# Domains, PHP versions and .htaccess on Linux hosting

> Run more sites on one HyperDC Linux hosting service: add an add-on domain or subdomain, choose the PHP version of each site and use your .htaccess rules.

Difficulty: Beginner

One Linux hosting service can hold more than one site, within your plan's limits. You add them in the **Websites** tab of your service page; each gets its own folder and runs the PHP version you choose for it.

## Add an add-on domain or subdomain

1. Open **Websites** and select **Add Domain**.
2. Under **Type**, choose **Add-on Domain**, **Subdomain** or **Alias**. An alias shows a site you already have under another name.
3. Enter the **Domain name**, such as `example.org` or `blog.example.com`. For a subdomain or an alias, choose the site it **Belongs to**.
4. For an add-on domain or a subdomain, leave **Document root** empty to have a folder created for you, and choose the **PHP version**.
5. Select **Add Domain**.
6. Point the new name to the **Server IP address** shown on **Overview**; see [point a domain to your server](/guides/point-domain-to-server).

**Verify:** the name appears in the list with its document root. Upload a file there with [File Manager](/guides/linux-hosting-disk-access) and open the address.

The list shows each site's **Document root**, its **Runtime**, the PHP version it runs, its **SSL** and its **State**. To remove a site other than the primary one, select **Delete** in the three dots of its row; the site and its certificate are removed, and this cannot be undone.

## Choose the PHP version of a site

The newest PHP versions are ready, and each one is kept at its latest release for you.

1. In **Websites**, select **Settings** next to the site.
2. Under **PHP settings**, choose the **PHP version**: 8.3, 8.4 or 8.5. **No PHP** turns it off for this site.
3. Select **Save Settings** and confirm with **Save And Restart**.

Below the version, the same section sets the site's own PHP values, such as `upload_max_filesize`, `post_max_size` and `max_execution_time`. Errors are never shown to visitors: they go to the PHP error log of this website.

Your account runs its own PHP processes under its own system user, so no other customer's site shares them.

**Verify:** a page on the site that prints `phpversion()` shows the version you chose. Delete that page afterwards.

## Serve a site from a subfolder

Some applications, such as Laravel, serve their pages from a subfolder like `public`. In **Websites**, select **Settings** next to the site and enter the folder in **Document root** under **General**, such as `httpdocs/public`. Then select **Save Settings** and confirm with **Save And Restart**.

**Verify:** the site's home page opens at `https://example.com/`, without `/public` in the address.

## Use .htaccess rules

`.htaccess` rules work as on Apache. WordPress pretty permalinks, Laravel-style front controllers and the rewrites of other CMSs work as they come, for example WordPress's own block:

```apache
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
```

A change to a `.htaccess` file applies within seconds; there is nothing to restart. The site's **Settings** list every `.htaccess` file of the site under **Rules from .htaccess files**, marked **Applied**, or with **View Lines** when a line was left out, so you can see why a rule does not act.

**Verify:** a pretty link of your site, such as `https://example.com/about/`, opens the right page.

## Set a custom error page

1. Upload your page, such as `/errors/404.html`, in **File Manager**.
2. Add an `ErrorDocument` line to the `.htaccess` file in your document root:

```apache
ErrorDocument 404 /errors/404.html
```

**Verify:** an address that does not exist shows your page, and the browser still receives a 404.

## Next steps

- Secure every new name: [free SSL on Linux hosting](/guides/linux-hosting-ssl).
- A database for your application: [databases on Linux hosting](/guides/linux-hosting-databases).

## Frequently asked questions

### How many domains can I add?

Your plan sets the number. The Add a domain form shows how many add-on domains, subdomains and aliases your plan allows.

### Which PHP versions can I choose?

The newest PHP versions, each kept at its latest release. Each site can use its own version, or none.

### What is an alias?

Another name for a site you already have, such as example.net for example.com. It shows the same website and has no folder of its own.

### Do I have to rewrite my .htaccess for this server?

No. .htaccess rules work as on Apache, so your rewrites, redirects and error pages work as they are.

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Source: <https://hyperdc.com/guides/products/linux-hosting-domains-php>\
Updated: 2026-11-07