Redirect non www to www

[Tigerboy]

Hy,

I have a problem. I try to find out information from other forums or blogs but i didn't resolve anything. I want to redirect my non www website to www version (from example.com to www example com) to avoid the problem of duplicate content (i think you're familiary with this issue). I try to redirect with the .htaccess file. But i contact an operator from my server location and he told me that my website doesn't support .htaccess file.
Now i found that i can redirect with a php code. But i don't understand how. I want to redirect my entire website not only the homepage. Every page i want to be redirected from non www to www. Please if you know any resolvation of this problem post it here.
Thanks in advance!

[universal4]

Are you on a windows server?

If so, this can be done in II5 or IIS6 fairly easily, however it will take the server admin to do it.

This is changed in IIS7 (Server 200 as that version supports htaccess.

In order to do a sitewide redirect, the simplest thing is to create a new website in IIS and redirect it to the www site.

Following is how it is actually done in case anyone would like to know:

In the snap-in on that site, choose the home directory tab, and choose the radio button for "A Redirection to a URL"

In the redirect to box put http://www.yourdomainname.com$

The $ dollar sign is a variable that will handle all page names and sent the visitor to the www version of the site looking for the same page name.

Be sure the following 2 boxes are checked.
1) The exact url entered above
2) A permanent redirection for this resource (this makes it a 301)


Rick
Universal4

[Tigerboy]

Hy,

Thanks you very much for your response. Actually i don't know what II5 or IIS6 or IIS7. When i contact an operator from my hosting services he suggest me to use a php redirection. You said to told him to make this changes. I'm preety confused...
Can you provide me a solution to make this redirection from my own? From home? Please. I'm new in this work and i don't know very much things.
Thanks again!

[slotsngames]

Hi Tigerboy,

I just checked with my hosting company for you and they say that you can use a redirect code in the .htaccess file under the domain to direct all the requests to a 'non www' link to 'www. You have to be on a Linux server though...

So in your .htaccess file, redirect in this way to redirect certain pages:

Redirect 301 /oldpage.html http://www.yoursite.com/newpage.html
Redirect 301 /oldpage2.html http://www.yoursite.com/folder/

To redirect the whole site:

Redirect 301 / http://www.new-site.com/

Hope this helps,

[GFPC]

I use this code in my htaccess and it works like a charm.



Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^xxyoursite.comxx [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ xxhttp://www.yoursite.comxx/$1 [L,R=301]


Obviously remove the xx in code.

It will redirect all non www llinks to their proper www link .

Steve

[Tigerboy]

Hy,

Thank all for your help but i can't use .htaccess because i'm on a windows server. I know that is very simple to use .htaccess but on my domain isn't working...
Thanks again!

[slotsngames]

I will try to look for an alternative solution - if you search Google for ".htaccess equivalent for windows or IIS" you will find some useful forum postings.

Sorry I couldn't help you more,

[Tigerboy]

I found hundreds of topics and hundreds of blog on this subject. I also try many tips and advices but i can't resolve this issue. I found many solutions to redirect on windows servers, i try them but still...NOTHING! Someone told me to change my hosting services...maybe this is a good solution. Anyway thanks for your time and if you can help me with another information...you're welcome.
Have a nice day!

[Chalkie]

Hey Tigerboy,

If you are getting this little help from your hosts and there servers cannot support such standard items as .htaccess then i would certainly move elsewhere.

If it will help you, i can give you some freespace on a uk host that will support what you need and come with everything that you will ever need.

I am offering it to you as a GPWA member to member favor, dont want anything for it.

[universal4]

I agree, if the host is not willing to help you, then when you have real issues you will be left hanging....

It's pretty clear your host is NOT using IIS 7 otherwise you could use an htaccess.

Rick
Universal4

[robyroy]

Hy,

Thank all for your help but i can't use .htaccess because i'm on a windows server. I know that is very simple to use .htaccess but on my domain isn't working...
Thanks again!

Tiger,
Do you have a free host?

[Tigerboy]

No it's not a free host. I pay for it....
They told me that in one month they will upgrade to II7. Then i will be able to use .htaccess. Hope only they are not saying this just to calm down me

[robyroy]

i think that changing your host will be best solution.

[Tigerboy]

Hy,
I've just change my server from Windows to Linux. Now i can use .htaccess file.
When i access my ftp there was an implicit .htaccess file. But there is a content in it
# -FrontPage-

IndexIgnore .htaccess */.??* *~ *# */HEADER* */README* */_vti*

<Limit GET POST>
order deny,allow
deny from all
allow from all
</Limit>
<Limit PUT DELETE>
order deny,allow
deny from all
</Limit>
and other 3 lines that include name of my website anyway....
Should i remove this content or i let intact there. I want to put my redirect code there and i was not surely about how to do. For redirect i will put this code:
Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.mysite.com/$1 [L,R=301]
If that code that i was talking about remain in my .htacces file where should i put the redirect code? In front of this code? At the end of this code...Thanks!

[DaftDog]

Is all this really neccessary? Surely Google knows that http://www.sample.com and http://sample.com are exactlty the same site.

So does the the www really mean anything beside "world wide web".