Getting Familiar with cPanel

cPanel is one of the most useful features in web hosting, a control panel offered by a number of different providers. Despite it’s extremes capability, it is often one of the most overlooked features as well. We will take a minute of your time to overview some of cPanel’s most attractive features so you do not make the mistake of taking them for granted. After learning how easy this program is to use and what it’s capable of, you will understand why this is the most popular control panel on the market.

Getting Started

Logging into the cPanel program is easy. Simply type the following format into your web browser: “your.domain.com/cpanel”. Remember to replace “yourdomain” with the actual name of your website. From there, a pop-up box will display on the screen, prompting you to enter the username and password for your account. If you do not remember the password, refer to the message sent with the confirmation received upon first opening the account. If you deleted the message for some reason, contact your web hosting provider to retrieve it.

After logging into the control panel, you should notice that the interface has a similar look and feel to that of the Microsoft Windows operating system. Since this is your first time using the program, it is recommended that you refer to the “Getting Started Wizard”. Don’t worry about initiating this function as a pop-up box will display asking if you want to use it. If you answer “no”, the Wizard can be accessed at a later time from an easy accessible link on the control panel.

The wizard will guide you through an overview of the features included in your account. It will teach you how to easily drag and drop files from your hard drive into the server of the web host. It also shows you how to set up email accounts, instructs you on using webmail and keeping your contact information up to date. After completing this task, you can then add, delete or modify your email accounts from the “Email Manager” area of the control panel.

From the “Site Management” section you can review the total of amount of bandwidth and storage that has been used, backup your entire website, create, modify or delete databases and even add, edit or remove content from the site.

All of the domains associated with your hosting package can be effectively managed from the “Domains Section”. This includes sub-domains and parked domains. Your additional domains can be distinctively designed and set to function as their own site.

The “Software/Services” section is where the magic truly happens. This is where you will find a number of scripts that can be installed. The Fantastico program is also located in this area, featuring more than 70 scripts and applications that allow you to implement blogs, message boards, guestbooks and much more.

The “Statistics” section gives you access to programs such as AwStats and Webilizer. This is where you can learn just who visited your site and how they found it. You can even learn exactly what keywords were used to find your website.

cPanel includes all of these wonderful features and much more. Designing and maintaining a website seems like a lot of work but is made much easier with this powerful control panel. If you want to control every critical aspect of your site, inquire within a web hosting provider and find out if they offer cPanel.

cPanel and Webmail - cPanel Tutorials Ch.3

Those new to web hosting are likely to have email accounts from other Internet Service Providers or Yahoo.  You’ve been receiving mail there for years, so why even worry about creating new accounts?  Here a few reasons why you may think to use these additional email domains available on your website.

Credibility - Using an email address that relates to your domain adds to your professional appeal.  This is certainly an advantage when operating an online business.  joe@joestools.com is certainly more presentable than joe2000@yahoo.com    

Control - Emails included with your web hosting server will be much more manageable than one from an IP. cPanel allows you to forward automatic emails to multiple individuals, modify your accounts, implement auto-responders and more.  Users can also select how they’d like to access email.  This can be done securely from any browser.

Enhanced Spam Defense -   Several servers come equipped with anti spam filters with effective spam fighting functions.  

All your email functions may be accessed by clicking the “mail button” on the primary cPanel screen.

SET UP YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNTS  
  
Creating email domains via the cPanel is a fairly simple process.  Here are a few tips.  

- To begin setting up email accounts you must enter cPanel.  

- From there you enter a username and password.  

- Click on the “mail” icon. 

- Click “POP Email Accounts” from the menu section.

- Find the “Add Account” area.  Type in the new email address and passwords in the appropriate fields.  

- Click “Add”.

The new accounts have now been added and should work fine.  Any issues you may have can normally be resolved by your web host.

DELETE EMAIL ACCOUNTS

Deleting email accounts from cPanel is just as easy as creating them.  

- To begin deleting email accounts you must enter cPanel  

- From there you enter a username and password.  

- Click “POP Email Account” from the menu.  This will detail all existing accounts that have been added to the account.  

- To delete an account select it by checking the red circle beside it. 

REDIRECTING AND FORWARDING EMAIL
 
Redirecting and forwarding email to other domains shows creativity.  Lets say you have an account forjoe@joe.com.  You may wish to display a more efficient business by adding submissions@joe.com.  Your new domain can be redirected to the primary account and keep your message system simple and easy to manage.  

Many servers permit users unlimited forwards to redirect to a single account.  To makesubmissions@joe.com point to joe@joe.com follow these directions.

- Log into cPanel

- Click “Mail”

- Click “Forwarding” 

- Click “Add Forwarder”

You will then see your email domain with an empty box beside it that should be filled out with the address to be forwarded to.  

- Click “Add Forward” below and the process is complete.

SPAM SETTINGS

Most of us are familiar with the term “SPAM”.  This is the designated name for unsolicited email messages delivered to your inbox.  Spam Assassin is one filtering system used with cPanel to regulate this ongoing problem.  To access your spam settings follow the directions below.

- Log into cPanel

- Click “mail”

- Click “Spam Assassin” or what ever application the host supports

- Click “manage” beside the email domain you would like to regulate.  

- Click “configure” to determine how long the message will remain in the queue for your approval.