Configure Your Own Domain Name
The custom domain feature allows you to integrate the SurveyMars survey system into your enterprise domain, for example, changing the survey access address from the default SurveyMars domain to your company's domain, enhancing brand image and user trust.
Prerequisites
Domain Requirements:
• Supported formats: Main domain (yourcompany.com) or subdomain (feedback.yourcompany.com)
• Permission requirements: Need to have domain management permissions, able to configure DNS records
Obtain Configuration Information
1. Login to SurveyMars Backend
Note：The Custom Domain feature only supports configuration by the primary account. Once configured successfully, it will take effect for both the primary account and its sub-accounts.
• Access SurveyMars management backend
• After account login, go to My Account→ Custom Domain
2. Submit Domain Application
In the following explanation of DNS-side configurations, the setup process of Cloudflare DNS will be used as an example for illustration.
• Select Own Domain,Enter your domain, for example: feedback.yourcompany.com
• Click the Save button
• The system will return the DNS configuration records.
• Click "View the DNS records to be configured" to view the TXT and CNAME records that need to be added, and manually add them to your domain name registrar's DNS management backend.
Note: If the domain name was previously used by another survey platform, you must unbind the old service in advance.
Configure DNS Records
When configuring a custom domain to enable HTTPS encrypted access, you need to add the following 4 records in your domain's DNS management platform. After completing domain verification, certificate issuance, and origin validation, the platform will return the DCV delegation record for certificate renewal. Proceed to configure the certificate renewal record as instructed.
1. Add Pre-validation Information
Purpose: Certificate Authority (CA) confirms domain ownership by validating TXT records, preparing for certificate issuance.
Configuration Method:
• Record Type: TXT
• Record Name: _cf-custom-hostname.<custom domain>
• Record Value: Pre-validation address provided by the platform
• TTL: Default or 300 seconds (5 minutes)
Configuration Example:
• Log in to your domain management console (e.g., Cloudflare) and navigate to "DNS Settings" (or "DNS Management").
• Click "Add Record", Select the TXT record type, fill in the Name and Content fields, then save the changes. Wait 5-10 minutes for the record to propagate globally.
Note: The copied Name value "_cf-custom-hostname.feedback.yourcompany.com" cannot be used directly. You need to manually remove the ".yourcompany.com" part and only enter "_cf-custom-hostname.feedback" (for the next three configurations, you will also need to manually remove ".yourcompany.com").
2. Issue Formal Certificate Validation Information
Purpose: CA issues SSL/TLS certificates through TXT record method, verifying successful domain pre-validation.
Configuration Method:
• Record Type: TXT
• Record Name: _acme-challenge.<custom domain>
• Record Value: Formal certificate issuance address provided by the platform.
• TTL: Default or 300 seconds (5 minutes)
3. Back-to-Source Validation Information
Purpose: Point the custom domain to the platform source station through CNAME records, ensuring secure and correct access.
Configuration Method:
• Record Type: CNAME
• Record Name: <custom domain>
• Record Value: custom.surveymars.com
• TTL: Default or 300 seconds (5 minutes)
Note: This record is used to establish the binding relationship between the custom domain and the platform source station. If your domain is a root domain like yourcompany.com, DNS service providers may not support direct use of CNAME, you need to use A records pointing to the IP address provided by the platform, or contact customer service for support.
4. Certificate Renewal DCV Delegation Record
Purpose: When SSL/TLS certificates are about to expire and need renewal, the Certificate Authority (CA) will again verify through DNS validation DCV to confirm that the domain still has management authority over the domain.
Configuration Method:
• Record Type: CNAME
• Record Name: _acme-challenge.<custom domain>
• Record Value: Renewal validation address provided by the platform.
• TTL: Default or 300 seconds (5 minutes)
After the first three configurations are successfully completed, the Certificate Renewal DCV Record information will be returned. Please continue with the configuration.
Note:
• When adding a new CNAME record, some platforms may report a conflict between the "CNAME" record and "TXT" record (since the DCV verification and certificate issuance records share the same name, which may prevent successful record addition). In this case, you can try changing the previous TXT record to a CNAME type and update both the record name and value accordingly.
• After verification is completed, this record can either be retained or manually deleted (it will not affect the issued certificate). However, it is recommended to keep it for some time in case the verification needs to be retried.
DNS Propagation Check: After adding all records, please wait for DNS propagation to complete (typically 1–30 minutes). You can check the propagation status on the custom domain configuration page (successfully propagated records will display a green icon).
You can use tools such as DNS Checker to verify whether the DNS records have propagated globally.
Verification and Testing
After completing the configuration, if the system displays the message "Domain configured successfully", it indicates a successful setup. Click Confirm and log in again to start using your custom domain.
Function Testing
• Access your custom domain, for example: https://feedback.yourcompany.com
• Confirm the page loads normally (no redirect or certificate warnings).
• Test survey functions (create, submit, data recording, etc.).
• Check the validity of the HTTPS certificate (the browser's address bar will display a icon; click it to verify the issuing authority).
Important Notes
• Ensure you have DNS management permissions for the domain and can add and modify DNS records.
• DNS record names and values must be filled in strictly according to the format provided by the platform, with no spelling errors.
• After configuration, be sure to perform function testing to ensure the survey system works normally.
• It is recommended to save DNS configuration records for subsequent maintenance and troubleshooting.
• If you encounter problems, you can contact SurveyMars technical support: [email protected].
FAQ
Q1: Why do I need to add TXT records and CNAME records?
A: TXT records are used for domain ownership verification, pre-validation, and certificate issuance; CNAME records are used to point the custom domain to the platform source station, ensuring security and access correctness.
Q2: My domain is yourcompany.com, can I directly add CNAME records?
A: No. Root domains follow DNS standards and cannot directly use CNAME records to bind root domains. You need to use A records pointing to the IP address provided by the platform, or contact customer service for support.
Q3: What if DNS record propagation takes too long?
A: DNS propagation time depends on the service provider, usually 1-30 minutes. You can check the global status through DNS Checker. If it doesn't take effect within 1 hour, please check the records or contact customer service for support.
Q4: Do I need to re-add TXT records when renewing certificates?
A: No. During renewal, you only need to change the CNAME record value of _acme-challenge.<domain> to the new Token provided by the platform. The original TXT records can remain unchanged or be deleted.
Q5: What if the configuration process shows "Domain is already occupied"?
A: Please confirm whether the domain is already used on other platforms. If so, please first unbind it from the original platform before configuring.
