Knowledgebase

Language

This feature defines the default display language of the cPanel interface. Contact your web host if you need a language that is not provided on this screen.

To change the default language:

1. Select a language in the pull-down menu.
2. Click Change.

 About incomplete translations: When you choose a language other than English, you may still see English text in some areas of cPanel. We are still working on providing 100% translation coverage, so there is no need to report untranslated cPanel interfaces.

Introduction to Web Hosting

These pages contain information on an array of topics such as disk directories, getting files to your website, the File Manager, Web Disk, and FTP Accounts. If this is your first website, we strongly recommend reading through these pages to gain a better understanding of web site management.

Web Disk Accounts

cPanel offers a Web Disk application that you can use to manage and manipulate files using your operating system’s interface. Newer users may be most comfortable with this file management method.

The Web Disk will open a window on your computer, allowing new files to be moved, deleted, or added to the server, just as you would manage files on your personal computer.

To log into a Web Disk account:

1. Click the Access Web Disk button.
2. Choose your operating system (OS): Windows®, Mac®, or Linux.
   •  Remember: Choose the version or distribution of your operating system using the appropriate pull-down menu.
3. Click Go under the appropriate operating system to download the script file.
4. Open and run the script file, accepting any certificates.

When the Web Disk configuration is completed successfully, a new window containing your website’s content will be opened on your computer. From this window, your website’s files can be managed just like you would manage files on your personal computer.

Once you have added a Web Disk account to you server, you can quickly access the account by clicking the Access Web Disk button at the main Web Disk page. You are also able to change the password, delete, or password protect directories for existing Web Disk accounts under the Actions heading in the Web Disk Accounts Management list.

New Email Account Setup

This feature allows you to set up any new email accounts you would like to use.

To create a new email address:

1. Enter the address you would like to use into the Email field.
   • Don’t forget to set the domain with the pull-down menu, to the right of the Email text field.
2. Enter the new password into the Password field.
   • You can use the Generate Password link to have a strong password generated for you.
3. Confirm the password in the Password (Again) field.
4. Set the maximum amount of disk space this email address will be allowed to use in the Mailbox quota field.
   •  Remember: This setting is optional.
5. Click Create.

Set Default Address

This address will receive any mail sent to an invalid email address for the current domain. The default address is also commonly called a “catch-all address.”

It is possible to define how the default address handles the incoming messages.

To set up your default address:

1. Select one of the following options:
   • Discard with error to sender — Enter an error message for the sender to read.
   • Forward to email address — Enter the address in the text box.
2. You can also click Advanced Options to:
   • Forward messages to your system account.
   • Discard incoming messages without an automatic response. (Note that this option is not recommended since the sender will be unaware that the delivery failed.)
   • Automatically forward messages to a program by defining a path to the program, for example /home/$utility, in the Pipe to a Program field.
3. Click the Change button.
4. Click Next Step.

 Note: If your domain is targeted by spammers, forwarding mail to a default address is likely to yield a large amount of spam.

Webmail

Webmail allows you to access your email accounts through a web browser such as Internet Explorer® or Safari®. The main advantage to checking your email via the web, rather than an email application on your computer, is that you can easily access your email account from any computer with an Internet connection and a web browser. 

To use webmail:

1. Click Access cPanel Webmail.
2. Enter your password.
3. Select a webmail client.

The email account will be opened through your browser. The webmail client will then retrieve all read and unread messages associated with your email account.

You may also log into webmail without accessing cPanel by entering https://example.com:2096 into your web browser, where your domain name would be entered in place of example.com. Once you provide your username and password, you will be able to select a webmail client.

 Note: To create a shortcut, drag the Access cPanel Webmail link to your desktop or Bookmarks toolbar.

• When you are finished configuring webmail, return to this screen and click Next Step.

Contact Information and Preferences

This function allows you to define the email address(es) at which the server should send you updates. These email addresses will function as the main contact point for notifying you of new information regarding your website. We recommend that you use an email address not affiliated with your website, as this could be useful if your website’s email stops working.

To configure these preferences:

1. Enter the email address through which you would like to be contacted by the server into the first text field.
2. You may enter another email address through which you would like to be contacted by the server into the second text field. This step is optional.
3. Use the 3 checkboxes to select when the server should contact you. An email can be sent when:
   • Your disk quota is almost full: This means that your website is close to reaching the maximum amount of disk space that you are allowed. A full disk quota results in you being unable to modify existing files or add new files to your website. Delete old or unused files, or upgrade your hosting plan, to fix this issue.
   • Your bandwidth is reaching its limit: This means that your website has received the maximum amount of traffic it is allowed. When your maximum bandwidth has been reached, people will no longer be able to access your website. You must upgrade your hosting plan to fix this issue. Otherwise, you must wait until the limit is reset. Usually this occurs at the end of the month.
   • Your email accounts approach the quota: This means that one of your email addresses is close to using the maximum amount of disk space it is allowed. Delete old email, or upgrade your hosting plan, to resolve this issue.
4. Click Save when you are finished making your changes.

Style

cPanel offers several styles for you to choose from, including a style optimized for mobile web browsers.

To change your style, click the Switch Style to ... button corresponding to the style you wish to use.

Manage SSH Keys

SSH keys are used when confirming a specific computer has the right to access your website’s information through an SSH session.

Use the Generate a new Key and Import Key links to generate or import a key, respectively.

To generate a new key:

1. Click the Generate a new key icon.
2. Fill in the appropriate information.
   •  Note: It is important to consider your needs when choosing a key type, bearing in mind that RSA keys yield a faster confirmation of identity, while using DSA keys will speed up key generation and signing times.
3. Select a key size using the pull-down menu.
   •  Remember: A larger key size is more secure, but will yield a longer authentication time.
4. Click Generate Key to generate the new SSH key and automatically install it to the server.

To import a key:

1. Click the Import Key icon.
2. Choose a name for the key.
3. Paste the private and public keys into the 2 text boxes.
4. Click Import.

Once a key has been installed onto the server, it can be edited, deleted or downloaded using the appropriate links in the lists on the Manage SSH Keys page. Keys that are new to the server need to be authorized by using the Manage Authorization link. Please remember, the key will not work until it is authorized.

The key, once authorized, can be unauthorized by using the Manage Authorization link and clicking Deauthorize.

Once you have finished setting up your cPanel account, click the Home button at the upper left corner of the screen to return to the home screen and begin using your cPanel account.