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# Lets expand on this into a dev plan and for starters we are going to use a shared server, with c-panel and node.js app install capabilities, also has database capabilities and domain and dns management:

Phase J–L: Domain Management
J — Domain Registration \& DNS: Integrate Cloudflare API or Namecheap API to let clients search, purchase, and manage domains directly from the platform. Store domain records in the DB linked to tenant

For Phase J on a shared cPanel server, the dev plan should treat **domain registration** and **DNS management** as a separate “Domains” module that talks to an external provider (Cloudflare or Namecheap) while persisting tenant-domain state in your own database.

***

## 1. Overall shape

- Use **Namecheap API** for domain search/purchase if you want to resell domains directly (requires a prefunded account and API key).[^1][^2]
- Use **Cloudflare API** for DNS management and SSL (especially wildcard and subdomains), with your cPanel server as the origin. Cloudflare’s DNS API lets you list and create records (A, CNAME, etc.) programmatically.[^3][^4][^5]
- Keep **authoritative data in your DB**:
    - Which domains belong to which tenant.
    - Whether they are AIISTECH-registered or “bring your own domain”.
    - Current DNS status and verification state.

***

## 2. Data model

Add tables:

- `domains`
    - `id`
    - `tenant_id`
    - `domain_name` (e.g. `client.com`)
    - `provider` (`'namecheap' | 'cloudflare' | 'external'`)
    - `status` (`'pending_verification' | 'active' | 'error'`)
    - `is_primary` (for tenant’s main site domain)
    - `is_managed_dns` (true if you control DNS via Cloudflare)
    - `created_at`, `updated_at`
- `domain_dns_records`
    - `id`
    - `domain_id`
    - `record_type` (`A`, `CNAME`, `TXT`, etc.)
    - `name` (e.g. `@`, `www`, `app`, `*`)
    - `value` (IP or target)
    - `ttl`
    - `provider_record_id` (Cloudflare record ID, etc.)
    - `managed` (whether the record is managed by your platform)
    - `created_at`, `updated_at`

This mirrors patterns in Cloudflare DNS tools where you store your own mapping from domain/record to Cloudflare’s zone/record IDs.[^6][^7][^4][^5]

***

## 3. Tenant-facing flows

In the AIISTECH dashboard, add a **“Domains \& DNS”** section under tenant settings with two main flows:

1. **Connect existing domain**
    - User enters `mydomain.com`.
    - Backend checks whether the domain is already in use (to prevent conflicts).
    - If using Cloudflare for DNS: show required NS or A/CNAME records for the tenant to configure at their registrar, then verify by querying or using Cloudflare’s API once nameservers are pointing correctly.[^5][^8]
    - Store the domain in `domains` with `provider='external'` and `is_managed_dns=false` if you’re only verifying, or with `provider='cloudflare'` and `is_managed_dns=true` if you’ll manage records via Cloudflare.
2. **Buy a new domain** (later milestone)
    - Call Namecheap’s `domains.check` to see if the domain is available.[^2][^1]
    - Show pricing from `getDomainPrice`.[^1][^2]
    - On confirm, call Namecheap `domains.create` to register.[^2]
    - Once active, add it to `domains` and optionally move DNS to Cloudflare.

For shared hosting, you can start with **“connect your own domain”** and add purchasing later.

***

## 4. DNS management via Cloudflare

To manage DNS for connected domains:

- Configure your own Cloudflare account:
    - Add each tenant’s domain as a zone.
    - Use Cloudflare API tokens with limited scope (DNS for relevant zones).[^3][^5]
- Use Cloudflare DNS endpoints:
    - List records for a zone.[^4][^5]
    - Create/update/delete records (A, CNAME, TXT).[^4][^5]

Typical records you’ll manage:

- A/CNAME pointing domain root (`@`) and `www` to your cPanel server (or to Cloudflare-proxied host).[^8][^5]
- CNAME for app subdomains (e.g. `app.client.com` → `app.aiistech.com`).
- TXT records for verification when needed.

Your Node backend should expose APIs:

- `GET /api/domains` – list tenant domains and basic status.
- `POST /api/domains` – start connect/purchase flow.
- `GET /api/domains/:id/records` – show DNS records (from your DB, refreshed via Cloudflare API).
- `POST /api/domains/:id/records` – create/update a managed record.

***

## 5. cPanel / shared-host interplay

On cPanel:

- Create a **wildcard subdomain** `*.aiistech.com` that points to your app (root or a specific folder), as cPanel docs describe.[^9][^10][^11][^12]
- Ensure DNS for `*.aiistech.com` is set (on Cloudflare or your host) so any `client.aiistech.com` resolves to your server.[^10][^11][^12]
- For client-owned domains:
    - If you manage DNS via Cloudflare: create A/CNAME records pointing their domain to your cPanel server as origin.[^5][^8]
    - If they manage DNS themselves: show them the records they must add, and verify via DNS checks.

This gives you the base for Phase K/L (custom domain mapping and subdomain routing).

***

## 6. Security and billing considerations

- **API keys**:
    - Store Cloudflare and Namecheap API keys in server environment variables, not in code or DB.
    - Use least-privilege tokens, e.g. Cloudflare API tokens with DNS-edit scope per zone.[^3][^4][^5]
- **Owner constraints**:
    - Limit domain operations to tenant admins via RBAC (`domains.manage` permission).
- **Billing**:
    - Domain purchases should be gated behind paid tiers (e.g. available for Pro/Enterprise tenants), using your Stripe billing state from Phase E.

***

## 7. Milestones

1. **J1 – Internal plumbing**
    - Add `domains` and `domain_dns_records` tables.
    - Basic APIs for listing and adding domains (no external API calls yet).
2. **J2 – Connect existing domain**
    - UI and backend flow to add an external domain.
    - Show required DNS settings, verify via DNS lookups.
3. **J3 – Cloudflare-managed DNS**
    - Integrate Cloudflare API to create/update/delete DNS records.
    - Support at least A and CNAME records for pointing domains/subdomains to your app.[^8][^4][^5]
4. **J4 – Domain purchase (optional)**
    - Integrate Namecheap `check` and `create` for domain registration.[^1][^2]
    - Tie into billing and Stripe to ensure you’re not selling domains at a loss.

Once Phase J is in place, Phase K (custom domain mapping) is essentially “wire page/dash routes to these domains via your tenant/domain tables,” and Phase L (subdomain routing engine) builds on the same DNS foundation.

What registrar do you plan to use first (Cloudflare DNS only, Namecheap for purchase, or both)?
<span style="display:none">[^13][^14][^15][^16][^17][^18][^19][^20]</span>

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[^1]: https://github.com/abdulrahmanKanakri/namecheap-ts

[^2]: https://www.namecheap.com/support/api/methods/domains/

[^3]: https://gist.github.com/marcostolosa/09615d10fa09e57071bbeeb7a5fd03ee

[^4]: https://developers.cloudflare.com/api/resources/dns/subresources/records/methods/list/

[^5]: https://developers.cloudflare.com/api/resources/dns/

[^6]: https://gist.github.com/Suzhou65/8b9e5e5360f9c0a363e82038bb0d29b8

[^7]: https://github.com/tech-otaku/cloudflare-dns

[^8]: https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/how-to/create-dns-records/

[^9]: https://github.com/WordPress/Advanced-administration-handbook/blob/main/server/subdomains-wildcard.md

[^10]: https://www.hostpapa.com/knowledgebase/create-wildcard-subdomain-cpanel/

[^11]: https://www.meinfoway.com/support/article/190/How-to-create-wildcard-subdomain-in-cPanel.html

[^12]: https://support.cpanel.net/hc/en-us/articles/4416167771543-How-to-create-wildcard-subdomains

[^13]: https://github.com/wallopthecat/namecheap-domain-sniper

[^14]: https://github.com/cloudpanel-io/cloudpanel-ce/discussions/273

[^15]: https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-swag/issues/36

[^16]: https://github.com/AntoOnline/python-cloudflare-dns-checker

[^17]: https://github.com/stlewandowski/domainCheckAPI

[^18]: https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/360/15/how-do-i-purchase-a-domain-on-sale/

[^19]: https://www.lessannoyingcrm.com/blog/buying-your-domain-name-via-namecheap-com

[^20]: https://developers.cloudflare.com/api/go/resources/dns/subresources/records/methods/get/

