cPanel is one of the best-known web hosting control panels. Its graphical user interface (GUI) manages various aspects of web hosting. It’s designed to simplify the process of managing websites, domains, email accounts, databases, and other hosting-related tasks. Here’s everything you need to know about how to use cPanel for web hosting.
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Accessing cPanel
Usually, your web hosting provider will provide you with a username, link, and password to access your cPanel. The URL to access cPanel is https://yourdomain.com/cpanel or https://youripaddress:2083. Replace “yourdomain.com” or “youripaddress” with your actual domain name or IP address.
Logging In
Open the provided link in a web browser. The system will prompt you to enter your cPanel username and password. Enter the credentials from your hosting provider.
Managing Files
Once logged in, you’ll be presented with the cPanel dashboard. Look for an icon or link named “File Manager” or something similar. It’s usually located in the “Files” section.
Once you open File Manager, you’ll see your website’s file structure. You might start in the “public_html” directory, which is the root directory for your website. You can navigate through directories by clicking on folders.
To upload files to your server, click the “Upload” button or option. You can then select files from your computer or use the file picker to choose them. Once you have uploaded them, they will appear in the current directory.
Click on the “New Folder” button if you want to create a new folder. Provide a name for the folder and click “Create New Folder.” To edit a file, right-click on it and choose “Edit” or “Code Editor.”
Creating Email Accounts
In the cPanel dashboard, look for “Email” or “Email Accounts.” After you click on it, you’ll need to fill in the following details for the new email account:
- Email: Enter the desired email address.
- Password: Choose a strong password for the email account.
- Password (Again): Re-enter the chosen password for confirmation.
Setting Up Domains
You can manage domains and subdomains associated with your account if you use cPanel webhosting. Look for the “Domains” section in the cPanel dashboard.
Adding a New Domain
Take the following steps to add a new domain to your hosting account:
- Click on the “Addon Domains” or “Domains” option, depending on the interface.
- Enter the new domain name in the “New Domain Name” field.
The system will automatically fill in the “Subdomain” and “Document Root” fields. You can customize these if needed.
- Enter a password or use the generated one for the “FTP Username.”
- Click “Add Domain” to complete the process.
Managing Subdomains
- Click on the “Subdomains” option under the “Domains” section.
- Enter the desired subdomain prefix.
- Select the main domain from the dropdown.
- The “Document Root” field will be filled automatically, but you can modify it if necessary.
- Click “Create” to set up the subdomain.
Installing Applications
cPanel often includes a feature called “Softaculous” or a similar tool that lets you install various applications like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and more. Also, check out Mobile App vs Mobile Website: What’s Best for Your Business?
Security Settings
cPanel provides tools to manage security settings like SSL certificates, password protection, IP blocking, and more.
Backup and Restore
cPanel lets users create backups of their websites and databases. This is crucial for disaster recovery and migration purposes.
Look for the “Backup” or “Files” section in the cPanel dashboard. Some cPanel interfaces have a “Backup Wizard” that guides you through the step-by-step backup process. If your cPanel provides this option, you can easily create backups.
If it doesn’t have a Backup Wizard, you can usually create backups manually by following the next steps.
Click on “Backup” and choose the “Full Backup” option. You’ll be asked to select a backup destination.
You can select “Home Directory” to store the backup in your hosting account’s home directory. If you have remote storage options like FTP or SCP configured, you can choose those options to keep the backup on a remote server.
