YoHost Windows Hosting FAQ

YoHost Windows Hosting FAQ: Miscellaneous Questions

How can I force my site to always use secure "https" instead of "http"?

First, make sure that an SSL certificate is installed. You can use SolidCP control panel to install a certificate, under Web Sites settings. We recommend the "Let's Encrypt" certificate which is free to install.

To force "https" (that is, redirect from "http" to "https") you can include URL Rewrite directives in the web.config file. A sample web.config file is shown here, but please check the existing web.config file to make sure you're not deleting any settings that you need.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
    <system.webServer>
        <rewrite>
            <rules>
                <clear />
                <rule name="Redirect to https" stopProcessing="true">
                    <match url=".*" />
                    <conditions>
                        <add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="off" ignoreCase="true" />
                    </conditions>
                    <action type="Redirect" url="https://{HTTP_HOST}{REQUEST_URI}" redirectType="Permanent" appendQueryString="false" />
                </rule>
            </rules>
        </rewrite>
    </system.webServer>
</configuration>

How can I force my site to always use a specific hostname (for example, always include "www", or always remove "www") with secure "https" instead of "http"?

To force "https://HOSTNAME" you can include URL Rewrite directives in the web.config file. A sample web.config file is shown here, but please check the existing web.config file to make sure you're not deleting any settings that you need. In the following code, change [HOSTNAME] (twice) to the exact form you want to use, such as www.my-amazing-site-347.com .

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
    <system.webServer>
        <rewrite>
            <rules>
                <clear />
                <rule name="Redirect to https" stopProcessing="true">
                    <match url=".*" />
                    <conditions logicalGrouping="MatchAny">
                        <add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="off" ignoreCase="true" />
                        <add input="{HTTP_HOST}" pattern="^[HOSTNAME]$" negate="true" />
                    </conditions>
                    <action type="Redirect" url="https://[HOSTNAME]{REQUEST_URI}" redirectType="Permanent" appendQueryString="false" />
                </rule>
            </rules>
        </rewrite>
    </system.webServer>
</configuration>

I own two domains such as mydomain.com and mydomain.net. How can I set them up so that they both display the same content?

In the Control Panel, click on Domains, then Hosted Domains, then click on the appropriate domain.
Click on Domain Aliases, then Add New.
Type the additional domain name and click Save.

What is SmarterStats? Is it automatically installed on my site?

SmarterStats provides sophisticated reporting to help you monitor the traffic coming to your website. It is disabled by default, but you can use the control panel to disable SmarterStats, under Domains→yourdomain.com→Statistics.

Can I run "Movable Type" (blog software) in my Windows-based account?

Yes. For best results, install MT directly in the wwwroot directory or in a subdomain. Alternatively, you can use the control panel to set up a virtual directory for MT. Contact Support if you would like any assistance.

Can I use mod_rewrite on my Windows-based account?

Our Windows-based accounts run on IIS instead of Apache, so mod_rewrite is not included. However, we would be happy to install the Ionic ISAPI Rewrite Filter for you.