apache - htaccess redirect all pages to single page

Question

I want to redirect all of my old domain request to my new domain using htaccess file. Below is what I am using but it does not work if the page is not on the new site. For example google index about.htm on the old site but on the new site it does not exist. I would like it to just go to the root in all cases. I know this is not ideal for seo but I don't want any 404s. Any suggestions?

Redirect 301 / http://www.thenewdomain.com/

Answer 1

If your aim is to redirect all pages to a single maintenance page (as the title could suggest also this), then use:

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !/maintenance.php$ 
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_HOST} !^000.000.000.000
RewriteRule $ /maintenance.php [R=302,L] 

Where 000 000 000 000 should be replaced by your ip adress.

Source:

http://www.techiecorner.com/97/redirect-to-maintenance-page-during-upgrade-using-htaccess/