Web Hosting: Getting Started with cPanel

Note: Also see the Knowledgebase article: Login to cPanel

This article will go over some basics and most used features of the website hosting control panel (cPanel).

Things to know to get started

There is a "Primary Domain" on the account, which is the domain that was first used to create the account. The primary domain's website is housed in the "public_html" folder. Files for "Addon Domains" on the website hosting will be located in folders with the actual domain name, or whichever folder you set as the "document root" of the domain when you created the addon domain. 

HelpDesk articles:

• Add Domain in cPanel (Addon Domains)
• Access File Manager in cPanel

The website hosting includes the "Softaculous Apps Installer" (see demo here), where you can install WordPress, along with other content management systems and tools.

Main Screen

On the main screen you will see the options available for management of your website hosting, general information, and statistics of the usage of your website hosting.

There is a search function at the top, which is very useful for quickly finding and navigating to different settings for your website hosting.

Add Domain in cPanel (Addon Domains)

Your "Primary Domain" will already be setup in cPanel, but you can add additional domains in cPanel by creating them as "addon domains".

See the HelpDesk article: Add Domain in cPanel (Addon Domains)

Note: Whether it's the primary domain or an addon domain, in addition to adding the domain in cPanel, in order for the changes made to the website and/or email in cPanel to take effect for the live domain, you will also need to point the domain to the mywebhostingaccount.com servers. (See HelpDesk article: Point Domain(s) to New Web Hosting).

Access File Manager

You can open the file manager from cPanel in your web browser to view and manage your files.

See the HelpDesk article: Access File Manager in cPanel

Email Accounts

You can create email account/boxes/addresses in cPanel.

See the HelpDesk article: Create Email Accounts / Boxes in cPanel

Also see: (Web Hosting Account) Access Webmail or Configure Email Program from cPanel

Note: Creating email accounts/boxes/address generally only works if your domain is connected to the new website hosting DNS (See HelpDesk article: Point Domain(s) to New Web Hosting).

Email Forwarding

Email forwarding can be added in the cPanel.

See the HelpDesk article: Add Email Forwarding Addresses in cPanel

Note: Utilizing the web hosting email forwarding only works if your domain is connected to the new website hosting DNS (See HelpDesk article: Point Domain(s) to New Web Hosting).

Change DNS Zone Files (Host Records)

DNS Zone Files (Host Records) can be viewed and changed from the cPanel.

See the HelpDesk article: Change DNS Zone Files (Host Records) in cPanel

Note: Editing DNS Zone Files (Host Records) for a domain only will work if the domain is using the website hosting DNS (See HelpDesk article: Point Domain(s) to New Web Hosting).

FTP

See HelpDesk article: FTP in cPanel

Note: Setting up and using FTP through cPanel will work best and be automatically setup if you connect to the website hosting DNS (See HelpDesk article: Point Domain(s) to New Web Hosting).