How to Change a Domain on Google Compute Engine

If you’re running a website or web application on Google Compute Engine and want to change the domain name associated with it, there are a few steps you need to follow.

Changing the domain name of your website or application can be daunting, but it can be a seamless process with the proper guidance and tools. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to change a domain on Google Compute Engine.

Google Compute Engine is a cloud-based platform that enables users to run virtual machines on Google’s infrastructure. The platform is widely used for hosting websites, web applications, and other cloud-based services.

Changing the domain name of your website or application on Google Compute Engine is a common task many users must perform.

This guide will help you change your domain name without causing any downtime or disruption to your services.

How to Change a Domain on Google Compute Engine

Step 1: Set up a Domain

Before you can change your domain name, you need to set up a new domain in Google Workspace. Google Workspace is a suite of cloud-based productivity tools that includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and other popular applications. To set up a new domain in Google Workspace, follow these steps:

• Go to the Google Workspace website and sign in with your Google account.
• Click “Get started” and follow the prompts to create a new domain.
• Once you have created your domain, you must verify ownership of the domain by adding a TXT record to your DNS zone file. This can be done through your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider.

Step 2: Map Your Custom Domain

Once you have set up your new domain, you must map it to your Google Compute Engine instance. Mapping a custom domain links your new domain name to your existing IP address. To map your custom domain, follow these steps:

• Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
• Click on the “Navigation menu” and select “Compute Engine.”
• Select the instance you want to map your custom domain to.
• Click “Edit” and scroll to the “Custom domains” section.
• Enter your new domain name in the “Domain name” field and click “Add.”
• Google will automatically create a DNS zone for your new domain. Click on “Create” to create the zone.

Step 3: Change the Primary Domain

Now that you have mapped your custom domain to your Google Compute Engine instance, you must change the primary domain. The primary domain is the domain that is used to access your website or application. To change the primary domain, follow these steps:

• Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
• Click on the “Navigation menu” and select “Compute Engine”.
• Select the instance you want to change the primary domain for.
• Click “Edit” and scroll to the “Custom domains” section.
• Click on the drop-down menu next to your new domain and select “Make primary.”
• Click on “Save” to save your changes.

Step 4: Create a DNS Zone

Creating a DNS zone is essential in changing your domain on Google Compute Engine. A DNS zone is a container for DNS records that define the mapping between domain names and IP addresses. To create a DNS zone, follow these steps:

• Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
• Click on “Navigation menu” and select “Network Services” > “Cloud DNS”.
• Click “Create Zone” and enter a name for your new zone.
• Select the type of DNS zone you want to create (public or private).
• Enter the name of your domain in the “DNS name” field.
• Click on “Create”

Step 5: Add DNS Records

Once you have created your DNS zone, you must add DNS records. DNS records map domain names to IP addresses and other information. To add DNS records to your new DNS zone, follow these steps:

• Go to the Google Cloud Console and select your project.
• Click on “Navigation menu” and select “Network Services” > “Cloud DNS”.
• Click on your new DNS zone.
• Click on “Add record set” and select the type of DNS record you want to add (A, CNAME, MX, etc.).
• Enter the name of your DNS record in the “Name” field.
• Enter the value of your DNS record in the “Data” field.
• Click on “Create” to create your new DNS record.

Step 6: Verify DNS Configuration

Once you have added your DNS records, you must verify that your DNS configuration is correct. You can do this using the “dig” command on a Linux or macOS system. To verify your DNS configuration, follow these steps:

• Open a terminal window on your Linux or macOS system.
• Type “dig” followed by your new domain name and press enter.
• Look for the “ANSWER SECTION” in the output. This section should contain the IP address of your Google Compute Engine instance.
• If the IP address in the “ANSWER SECTION” matches the IP address of your Google Compute Engine instance, then your DNS configuration is correct.

Step 7: Test Your Website or Application

Now that you have changed your domain name on Google Compute Engine, you must test your website or application to ensure everything works correctly. To test your website or application, follow these steps:

• Open a web browser and navigate to your new domain name.
• Verify that your website or application loads correctly.
• Test all the functionality of your website or application to ensure that everything is working as expected.
• Review the steps above to ensure everything was configured correctly if you encounter any issues.

Conclusion

Changing a domain name on Google Compute Engine may seem daunting, but it can be done quickly if you follow the steps outlined in this article.

All essential steps are setting up a new domain, mapping your custom domain, changing the primary domain, creating a DNS zone, adding DNS records, and verifying your DNS configuration.

By following these steps, you can change your domain name without causing any downtime or disruption to your services.