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Getting Started with Domains

Claim Your Domain

Trinity Domains all starts with a domain name: [the name you pick].domains.trincoll.edu.  This domain name will represent you to the wider world, so it’s worth having a think about it.

[Technical note: actually, you’re signing up for a subdomain: trincoll.edu is the main domain, domains.trincoll.edu is a subdomain of trincoll.edu, and [the name you pick].domains.trincoll.edu is a subdomain of *that*. This is all part of the Domain Name System that governs how internet servers talk with one another. However, as we’ll see elsewhere in the documentation, you can buy any available domain name you want and point it at your Trinity Domains subdomain.]

  • For your first time signing in: go to https://domains.trincoll.edu and click either the Get Started or Dashboard buttons.
  • You’ll be presented with a login screen: use your normal Trinity username and password.
  • If it’s your first time doing logging in, you will be invited to choose your subdomain.

Meet Your cPannel

When you log into Domains with your Trinity credentials, you are taken to an interface that lets you manage multiple aspects of your web space, including applications, files, security settings, access logs, user accounts, and more. This interface, which is widely used by web hosts, is called cPanel. It is possible (but not common) to have access to multiple cPanel accounts. If you have access to multiple cPanels you will see a list at the bottom left of the screen where you can switch between them.

Because cPanel is designed to manage so many different things, it might look overwhelming. Don’t worry! For most users, only the Applications section at the top is important. Some of the other sections will be covered in Advanced Use of Domains.

Installatron

The top section of cPanel, Applications, allows you to install new applications on your site, as well as to access and configure applications that you’ve already installed. All applications that you’ve previously installed are found under the My Apps icon.

Applications, such as WordPress, Omeka and Scalar, are installed and managed through a feature called the Installatron. If you want to install WordPress, Omkea or Scalar simply click their icons to get started. Click the All Applications icon to see a list of other apps you can add.

Most users will want to start by installing WordPress but that is only one of many options. For details on installing WordPress see our guide.

To learn more about some of these apps, see a small sample of Trinity examples in our Application Showcase.