Domain name

The Domain name section centralises all domains attached to your Vivlab site: your temporary vivlabsite.com address and any custom domain names you have added. A custom domain is essential to be indexed by Google and to strengthen your store's credibility.

Come here when you've bought a domain name from a provider (Gandi, IONOS, OVH, GoDaddy…) and want to connect it to your site, when you want to change the prefix of your temporary vivlabsite.com address, or when you need to view or adjust the DNS configuration of a domain already added.

Your domain names

This section lists all domains associated with your site in a table. Each row represents a domain and shows its address, type, default status, and validation state.

The Type column indicates whether the address is your temporary domain (Temporary) or a custom domain you added manually (Custom). The Main column flags with the Main badge the domain all others redirect to and that is used for indexing. The State column shows Valid when the DNS configuration is correct and the SSL certificate is active, Invalid when a DNS record still needs fixing, or Secured when HTTPS is fully operational.

Click a row to open the management panel for that domain.

Add a domain name

Click Add a domain name to get started. Enter the domain in the field that appears; the platform checks in real time that it can be added. If you are adding your first domain, the Set as default option is ticked automatically. Click Add a domain name to confirm.

If you have no custom domain yet, a setup wizard opens instead of the simple form: it guides you through three steps (site title, domain name, DNS configuration) with a live preview of your site at each step.

Manage a domain name

Click a custom domain's row to open its management panel. You'll find:

• Summary badges (domain type, HTTPS status).
• The DNS configuration of your domain name host table, which lists in real time the records to add or remove at your DNS provider. Each row shows the action to take (To add or To delete), the record type, the name, and the value. The table refreshes every 5 seconds.
• The Set as default button to designate this domain as the main domain — all other domains will redirect their traffic to it.
• The Delete button to permanently detach this domain from your site.

Irreversible deletion

Deleting a domain removes it from your Vivlab account. Your site will no longer be reachable at that address. You can add it back later if it is still available.

Edit your temporary domain name

Your temporary vivlabsite.com address appears in the table with the type Temporary. It is always valid and secured. Click its row to change the prefix: enter a prefix of at least 4 alphanumeric characters (hyphens allowed) to get an address in the form your-choice.vivlabsite.com, then save.

This address remains useful even after your permanent domain goes live, to test changes before publishing or share a private preview.

Guide to connect your domain name

Even though the configuration may seem technical, connecting an external domain to your site boils down to four steps.

1. Buy a domain name from the provider of your choice (Gandi, IONOS, OVH, GoDaddy…). Vivlab does not yet sell domain names.

   What to take in the provider's offer

   Most providers offer bundled deals combining the domain name with a mailbox and web hosting. Only the domain name is required to use it with Vivlab. If you want an email address at your domain (e.g. contact@your-domain.com), you can add the email option offered by your provider. Web hosting, however, isn't needed: Vivlab already hosts your site, pages, media and payments — subscribing to third-party hosting is useless and may even conflict with the DNS configuration described below.

2. Add your domain on the platform by clicking Add a domain name, choosing Connect an existing domain, then following the instructions.

3. Configure DNS settings in your provider's management area by pointing your domain to Vivlab's IP address. As long as the DNS records aren't correct, your site stays unreachable at your address.

4. Verification and security: Vivlab automatically generates an SSL certificate (HTTPS) once the configuration is complete. Allow 10 to 15 minutes typically, up to 48 hours in some cases for the DNS propagation to take effect across the internet. You'll receive an email as soon as the domain is secured.

DNS records to configure

Once your domain is added, click its row in the table to see the exact list of records to create, edit or remove in your provider's DNS zone. Each entry shows a To add, Added or To delete status updated every 5 seconds.

Three operations are required to link your domain to your site:

• Add a type A record, with name @ and value 15.188.109.135. It points your-domain.com (without www) to Vivlab's servers.
• Add a type CNAME record, with name www and value your-domain.com. It forwards www.your-domain.com to the main domain, which itself points to Vivlab's servers.
• Remove any existing type AAAA record on @ and www. These pre-existing IPv6 entries conflict with Vivlab's setup and prevent your site from loading correctly.

Recap to compare against your provider's current configuration:

Action	Type	Name	Value
Add	A	@	15.188.109.135
Add	CNAME	www	your-domain.com
Remove	AAAA	@	—
Remove	AAAA	www	—

Propagation delay

Once the records are updated at your provider, allow 10 to 15 minutes typically, and up to 48 hours before the changes take effect across the internet. During that window your site may stay unreachable or show the old configuration: this is normal, don't redo the records.

The IP address 15.188.109.135 is the same for every Vivlab site: it's the value to enter in your provider's DNS zone, whichever one it is. If the procedure feels unclear, your provider's support team can walk you through writing the records from these values.

Automatic SSL certificate

As soon as your DNS is operational, Vivlab automatically generates an SSL certificate to serve your site over HTTPS — essential to secure browsing and enable online payments. Renewal is also handled automatically before each expiry: you never have to touch the certificate.

If your site doesn't load after 48 hours

DNS propagation can take time, but beyond 48 hours your domain should be operational. Check in your provider's DNS zone that the A record on @ points to 15.188.109.135, that the CNAME record on www points to your domain, and that no leftover AAAA record remains. If everything looks correct, contact Vivlab support so the configuration can be audited.