Custom status page domain setup
Point your own domain, like status.example.com, at your DownCTL status page with automatic DNS verification and TLS.
Every plan can serve its status page from a domain you own instead of the default DownCTL URL — no separate purchase required.
1. Add the domain
Open Site settings → Status page and enter the hostname only, without https://, e.g. status.example.com.
2. Point the hostname at downctl
Use a CNAME for most subdomains such as status.example.com. Point it at the target hostname shown in your dashboard's DNS instructions modal. Some DNS providers want the plain hostname without a trailing dot, which is fine.
If you're using an apex/root domain (e.g. example.com instead of status.example.com), your DNS provider may require an A or AAAA record instead of a CNAME.
3. Prove you own it
DownCTL won't provision a certificate for a domain until it can confirm you control it. Add a TXT record:
| Name | _downctl-verify.status.example.com (replace with your actual domain) |
| Value | The verification token shown in your dashboard's DNS instructions modal |
Click Verify domain once the record has propagated.
4. Provisioning
Once verified, DownCTL automatically provisions a virtual host and a Let's Encrypt certificate for the domain — this happens automatically. You'll see one of these statuses on the settings page while this happens:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending verification | Waiting on the TXT record above |
| Queued | Verified, waiting to be provisioned |
| Provisioning certificate | Certificate request in progress |
| Active | Live — the domain is serving your status page over HTTPS |
| Failed | Something went wrong; see the error message on the settings page and use Retry provisioning |
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to propagate, depending on your provider and DNS record TTLs.
Next steps
- Status page branding — logo, favicon, accent color, and theme