Domain Redirects with Cloudflare

Networking

This guide covers setting up and managing domain redirects using Cloudflare’s services.

Types of Redirects

Three main redirect types are used:

  • 301: Permanent redirect

  • 302: Temporary redirect

  • 308: Permanent redirect (preserves HTTP method)

Basic Setup

Page Rules Configuration

Access through: Dashboard > Websites > Your Domain > Page Rules

Common redirect patterns:


Domain redirect:

example.com/* → newdomain.com/$1

Subdomain redirect:

blog.example.com/* → newdomain.com/blog/$1

Path redirect:

example.com/old/* → example.com/new/$1

DNS Configuration

Required DNS records:


A record:

Name: @

Content: 192.0.2.1

Proxy: Enabled

Subdomain A record:

Name: subdomain

Content: 192.0.2.1

Proxy: Enabled

Implementation Examples

Domain Redirect


Pattern: olddomain.com/*

Type: 301 Permanent

Destination: https://newdomain.com/$1

Subdomain Redirect


Pattern: sub.olddomain.com/*

Type: 301 Permanent

Destination: https://newdomain.com/sub/$1

WWW Redirect


Pattern: www.domain.com/*

Type: 301 Permanent

Destination: https://domain.com/$1

Required Settings

  1. SSL/TLS:

  • Enable HTTPS

  • Set encryption mode to Full/Full (strict)

  1. Page Rules Order:

  • Specific rules first

  • General rules last

Testing

Test redirects on:

  • Multiple browsers

  • Desktop and mobile devices

  • Private browsing mode

Common Issues

DNS Problems

  • Verify DNS record configuration

  • Check Cloudflare proxy status

  • Confirm DNS propagation

Mobile Issues

  • Check DNS resolver settings

  • Clear device DNS cache

  • Verify SSL certificates

Browser Issues

  • Clear browser cache

  • Check DNS settings

  • Verify redirect chain

Maintenance

Regular checks for:

  • 404 errors

  • SSL certificate status

  • Redirect performance

Additional Notes

  • Monitor traffic patterns

  • Check redirect chains periodically

  • Update DNS settings as needed

This guide covers basic to advanced redirect configurations in Cloudflare. Adjust settings based on specific requirements.