Running your hosted website is made easy by one control panel to rule them all. No matter what hosting environment your site runs on you need to know your way around this interface. When it comes to running your hosting account and website, cPanel is the all-around solution that makes it possible. While it is a user-friendly interface it can be a bit tricky for those that are not as tech-savvy as others. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve laid out the best technical hacks, tips and tricks to help you use cPanel like a pro.
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
Use cPanel Search Bar
An overlook feature tool of cPanel is the search bar. When starting out with cPanel you may feel overwhelmed and not know where to find the pertinent applications you need to run your website. With so many options in cPanel, it’s best to utilize the search bar to navigate and find things easier. You can find the Search Bar at the top of your cPanel labelled find functions quickly by typing here.
Installatron
A great techy hack within cPanel’s interface is Installatron. Don’t worry, it’s not a typo, it is actually a web app that helps to make life easier. It allows you to choose which apps you want to install for your website’s functionality and helps you to manage them. There is a myriad of applications that can be found in the Applications Browser. These will enable you to build your website’s brand awareness and meet its needs. An additional feature of Installatron is that it enables you to import other applications from various sources, you can copy current applications and create backups of installed applications.
Add-On Domains
If your hosting package includes multiple sites then you can go to the top menu bar on cPanel select Add-On Domains so you can add additional domains. This allows you to give each hosted site a branded domain name.
AWStats
All website owners need good metrics they can check daily about their site. Which is why AWStats is an integral part of using cPanel effectively. It’s an open-source application designed to report analytics on your website. Information given includes a number of site visits, the origin of traffic, type of traffic, and more. It is equally beneficial as a security monitoring system and can let you know if you’re under a cyberattack of any sort.
CPU and concurrent connection usage
Another monitoring tool found right in your cPanel. It’s a great hack to help you see how your hosting resources are being allocated and used by your server. It gives you metrics of your memory, I/O and CPU usage. What’s more, is the statistics help you to understand how these resources are being allocated. It’s best to track this statistical data over a period of time to get the most out of them and to understand how your resources are being used by your server.
File manager
A definite need for any hosted website is a file transfer protocol client. Luckily because cPanel boasts of a robust arsenal of features it contains its own file manager client so that you can easily upload files to your website. When uploading multiple files and images it is advised to compress them in a .zip file so that the file manager can upload a large amount at once. Once the upload process is finished you can unzip the files within the file manager and use them for your website at your leisure.
MySQL database wizard
All hosting accounts include at least 1 MySQL databases but in order to utilize and import your database, you will need to create one first in your hosting account within cPanel. The MySQL Database Wizard ensures that you’re able to do this with ease. You can name your database, create a user and set up additional usernames and passwords.
phpMyAdmin
If you have an existing database supported by PHP then you can import it easily with the phpMyAdmin tool. This tech hack gives you the ability to access your database tables for your website so that you can use your any CMS like WordPress with ease. It is definitely worth understanding and knowing your way around this tool so that you can save money on web developer costs.
Select PHP version
Another hack that you will want to be well acquainted with in your cPanel. By means of the Select PHP, version module will permit you to manually select which version of PHP you want to use. You may want to change it because it is restricted to what your hosting provider offers by default. This should be one of the first steps to any troubleshooting, as the PHP version can intensely affect the way your site resolves, renders and displays.
When using this module, additionally you can also select several features that aren’t automatically turned on. Like zip compression for example. It’s worth the time to explore these features as some can have a great impact on the way your site loads and at what speed. Additionally, you’ll notice a hyperlink in the right-hand corner that will allow you to switch to PHP options. In this section, you are able to upgrade several different parameters, such as the upload_max_filesize.
Error Logs
All websites are prone to error. In order to ensure that you catch and diagnose them quickly use the Error Logs tool to do so. You can also use the tool to find broken links in your website and fix them. You can find the error logs in the Error section of your cPanel.
Final Thoughts
Getting well acquainted with your cPanel account is crucial to your overall websites smooth running. We’ve given you the best technical hacks to ensure that your website has all the necessary components working behind the scenes. Knowing your control panel well will give you a cutting edge on the competition enabling you to mitigate any issues that may arise from the front end of your website. In addition, cPanel allows for one-click install CMS apps like WordPress and Joomla. You’re now ready to set-up and run your cPanel like a pro.
