Fastly Domain-v1 Activation for Compute Services

Problem

After creating a custom domain with fastly domain-v1 create --fqdn example.com --service-id XXX, the domain returns a 500 error: "Fastly error: unknown domain: example.com. Please check that this domain has been added to a service." The edgecompute.app URL works fine.

Context / Trigger Conditions

• Classic domain API returns: "The classic domains APIs are deprecated. Please use the domain management API"
• fastly domain-v1 create succeeds with domain-id and service-id
• HTTP request to custom domain returns 500 "Domain Not Found"
• Checking domain via API shows "activated": false, "verified": false
• The auto-generated edgecompute.app domain works correctly

Solution

Step 1: Create the domain (if not already done)

fastly domain-v1 create --fqdn example.com --service-id YOUR_SERVICE_ID

Step 2: Create TLS subscription for HTTPS

fastly tls-subscription create --domain example.com

Step 3: Get DNS configuration requirements

curl -s -H "Fastly-Key: $(fastly profile token)" \
  "https://api.fastly.com/tls/subscriptions/SUBSCRIPTION_ID?include=tls_authorizations" | jq

Look for the challenges array in the response. You'll see options like:

• managed-http-a: A records pointing to Fastly IPs (use for apex domains)
• managed-http-cname: CNAME to x.sni.global.fastly.net (use for subdomains)
• managed-dns: ACME challenge CNAME for _acme-challenge.example.com

Step 4: Configure DNS

For apex domains, add A records:

example.com → 151.101.1.242
example.com → 151.101.65.242
example.com → 151.101.129.242
example.com → 151.101.193.242

For subdomains, use CNAME:

www.example.com → x.sni.global.fastly.net

Step 5: Wait for automatic activation

Once DNS propagates, Fastly automatically:

1. Verifies domain ownership via HTTP challenge
2. Sets verified: true
3. Sets activated: true
4. Issues TLS certificate (state changes from "pending" to "issued")

This typically happens within 1-5 minutes after DNS propagation.

Step 6: Verify activation status

# Check domain status
curl -s -H "Fastly-Key: $(fastly profile token)" \
  "https://api.fastly.com/domain-management/v1/domains/DOMAIN_ID" | jq

# Should show:
# "activated": true,
# "verified": true

# Check TLS status
fastly tls-subscription describe --id SUBSCRIPTION_ID
# State should be "issued"

Verification

# Test HTTP (should redirect to HTTPS)
curl -I http://example.com
# Expected: 308 Permanent Redirect to https://

# Test HTTPS
curl -s https://example.com | head -20
# Expected: Your site content

Example

# 1. Create KV store and link to service
fastly kv-store create --name my-content
fastly resource-link create --resource-id KV_STORE_ID --service-id SERVICE_ID --version latest --autoclone

# 2. Build and deploy
fastly compute publish

# 3. Add custom domain
fastly domain-v1 create --fqdn mysite.com --service-id SERVICE_ID
# Output: Created domain 'mysite.com' (domain-id: ABC123, service-id: XYZ789)

# 4. Set up TLS
fastly tls-subscription create --domain mysite.com
# Output: Created TLS Subscription 'SUB123' (Authority: certainly, Common Name: mysite.com)

# 5. Configure DNS with A records (apex) or CNAME (subdomain)
# 6. Wait ~2-5 minutes for verification
# 7. Site is live at https://mysite.com

Notes

• Post-September 2025: The fastly domain create command (classic API) is deprecated. Use fastly domain-v1 instead.
• No manual activation: Unlike classic domains, domain-v1 domains activate automatically after DNS verification. There's no explicit "activate" API call.
• Service version independence: Domain-v1 creates "versionless domains" that aren't tied to a specific service version. You don't need to clone/activate versions to add domains.
• TLS is separate: Domain creation and TLS certificate management are separate operations. You can have a domain without TLS (HTTP only) but most setups want both.
• Fastly IPs are global: The A record IPs (151.101.x.242) are Fastly's anycast addresses and route to the nearest edge node.

References

• Fastly Domain Management API
• Working with versionless domains
• domain-v1 CLI reference