What is cPanel Hosting: A Beginner’s Guide

cPanel may sound like a heavy-duty technical concept at first glance.  But in reality, it can be thought of as a control panel—like the one in an aeroplane cockpit.  

It provides website owners with a user-friendly interface for managing various aspects of their websites.  

In this beginner’s guide, we will explore cPanel hosting in more detail, from its features, benefits, and how to use it. Let’s get started! 

What is cPanel Hosting? 

cPanel is a web hosting control panel that allows the management of hosting accounts using a user-friendly graphical interface and automation tools. In essence, it aims to simplify all aspects of website management. 

cPanel Hosting, on the other hand, refers to web hosting plans that come with a cPanel control panel. Through cPanel hosting, you can easily manage your website, email accounts, and databases using a simple platform. 

It is a popular platform among beginners. Simply because it provides a simple and intuitive interface that requires little technical know-how. 

Pros and Cons of cPanel Hosting 

Pros	Cons
User-friendly interface: Allows even novice users to manage their website easily  The interface is intuitive, easy to navigate, and includes helpful tooltips and documentation	Cost: Since cPanel is commercial software, it requires a license fee to use. This cost may be passed on to the hosting customer, resulting in higher hosting fees
Highly compatible: Offers compatibility with most web hosting providers and operating systems, making it a popular choice for web hosting companies	Limited Customisation: Its features may not be as flexible or customisable as some other control panels or self-managed hosting options
Flexibility: Allows users to manage a wide range of hosting functions, including email accounts, file management, and database administration, among others	Security Vulnerabilities: cPanel has been known to have security vulnerabilities in the past, which could potentially put your website at risk if not properly secured and updated
Automatic software installation: Makes it easy to install and manage software on your website, including popular content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal	Resource Intensive: Depending on the hosting plan and server resources allocated to your account, cPanel may consume a significant amount of CPU and memory resources, which could affect the performance of your website
Reliable support: Offers access to a large and active community of users and many web hosting providers who offer reliable support for cPanel hosting	Dependency on Hosting Provider: Since cPanel is typically provided by the hosting provider, you may be limited in your ability to switch hosting providers or migrate your website to a different hosting environment without having to reconfigure or reinstall cPanel
Automated backups: Allows users to automate regular backups of their website data and files, which can be a lifesaver in case of data loss or corruption	Single point of failure: Since cPanel is a centralised tool, any issues with cPanel can affect your entire website, making it a single point of failure
Security: Includes built-in security features like password-protected directories and SSL/TLS certificate management, which help keep your website and data safe	Complexity: cPanel has many features and options, which can make it overwhelming for new users or those who are not familiar with the interface. It may take some time to learn how to use all the features effectively, and this can be frustrating for some users

cPanel Hosting: How to Use It? 

It’s time we learn about how to use cPanel. Let us walk you through the steps below. 

Log in to cPanel 

To access cPanel, login to your web hosting account. Usually, you’ll find a link to log in to cPanel on your hosting provider’s website. From the link, click and enter your username and password in the respective fields.  

Navigate the cPanel interface 

After logging on to cPanel, you will see a dashboard offering different features with corresponding icons. cPanel features include email accounts management, file manager, database management, backup and restore, and many more. 

Create an email account

To create an email account, click on the “Email Accounts” icon in cPanel. Then, enter the username for the email address you want to create – your domain is automatically set as the suffix for the email – and set a password for it. Set mailbox quota and configure email settings such as spam filters and email forwarding before creating the email account. 

Manage files using file manager

Manage website files by clicking the “File Manager” icon in cPanel. Upload, download, edit, and delete files easily using a user-friendly interface. Creating new folders and changing file permissions is also possible here. 

Set up a database

If your website requires a database, set up is easier using cPanel’s “MySQL Databases” feature. First, create a new database and user account, then grant permissions to the user account. Also, management of existing databases and users is possible from the same interface. 

Install using a software installer

If you want to install popular web applications such as WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, you can use a software installer, like Softaculous and Installatron. Simply click on the installer icon, choose the application, and follow the prompts to complete the installation. 

Backup and restore your website

It’s always a good idea to back up your website regularly in case of unexpected data loss or server issues. Using cPanel’s “Backup” feature helps create a backup of your website files, databases, and email accounts. Restoring backups is also possible in the same section. 

cPanel is a great tool to manage your website and perform hosting-related tasks. On top of that, cPanel provides more features and options that can help you optimise and secure your website. Explore these features by logging on to your cPanel interface and checking out resources from your web hosting provider. 

A Deep-Dive into the Different Sections of cPanel Hosting 

cPanel includes several sections for users to manage their web hosting account. The most common sections are: 

• Files  
• Preferences  
• Databases  
• Softaculous Apps Installer. 

Below is a brief overview of the most common sections and a few more that are helpful to you: 

A. Files: 

This section allows users management of their website’s files and folders including: 

• Uploading and downloading files 
• Creating and editing files 
• Managing folders 

To access your files, go to Files. Here, you’ll find various tools to manage files on your hosting account. File manager is where you can upload, download, edit, and delete files on your account. 

Simply click on the “File Manager” icon to access the cPanel file manager. 

Here are a few things you can do using the file manager: 

1. Choose the directory you want to manage from the left-hand side panel. 
2. To upload a file, click on the “Upload” icon and select the file from your computer. 
3. To download a file, right-click on the file and select “Download.” 
4. To edit a file, right-click on the file and select “Edit.” Make the changes you want to the file and click “Save.” 
5. To delete a file, right-click on the file and select “Delete.” Confirm that you want to delete the file. 
6. You can also create new directories, move files and directories, and change file permissions using the file manager. 

Pro tip: Be careful when using the file manager. Any changes such as deleting or modifying important files can damage your website. Always keep a backup of your files before making any changes. 

B. Preferences: 

The Preferences section allows you to store basic information about the account, such as contact information and email preferences. 

Store your basic information under the “Contact Information” found in the “Preferences” section. Here, you can store your name, address, phone number, and email address – all of which are details for billing and communication. 

On the other hand, you can designate a different user access through the “User Manager” in your cPanel account. 

Access this section by following these steps: 

• Log in to cPanel. 
• Click on the Preferences icon under the Preferences section. 
• Fill in your account details and select your email preferences. 

C. Databases: 

cPanel boasts its user-friendly database management capabilities, which allow the easy creation and management of databases, as well as MySQL users.  

Learn how to create and manage MySQL databases in your cPanel by following the steps below: 

1. Log in to your cPanel account. 
2. Go to the “Databases” section and click on “MySQL Databases.” 
3. To create a new database, enter a database name in the “New Database” field and click on “Create Database.” Once done, it will be listed in the “Current Databases” section. 
4. To create a new MySQL user, scroll down to the “Add New User” section, enter a username and password, and click on “Create User.” 
5. Once both the new database and MySQL user are created, assign the user to the database by scrolling down to the “Add User To Database”. Select the user and database from the drop-down menus and click on “Add.” 
6. After assigning a user to a database, you can set the privileges for the user. Simply click and select the privileges you want for a user and click on “Make Changes.” 
7. To manage existing databases and MySQL users, go to the “MySQL Databases” section and scroll down to the “Current Databases” and “Current Users” sections. From here, you can manage the databases and users by clicking on the respective icons. 

D. Apps Installers: 

Within cPanel, there are several sections, each with its own set of tools and features. The “Software” section is where you can find app installers like Softaculous and Installatron. Here’s a brief overview of what they are and how to set them up: 

Apps Installer: Apps Installers allow quick and easy installation of popular software applications with only a few clicks. 

You can leverage the one-click installation of hundreds of popular web applications, including WordPress, Joomla, Magento, Drupal, and many others by following these steps: 

• Log in to cPanel. 
• Scroll down to the ‘Software’ section and click on the available app installer, like Softaculous or Installatron. 
• Search for the application that you want to install and click it. If you’re using Softaculous, go to the ‘Installations’ tab to find the list of applications. For Installatron, go to the ‘Applications Browser’ and use the search bar to filter the list of applications.  
• Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the application settings and complete the installation process. 

That’s it! App installers let you access a wide range of tools and features that are helpful in managing and optimising your website. 

E. Domains: 

The Domains section comes with a number of tools and features for managing domain names and DNS settings. Here, you’ll typically find the following tools: 

• Addon Domains allows you to add additional domains to your hosting account. 
• Parked Domains allows you to park domains on your hosting account, meaning that they will point to the same content as your main domain. 
• Redirects allow you to set up URL redirects so that visitors to one URL are automatically redirected to another. 
• Simple DNS Zone Editor allows you to edit the DNS records for your domain. 
• Advanced DNS Zone Editor allows you to edit more advanced DNS records for your domain. 

To use the DNS Zone Editor in cPanel, follow these steps: 

1. In your cPanel, go to the Domains section and click on the “Simple DNS Zone Editor” or “Advanced DNS Zone Editor” tool. 
2. Select the domain name you want to edit from the drop-down menu. 
3. Add or edit the DNS records as needed. The most common DNS records are A records (which associate a domain name with an IP address) and MX records (which specify the mail servers for the domain). 
4. Click “Save” to save your changes. 

Note that making changes to your DNS records affects the availability of your website and email services. So, if you’re not sure of what you’re doing, consult with your web hosting provider or a professional. 

F. Metrics 

cPanel can also help you track your website performance and make data-driven decisions about how to improve it. 

Access these cPanel hosting features to find your website metrics: 

• Metrics section: This section in cPanel allows website owners to check statistics related to a website’s performance, including information about traffic, bandwidth usage, and the number of hits to the website. 
• Awstats: Awstats is a popular web analytics tool found in cPanel hosting. It details information about the number of website visitors, their geographic location, the pages they access, and more. 
• Webalizer: Webalizer is another web analytics tool that you can use in cPanel hosting.  
• Raw Access Logs: The Raw Access Logs section allows website owners to download a local copy of a log file. This way, you can check detailed information about website traffic even offline. You can analyse the file using third-party web analytics tools for better website performance and improved SEO. 

To access this section in cPanel, simply follow these steps: 

1. Log in to your cPanel account. 
2. Click on the Metrics section. 
3. Select the tool of your choice to view traffic statistics, such as Awstats or Webalizer. 
4. Configure the settings, such as the date range you want to view. 
5. Click on the Generate Report button to view the traffic statistics. 

G. Security: 

Configure security settings to protect a website and its data from potential threats. cPanel hosting offers a variety of sections for an added layer of security: 

• SSL/TLS Manager: Manage security certificates like SSL/TLS here. SSL/TLS certificates encrypt data sent between a browser and the web server. Thus, protecting sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card information, and more. 
• Password and Security: Set up cPanel account password, and two-factor authentication, and manage IP blocklists here. 
• Hotlink Protection: Hotlinking is when another website links directly to your website’s images or other media files instead of hosting them on its own server. This increases bandwidth usage and slows down your website. Hotlink protection blocks this activity and only allows requests from authorised domains. 

Here’s how to configure hotlink protection in cPanel: 

1. Log in to cPanel and navigate to the “Security” section. 
2. Click on “Hotlink Protection.” 
3. Check the box next to “Enable” to turn on hotlink protection. 
4. Enter the file types you want to protect, such as .jpg or .png. 
5. Enter the URLs of any authorised domains that are allowed to hotlink to your files. 
6. Click “Submit” to save your changes. 

Enabling hotlink protection blocks requests from unauthorised domains and a placeholder image will show instead. 

This reduces bandwidth usage and improves the website speed. 

H. Advanced: 

The advanced sections in cPanel include: 

1. MySQL Databases: Creation and management of MySQL databases for your website is possible here. You can create new databases, manage existing ones, create database users, and assign user privileges. 
2. FTP Accounts: Access website files through file transfer protocol, also known as FTP. Here, you can create new FTP accounts, modify existing ones, and manage access privileges in this section of cPanel. 
3. Backup: Create and download backups of your website’s files, databases, and email accounts here. You can also automate backups at specified intervals. 

You can also create a Cron Job in cPanel, just follow these steps: 

1. Log in to cPanel and look for the Cron Jobs section. 
2. Click on the “Add New Cron Job” button. 
3. Choose the interval at which you want the Cron Job to run (e.g., every 5 minutes, every hour, etc.). 
4. Enter the command you want to run in the “Command” field. This can be a shell script, a PHP script, or any other executable command-line. 
5. Click the “Add Cron Job” button to save your Cron Job. 

On top of the basic Cron Jobs, you can also set up more advanced Cron Jobs using the “Advanced (Unix Style)” tab. Here, you can specify the exact timing and frequency of the job using Cron syntax. 

I. Email: 

This is where you can create and manage email accounts, set up email forwarding and filters, and access your email through a web-based interface. 

Here are some of the key sections found in the “Email” section of cPanel: 

1. Email Accounts: Create and manage professional email accounts for a domain name in this section. Here’s how to create a new email account:

• Log in to cPanel and navigate to the Email Accounts section. 
• Enter the username you want to create in the Email field. Your domain name will automatically show as the email suffix, like [email protected]. 
• Create a strong password and enter it in the Password field. 
• Set the mailbox quota (the total space allocation for the mailbox to use). 
• Click on the Create Account button. 

2. Email Forwarders: This is where you can set up email forwarding. A forwarder redirects incoming email messages from one email address to another. Follow these steps:

• Log in to cPanel and navigate to the Email Forwarders section. 
• Click on the Add Forwarder button. 
• Enter the email address you want to forward from in the Address to Forward field. 
• Enter the email address you want to forward to in the Forward to Email Address field. 
• Click on the Add Forwarder button. 

3. Email Filters: This section allows you to set up filters for email accounts. Email filter can automatically sort incoming email messages into different folders or mark them as spam. Here’s how you set up an email filter:

• Log in to cPanel and navigate to the Email Filters section. 
• Click on the Create a New Filter button. 
• Enter a name for the filter in the Filter Name field. 
• Choose the filter criteria, such as the sender, subject, or message body. 
• Choose the action you want to take on messages that match the criteria, something like moving emails to a specific folder). 
• Click on the Create button. 

4. Webmail: Access your email account through a web-based interface – something useful if you don’t have access to an email client like Outlook or Mail. To access your webmail, follow these steps:

• Log in to cPanel and navigate to the Email Accounts section. 
• Click on the Access Webmail button next to the email account you want to access. 
• Choose a webmail application (such as Horde, Roundcube, or SquirrelMail). 
• Enter your email address and password to log in to the webmail. In some cases, your email or web hosting provider will provide you with a website to directly access the webmail. 

Why cPanel 

With cPanel, management of website files, folders, databases, creation of email accounts, and many more is easier. When looking for web hosting plans, look for those that use the cPanel interface and other benefits that are of value to your money. 

For business users who are taking the first step to bring their business online, look for providers that offers a number of benefits, including: 

• Cost-effectiveness: Your hosting plans must be affordable and suitable for small businesses and individuals on a budget. 
• User-friendly control panel: Hosting plans that come with a user-friendly control panel, like cPanel, makes it easier for you to manage your website and emails. 
• Reliability: High-quality servers and data centres that ensure that hosting services are reliable and stable. 
• Scalability: As a business grows and its website traffic increases, hosting plans must be easy to upsize to accommodate higher levels of traffic and website demands. 
• Security: Security features, including SSL certificates, daily backups, and advanced firewalls, must be available to keep websites safe from threats such as hacking and malware. 

Overall, web hosting services that come with cPanel check everything in this list. So, for those that are starting out, look for a reliable and cost-effective hosting solution from providers like Freeparking.  

Final Thoughts 

cPanel is a powerful and user-friendly tool providing a range of useful features. Key things to remember about using cPanel hosting include: 

• User-friendly: cPanel is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for even non-tech-savvy users to manage websites and servers. 
• Wide range of features: cPanel offers a variety of features. From email, file, domain, and database management to website analytics. 
• Stability and reliability: cPanel is a stable and reliable platform with frequent updates and patches to ensure security and performance. 
• Compatibility: cPanel is compatible with most web hosting providers and is widely used in the web hosting industry. 

Despite the good, there are also potential downsides to using cPanel, such as: 

• Resource consumption: cPanel can consume a significant amount of server resources. Whenever this happens, it affects website performance, especially in shared hosting environments. 
• Limited customisation: While cPanel is flexible, customisation options have limits, especially in a shared hosting environment. 

Overall, cPanel is a great choice for website owners who wants a user-friendly and feature-rich hosting control panel.  

Carefully considering your needs and budget goes without saying. But whatever you decide on, make sure to pick a hosting that’ll help every step of the way, like Freeparking.