Domains
It’s common for web admins to use one hosting account for multiple sites. Hence, the Domains section provides the features for all domain-related tasks, such as managing domain names, setting up addon domains for newly purchased domain names, and creating parked domains. So let’s learn about cPanel hosting here.
Using the DNS Zone Editor
cPanel contains Zone Editor to create, edit, and manage DNS (Domain Name System) records. This feature performs multiple actions, from adding an MX record to managing domain configurations.
To create an MX record, click on the respective button. This will open a new page – enter the priority value in the Priority box and a fully qualified domain name in the Destination field.
Finally, click Add An MX Record to save the changes.
Metrics
The features listed in this module work to track website statistics, from counting the number of visitors to monitoring resource usage. These metrics give you access to insights that can help you make decisions to improve your website.
Viewing Traffic Statistics
Every tool provides extensive reports of your site. For instance, the Awstats feature is integrated with the AWStats software. It reports traffic statistics hourly, daily, or monthly.
Moreover, the software records visitors’ data, including their browser and location information. This helps analyze their behavior and make changes to improve performance.
To view specific information, find the options on the left sidebar. To view reports in a particular timeframe, change the Reported period.
Security
Security is a big concern for every site owner, especially if you store sensitive information such as credit card details. This module helps you monitor key security settings on your hosting account.
Multiple features to optimize your site security include SSH Access to connect to your server via SSH and SSL/TLS to enable SSL certificates for extra security. Another essential feature is Hotlink Protection which prevents other sites from stealing your site resources.
Configure Hotlink Protection
Hotlink protection prevents your files from being used on other sites – preserving your bandwidth amount. To do so, open the Hotlink Protection feature and configure the settings.
To allow specific sites to use your files, list them in the URLs to allow access section. Meanwhile, write down the file formats under Block direct access for the following extensions to specify which types of files to restrict.
Additionally, if you want to redirect requests for specific content, fill out the URLs in the provided field. Once all the fields are filled out, click Submit to save the changes.
Advanced
As the name suggests, the features in this section are dedicated to advanced users who want more control over their websites by managing the server, tracking network information, and clearing the WordPress site cache with LiteSpeed.
One handy feature in this section is Cron Jobs. It automates commands or scripts on your site, like setting up a scheduled backup or deleting files after a certain period.
Create a Cron Job
Click on the icon and add a Cron Email in the provided field to receive notifications whenever a Cron job runs.
Click the Update Email button before moving on to the next section. Then, specify the cron job you want the system to perform. Enter the command you wish to automate in the Command box and click Add New Cron Job.
Not all web hosting plans feature email, but if your plan includes both email and cPanel, this is where you’ll administer all email-related tasks.
These features will help you complete those tasks efficiently, from setting auto-responders to creating custom email accounts.
Create an Email Account
Use the Email Account feature to create, delete, and manage email accounts from the cPanel dashboard. Clicking on the icon will open a list of active email addresses on your website.
To add a new one, click Create.
A new window will open. Start by filling in the requested information. Once you’re done, click the Create button.
Repeat the process to create another account.
Alternatives to cPanel
There are several alternatives to cPanel out there. As every hosting provider is different, you’ll need to check with each potential host to find out what hosting control panels they use.
Hostinger’s custom control panel is available with all web hosting plans. While it shares a few similarities with cPanel, it is more user-friendly.
Despite resembling cPanel, the hPanel dashboard has a more straightforward user interface. The various tools are organized in multiple sections.
For example, WordPress features are located in the designated WordPress section, while parts for website optimization can be found in the Website section.
Additionally, hPanel offers intuitive navigation. When you select one of your plans, a sidebar will appear on the left. This makes it easy to navigate to other sections.
Conclusion
cPanel is one of the most popular Linux-based web hosting control panels, featuring a range of modules including Files, Preferences, Databases, Web Applications, Domains, Metrics, Security, Software, Advanced, and Email.
The user-friendliness and simple interface make cPanel a popular choice among web admins. Additionally, cPanel makes running a website more accessible, managing web files, and performing various tasks.
Below are some actions you can do via cPanel:
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Manage and edit site files.
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Save important contact information.
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Create and manage MySQL databases for WordPress websites.
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Install software with only a few clicks.
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Enable Cloudflare for better performance.
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Add and update DNS records.
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Monitor critical metrics of your site and server.
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Configure extra security layers.
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Activate various cron jobs.
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Create and manage email accounts.
We hope this article has helped you understand cPanel. If you want to try it out, there’s a demo version available. Do you think cPanel doesn’t suit your needs? Plenty of alternatives exist.
What is an Addon Domain?
There are the following requirements for addon domains:
1) The domain name should be pointed to Namecheap Hosting DNS:
- For Shared – dns1.namecheaphosting.com and dns2.namecheaphosting.com.
- For Reseller – your private nameservers or Reseller Hosting nameservers.
Step 1 – Change the nameservers
- For Shared Hosting plans: dns1.namecheaphosting.com and dns2.namecheaphosting.com.
- For Reseller Hosting: your private nameservers or Reseller Hosting nameservers specified in your Welcome Email.
Step 2 – Add the new domain as an Addon Domain
If the domain name is pointed to our hosting nameservers, it can immediately be added to your hosting account.
2. Navigate to the Domains section >> Addon Domains menu:
3. Enter the necessary information in the Create an Addon Domain section.
- New Domain Name: domain name you wish to add as an addonTo avoid the error message, That is not a valid domain, ensure there are no extra spaces before and after your addon domain name.
- Subdomain: will be filled in automatically
- Document Root: will be filled in automatically
If you wish to create an FTP account for your addon domain name, check the option Create an FTP account associated with this Addon Domain.
- FTP Username: will be filled in automatically
- Password: password for the associated FTP account
- Password (Again): repeat the password
Sometimes, pointing your domain name to our hosting name servers is impossible. Here are a few reasons why:
- Certain domain name types require a DNS zone file to be created on the hosting provider’s side in advance
- You wish to create a website first and connect the domain name with it later
- You want to keep the domain name pointed to third-party nameservers
In such cases, proceed with the validation process described below.
Domain name control Validation
If there isn’t a way to change the nameservers for your domain name, you must complete the required domain name validation process:
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DNS-based Validation (the TXT record should be created in the DNS zone of your domain on the side of the DNS provider)
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HTTP-based Validation (the HTML file should be made on the side of your current hosting provider)
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HTML-based Validation (the provided code should be added to the head section of the main website page on the side of your current hosting provider)
PLEASE NOTE: The provided validation code is only valid for one day.
How to Remove an Addon Domain
Check the Delete the associated FTP account option if you wish to delete the FTP account for your addon domain name from the FTP Accounts menu in your cPanel, then click Remove:
PLEASE NOTE: The document root and the content associated with the removed addon domain name will remain in your File Manager. If you want these files deleted, manually remove the corresponding folder from File Manager.
Add addon domains to host multiple websites in Linux Hosting
You can use CPanel’s Addon domain feature to host a website for a part other than your primary domain name.
Note: Addon Domains are supported for Deluxe and Ultimate Linux Hosting plans.
- Go to your GoDaddy product page.
- Under Web Hosting, click Manage next to the Linux Hosting account you want to use.
- In the account Dashboard, click cPanel Admin.
- In the cPanel Home page, in the Domains section, click Addon Domains.
- Complete the following fields:
Field Description New Domain Name The name you want to use for the addon domain. Subdomain Auto-populated with the New Domain Name. You don’t need to change this unless another domain name already uses the subdomain ment Root The name of a directory to create in the home directory. You’ll upload the New Domain Name’s files to this directory. Create an FTP account associated with this Addon Domain Select this checkbox to add an FTP user account. You’ll specify an FTP Username and Password. This user can access the Document Root and its subdirectories but nothing above that level. - Click Add Domain.
- And you are done!
