNAME can be created using a CNAME Record (for subdomains) or an A Record (for apex domains).
Note: The setup presented here does not support secure connections and would only be used for accessing web pages over a nonsecure connection. To set up a secure connection, please reach out to your main Forsta contact.
1: Setting Up a CNAME
You need a current domain to setup a CNAME. If you do not own a domain, you can purchase a domain from a third-party vendor such as Namecheap. A CNAME record can be setup as secure or non-secure depending on whether certificates are setup.
There are two ways to setup a CNAME:
CNAME Record - This is the easiest way to set up a CNAME. When a CNAME Record is set up, it redirects the current domain to the target domain and uses the same DNS settings as the target domain.
A Record - An A Record should be used when you can not set up a CNAME Record. For example, because your DNS system does not support CNAME Records, or because you are setting up an apex domain (domain.com) rather than a subdomain (customer.domain.com).
1.1: Using a CNAME Record
A CNAME Record should match the subdomain part of a current domain and its domain should point to the server where its surveys are hosted. To create a CNAME using a CNAME Record, add your CNAME Record as the host and your Forsta server as the target.
For example, if you wanted to create a CNAME for a customer whose surveys are located on the main US server, the CNAME would be customer.domain.com and it would point to v2.decipherinc.com.
Main Decipher Servers by Region:
US Server |
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| US-2 Server | selfserve.decipherinc.com |
EMEA Server |
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| APAC Server (AU/NZ) |
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| APAC Server (Asia) | Singapore.decipherinc.com |
1.2: Using an A Record
To set up an A Record, point your domain to the IP where your surveys are hosted. Please reach out to your main Forstacontact to get the required server IP.
2: Enabling the CNAME
After verifying your CNAME configuration, send the CNAME to your main Forsta contact or support team to add it to your company page.
Once your CNAME has been added to your company, you can use it for masking survey URLs. To mask a survey URL for a project, add the specific CNAME to the CNAME field in the Field Settings window and click "Save":