“New” Google Sites vs Network Solutions: domain resolution

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I had a website for my wife’s business, purely for a “web presence”.  I’ve kept it up for about twenty years – just a static page, like an ad in the phone book (remember those?).  When various hosting platforms died or discontinued service, I moved to a new solution.  Finally, I moved it to Google Sites (the original Google Sites platform).  Since it was a static site, I didn’t mess with it; just check to see if it still came up by typing in the domain name  EG: http://www.wifesbusiness.com.  Now it can’t be found.

I went to Google Sites and found out as of January of 2023, Google transitioned to the “NEW” Google Sites platform, and the preparation and migration period has passed.  The few files I had are gone.

I dug out my records and began to rebuild the site on google sites, got up to the point where I had something to publish, and tried that.  Google’s help sends me to my domain name company, the venerable Network Solutions, first sending a verification request. That was not a simple operation ( to me, as I turn senile), and so now, having spoke to support at NS, they said it should be ok.  It isn’t.

What is seems to be is different terminology and incomplete guidance of the rules needing to be followed to hook these two behemoths together.

Has anyone at Ask Woody had to graft a .com domain name to Google sites that could help me?  Knowledge of Network Solutions domain management would be a big plus.

 

Thanks,

Towson_Steve

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Hosting your domain usually requires you modify your DNS records to add a TXT record for Google. Is that how you are advised to do it?

cheers, Paul

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According to the Google help you should have a TXT record like this: google-site-verification=<<some number>>

cheers, Paul

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Hi, Paul,

And thanks for trying to help me.

“Hosting your domain usually requires you modify your DNS records to add a TXT record for Google. Is that how you are advised to do it?”

“According to the Google help you should have a TXT record like this: google-site-verification=<<some number>>”

This was the beginning of the ordeal, and Ghelp documentation (LOL) is somewhat vague to a guy who hasn’t played with this stuff for a good while.  I have the site verification string:

google-site-verification=PHPumaaDjoCGiFgIRUGbUKMN_cttWhJg8e4aWcw05EY

Which I later found or copied into a TXT field in Network Solutions’ domain management advanced tools “Manage Advanced DNS Records”   I have since deleted that line after reading something in help about CNAMEs not being allowed to exist with other names (A) in the list.  I can put it back in at NS, if it would help.

The thing is, when I first sent the verification inquiry, I don’t remember if there was a response on the GS page.  However, it doesn’t ask for verification anymore.  Now, I go right into Settings>custom domains> and wants to go into “start settings”.  It asks for a domain name, which I entered.  After a second or so, a check appears at the end of the field (good domain name?).  Clicked NEXT.

—————————

<span class=”UYUfn oJeWuf wnIM7 fb0g6″>”Connect to third-party domain registrar” dialog box is displayed.
</span>

1. In a separate tab, sign in to your domain registrar’s website
2. Go to your DNS settings
3. Create a new CNAME entry
4. Under CNAME value or alias, enter www
5. In CNAME destination, enter ghs.googlehosted.com. (include period at the end)
6. Save changes
7. Come back to this tab and click Done

<hr />

This is where I’m getting lost.

At Network Solutions, on the page where we had the TXT entry, I have:

Type           Name             Value                                    TTL
A                   www           209.17.116.163                   2 Hours
under construction page

A                   @                209.17.116.163                  2 Hours
under construction page

A                   *                 209.17.116.163                   2 Hours
under construction page

(There had been the fourth line TXT, mentioned earlier.  I just put it back successfully, but it isn’t displaying – have to wait 2 to 24 to 48 hours, I guess.)

I tried to add the CNAME

ghs.googlehosted.com. (include period at the end)

I had to guess at some placement of input on the dialog, then it error that there were two periods in a row (not that I could detect).  I deleted the one mentioned above and maybe another (can’t remember where),and it took the entry.  Now I have to wait for it to display, or for the internet to implode.  That will be around 7pm edt.

I hope that makes some sense.

Steve

 

 

 

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You need to leave the verification TXT record, Google checks it regularly.
TXT records are informational only and can coexist with any other record.

CNAMES are an adjunct to A names and should exist alongside. Put the CNAME in.

Waiting 24 hours for the results to show gives time for all the routers on the internet to update their DNS cache. You should see the update much sooner than that. You can actually query the NS servers direct by specifying them in the query.

cheers, Paul

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