Add or Change a Site URL

Domain names uniquely identify sites on the Internet or other networks. They are friendly substitutes for numeric IP addresses and are divided into levels.

• The top level is the extension at the end of the URL such as .com, .net, and .org.

• The second level is the portion of the URL that identifies the owner of the IP address and includes the top level domain. For example, in www.blackbaud.com, “blackbaud.com” is the second level domain. Often, it is simply referred to as an organization’s domain.

• The third level, such as support.blackbaud.com, helps further distinguish the second level domain and is often referred to as a subdomain. Domains typically have multiple subdomains.

While there are many factors to consider when you select a name, you should at a minimum first verify the availability of the domain and subdomains you would like to use.

To determine whether the domain or subdomain is available, perform a WHOIS search. There are a number of free online services available such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that provide WHOIS search results.

When you review the results, use these guidelines:

• If the contacts listed are personnel at your organization, then your organization already controls the domain or subdomain.

• If the contacts listed are not personnel at your organization, contact the registrar to determine whether you can purchase or lease it.

• If the domain or subdomain is not in the WHOIS search results, then it is available. Contact your preferred domain name registrar such as GoDaddy, Network Solutions, or Name.com to purchase or lease it.

After you register or verify that your organization controls the domain or subdomain, ensure that the information listed in the WHOIS search results for the Registrant Contact, Admin Contact, and Tech Contact is current. To update the information, contact your registrar.

Note: If Blackbaud hosts your website, our SSL certificate provider Geotrust uses the information in the public WHOIS record to contact your organization with certificate questions and instructions.

Certificates, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS), are the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. In order to create a secure connection, a web server requires a certificate that identifies your website and organization.

Geotrust provides certificates for websites hosted by Blackbaud. To obtain one, contact Blackbaud Support. Your request should include the exact domain or subdomain name you want to use and the contact information for a full time employee from your organization who can assist GeoTrust. The person you identify should be one of the three contacts whose information you updated or verified in the WHOIS search results. Refer to Knowledgebase solution BB748671 for a complete list of information you should have available when you submit the request.

Note: Service charges may apply depending on the product package your organization purchased, the number of certificates previously created for your website, and the specific domain or subdomain you want to use. If additional service charges apply, you will need to authorize them before Support submits your request to GeoTrust.

After you submit the request, Blackbaud sends it to GeoTrust. Typically, Geotrust contacts the person you identified to assist them within ten to twelve business days with instructions to validate the domain.

Tip: To avoid delays, ensure the designated contact promptly responds to GeoTrust’s requests.

When the validation is complete, GeoTrust provides Blackbaud with the certificate and Blackbaud installs it on your website’s server.

If Blackbaud does not host your website, select a company that issues certificates and follow their implementation process.

After Blackbaud installs the SSL certificate, Support contacts you and provides the hostname and IP address information you need to configure the Domain Name System (DNS) for your new domain. The DNS is a service that translates domain names into IP address so computers can access your website.

To update the DNS, contact your domain name registrar or one of the contacts listed in the domain’s WHOIS search results.

Note: Please allow up to 24 hours for DNS changes to globally propagate.

To use the new domain or subdomain, update Blackbaud Internet Solutions. For more information, refer to General site settings