DNS Configuration
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To serve your translated website to visitors, you need to configure your domain’s DNS settings. This process involves pointing language-specific subdomains (e.g., fr.example.com) to SwiftLingo’s translation proxy service. It’s a straightforward process that is essential for going live.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- A SwiftLingo account with your website and target languages already configured in the dashboard.
- Access to your domain registrar or DNS provider’s control panel (e.g., GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap).
How it Works: CNAME Records
We use a CNAME (Canonical Name) record to point your subdomains to our service. A CNAME record is a type of DNS record that maps an alias name to a true or canonical domain name. In this case, it directs traffic from your language subdomain (like fr.example.com) to SwiftLingo’s proxy (proxy.swiftlingo.io), which then serves the correct translation.
Setup Instructions
For each translation language you have configured in SwiftLingo, you will need to create a new CNAME record.
Step 1: Navigate to DNS Settings
Log in to your domain provider’s website and navigate to the DNS management section for your domain.
Step 2: Create a CNAME Record
Create a new DNS record with the following settings for each target language:
- Type:
CNAME - Host (or Name / Alias): Enter the two-letter language code for your subdomain (e.g.,
fr,de,es). Some providers may require the full subdomain (e.g.,fr.example.com). - Value (or Points to / Target): Set this to
proxy.swiftlingo.io. - TTL (Time to Live): You can typically leave this at the default setting (e.g., 1 hour or 3600 seconds).
Example Configuration
If your website is example.com and you’re translating it into French (fr) and German (de), you would add the following two records:
| Type | Host (Subdomain) | Value / Points to |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | fr | proxy.swiftlingo.io |
| CNAME | de | proxy.swiftlingo.io |
Important
DNS Propagation Time DNS changes can take some time to update across the internet, a process known as propagation. While it’s often fast, it can take up to 24-48 hours to fully complete.
Verification
After waiting for propagation, you can verify that your DNS is set up correctly using a command-line tool like dig:
$ dig fr.example.com
You should see a CNAME record in the ANSWER SECTION pointing to proxy.swiftlingo.io. Alternatively, you can use an online DNS checker tool to verify the record.
Got Stuck?
DNS can be tricky. If you’ve followed the steps and your translated site isn’t working after 48 hours, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Support Center or join our community Slack for assistance.