Hi,

I am trying to get a server to comply with PCI-compliance scan and have thus turned off the UserDir directive allowing users to access their files over HTTP via IP/~user address. However, I would like to allow them to still have "preview" functionality on their sites using a subdomain instead.

I am trying to figure out the best way of automating this process. As it stands, I need to:
  1. Create a new account
  2. Park a subdomain of my master domain on top of this account
  3. Edit the DNS zone of my master domain, adding an A record for the subdomain to point to new account's IP address

For example, master domain = shorturl.com
New account = newuser, domain = newuserdomain.com

I need to (1) create newuserdomain.com, (2) park newuser.shorturl.com on top of newuserdomain.com and (3) Add an A record for "newuser" to shorturl.com DNS, making it point to newuserdomain.com's IP.

I am guessing a solution for this has already been implemented many times over (as I've already seen it in action), but am wondering what the best way of tackling this problem would be.

Thanks in advance for your help!