Web hosting is a service of providing online space for storage of web pages.

These web
pages are made available via World Wide Web. The companies which offer website hosting
are known as Web hosts.
The servers on which web site is hosted remain switched on 24 x7. These servers are run by
web hosting companies. Each server has its own IP address. Since IP addresses are difficult
to remember therefore, webmaster points their domain name to the IP address of the server
their website is stored on.
It is not possible to host your website on your local computer, to do so you would have to
leave your computer on 24 hours a day. This is not practical and cheaper as well. This is
where web hosting companies comes in.

Types of Hosting
The following table describes different types of hosting that can be availed as per the need:

S.N. Hosting Description

1. Shared Hosting
In shared hosting, the hosting company puts thousand of website on the same
physical server. Each customer has their own allocation of physical web space and a
set of bandwidth limit. As all websites share same physical memory, MYSQL server
and Apache server, one website on the server experiencing high traffic load will affect
performance of all websites on the server.

2. Virtual Private Server (VPS)

It is also known as Virtual Dedicated Server. It is a server which is partitioned into
smaller servers. In this customer is given their own partition, which is installed with its
own operating system. Unlike shared hosting, VPS doesn’t share memory or
processor time rather it allocates certain amount of memory and CPU to use which
means that any problem on a VPS partition on the same drive will not affect other
VPS customers.

3. Dedicated Server
In this kind of hosting, single dedicated server is setup for just one customer. It is
commonly used by the businesses that need the power, control and security that a
dedicated server offers.

4. Reseller Hosting
A reseller acts as a middle man and sells hosting space of someone else’s server.

5. Grid Hosting
Instead of utilizing one server, Grid Hosting spreads resources over a large number of
servers. It is quite stable and flexible. The servers can be added or taken away from
the grid without crashing the system.

Web Hosting Companies

Following are the several companies offering web hosting service:

S.N. Hosting Company

1. Blue Host
 2. Go Daddy

3. Host Gator

4. just Host

5. Laughing Squid

6. Hivelocity

7. liquid Web

8. Media TempleServInt

9. Wired Tree

10. Wild West Domains

11. Wix

12. WIPL

13. Big Rock

How to register a domain name

1. Choose a domain name
2. Check for domain availability
3. Choose a domain name registrar
4. Purchase and register your domain name
5. Renew the domain name at the end of the term

1. Choose a domain name

If you don’t already have a name for your brand, it’s a good idea to merge the
domain selection process with the process of coming up with a brand name.
Your domain name will be inseparable from your brand, meaning they’ll both be
more memorable if they’re alike. We put together an in-depth guide for choosing
your domain name if you need some extra help.
 If your company already has a name, your first-choice domain is
likely YourBrand.com, but if that’s taken, you have a couple options for making
sure it’s easy for users to associate your brand with your domain name:

 Use a suffix. Add a word to the end of your domain name to differentiate it. You
could add the name of your primary product (yourbrandshoes.com), your location
(yourbrandcanada.com), or something all-encompassing
(yourbrandonline.com, yourbrandstore.com).

 Use a prefix. Add an action-oriented verb at the start of your domain that draws
attention to your product
(getyourbrand.com, wearyourbrand.com, eatyourbrand.com).

 Use a different domain name extension. A domain name extension, also

referred to as a top-level domain (TLD), is the suffix that appears at the end of
your domain. The most commonly used domain extension is .com, but there are
also region-specific domain extensions (such as .ca, .us, or .eu) and a growing
number of specialty domain extensions (such as .shop or .store). Keep in mind
that specialty domain extensions tend to be more expensive.

2. Check for domain availability

When users enter a URL in their browser, the browser sends a request to a
global network of servers that are able to locate your website using something
called the domain name system (DNS).

The DNS is a universally recognized, decentralized system for naming websites.

This is what allows computers, phones, and any other device that can access the
internet to find the webpage a user is looking for.

Checking domain availability only takes a couple of seconds, and nearly every
registrar and hosting service has a free domain name search tool that allows you
to do this (via a record system called WHOIS and RDAP). Here are a few tools
for quickly checking the availability of a domain:

 Shopify
 Google Domains
 GoDaddy
 IONOS
 Bluehost
 Domain.com
 Namecheap
 HostGator
Remember that domain names are universal, so if a domain name is unavailable
from one provider, it’s unavailable from all of them. What’s great about these
tools is that they’ll often suggest similar domains that are available if yours isn’t.
If your domain name is unavailable, you might get a message back
about brokering the domain. This means that the domain name is taken, but the
registrar offers a service wherein they will negotiate with the domain owner on
your behalf to try and get them to sell their domain name.

Although snagging your first-choice domain name might sound enticing, it’s
important to understand the risks associated with attempting to broker a domain
name.

Broker service fees are paid in addition to domain registration fees, even if the
current domain owner is unwilling to sell the domain. The process can be time-
consuming and delay the launch of your store. And even if the current owner
does make an offer, it’s likely to be far more expensive than just purchasing an
available domain.

Depending on your situation and how much capital you're able to deploy,
brokering a domain might be the best route to go. But if you're on a budget, you
can always try some variations to keep costs low.

Learn more: Domain Name Services: Which Hosting Provider Should You
Trust?

3. Choose a domain name registrar

A registrar is a company that reserves and registers domain names on your
behalf. When you purchase a domain name, either directly from a registrar or
through a web-hosting service, it’s registered to the DNS for you.
 Though there are more than a thousand accredited registrars, it’s best to stick
with more well-known providers. Using a common provider will make it easier to
find info on managing your domain and to troubleshoot issues you might have
with syncing your domain to other services.

Domains can be purchased from a number of different types of businesses. You

might choose to purchase one from a website-building platform (like Shopify,
Squarespace, or WordPress), a web-hosting service (like HostGator or
BlueHost), or directly from a domain registrar (like GoDaddy, NameCheap, or
Google Domains).

Many registrars offer hosting and vice-a-versa. This can be a great way to keep
all your website tasks under one roof, but isn't necessary. You can purchase a
domain one place, and use a different company to host if you so choose.

How much does a domain name cost?

Domain names aren’t sold for a flat-rate. Instead, they’re paid for on a recurring
basis (usually annually). When considering the costs of your domain, be mindful
of the difference between the starting price and the renewal price. Typically,
basic .com domain names run in the ballpark of about 10-15 USD a year.
Premium domains such as 4 letter domains or incredibly common terms can cost
significantly higher.

Domain providers often offer discounted rates on domains for the first year or
two, especially if the domain is purchased in addition to other services. The
starting price is usually lower than the renewal price, so when budgeting for the
long term, make sure you factor in the price of renewing your domain down the
road.

On top of this, your domain extension can alter the cost of the domain. Specialty
domain extensions like .store are usually more expensive than
available .com domains.

While the price of domains is important, there are a lot of other factors to consider
as well. If you’re looking for the domain provider that’s right for you, here’s a
couple of questions to ask yourself:

 How easy will it be to point my domain to my website? The advantage of

purchasing a domain from a web-building platform is that set-up tends to be fast
and easy, since you’re only dealing with one company directly. Using services
from different companies adds additional steps and tends to be more technical or
confusing.
 Will I need domain privacy protection? When you register a domain, your
contact info becomes publicly available in the global ICANN registry. Privacy
protection is a feature that hides this information. Some providers (like Shopify),
provide domain privacy protection for free on all domains, but some providers
offer this feature at an additional cost.

 Which domain extension(s) do I want to use? A domain extension is the part

of the domain that comes at the end. All domain providers offer .com domains,
but if you’re looking for a region-specific domain extension (such as .ca, .eu,
or .au), or a speciality domain (.shop, .store, etc.), you’ll want to make sure you
choose a provider that provides them.

 Do I need any other services? Domain registrars usually offer additional

services, like ecommerce hosting, website building features, and email hosting.
Occasionally, domains are offered at what seems like a low rate, but only in
addition to the purchase of other services.
To make it easier to decide, here’s a quick breakdown of major domain providers,
their starting price points

4. Purchase and register

Once you’ve decided on a registrar and a good domain name, you’re ready to
proceed with purchasing your domain name. Once you’ve purchased your
domain, your provider will reserve and register it on your behalf.

What is DNS Server (name server)?

Domain name system (DNS) is the system that is used to translate human-memorable
domain names like namecheap.com and hostnames like support.namecheap.com into the
corresponding numeric Internet Protocol (IP) addresses as well as to identify and locate
computer systems and resources on the Internet.

When you use an alphanumeric address like "namecheap.com" your computer needs to
understand what numerical IP address it should contact to show up the content. Domain
name server is a server responsible for keeping the file that contains information about the
domain name(s) and corresponding IP addresses (zone file) as well as for providing the
above-mentioned information during DNS queries.

Domain name servers are a fundamental part of the Domain Name System. Nameserver is
a server on the Internet specialized in handling queries regarding the location of the domain
name’s various services. In easy words, name servers define your domain’s current DNS
provider.

All domains usually have at least two DNS servers which can be checked via Whois lookup
tool.
For example: we provide name servers for all domains registered with us (they are
called Namecheap BasicDNS) and their values are:

dns1.registrar-servers.com
dns2.registrar-servers.com

When you make a request for anything related to the domain name, it gets sent to one of the
name servers. In response, the DNS server sends back the IP address. This works for the
Web Site, Mail Servers, and anything else based on the domain name. With Namecheap,
you can choose between different DNS options including our diamond-grade Premium DNS
service with 100% DNS server uptime guaranteed.

Free Email Forwarding and Dynamic DNS are some of the pros of using our default name
servers.

What is a Control Panel?

A web hosting control panel is a graphical user interface (or, in some cases, a web-based
interface), that is accessible online and provides tools for managing a website, the web
hosting account, and sometimes the server.

In most cases, you will access your control panel via a web browser, though this may vary
on occasion.

Almost every hosting company has a control panel, and some offer you a choice of control
panels. It’s the most visible part of a web hosting plan, and its features and functionality will
largely determine the quality of your experience as a web hosting customer.

Why Use Graphical User Interfaces for Control Panels?

Think about what you expect to see when you turn on your computer. Do you want to type
long commands into a black terminal screen with monochrome lettering?

Or would you rather use your mouse to navigate around a graphical interface, clicking on
icons and moving windows around?

Most people would prefer visual. Its the same way with web hosting and server
management.
 Using Web Hosting Without a Control Panel

You can, in theory, access your web hosting account and server without a dedicated
interface using primarily with tools like SSH (secure shell — direct command line access) or
FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

In fact, it’s definitely a good thing to have one (or even both) available options, and you
might want to learn the ins and outs of that way of doing things.

But most of the time, your life is going to be easier — and your work is going to get done
faster — if you use a control panel.

Control Panel Tasks

There are a number of web and server administration tasks you will be doing from the
Control Panel interface:

 Account Administration
 Domain Management
 One-Click Installation
 Email Management
 FTP
 Database Management
 File Management
 Backups
 Support

Some of these tasks might be one-time events like setting up your website and transferring
all of your content files.

Some will be regular occurrences like updating existing files or looking at your website’s
analytics. Knowing what you’ll be using the Control Panel for will help you decide which one
is right for you.

You will be able to narrow down your options based on the features available.
 Account Administration

Typical account management tasks that will be handled within your control panel include
altering your billing profile, plan renewal, updating of your password, and similar items.

The software running the control panel will be handling your credit card information.

If that software is not secure and up to date, it could be a problem. You do not want to be on
the hook for things that you did not purchase!

Domain Management

All of the following domain name-related features regarding the following will be done in
the control panel:

 Domain renewal
 DNS editing
 MX records
 Domain forwarding
 Subdomain management
 Registering new domains
 IP addresses

Generally speaking, domain management, though infrequently done, might be one of the
more complex (yet important) things you do.

This is one area where you really want to make sure you understand how your control panel
has things set up.

One-Click Installation

If you plan to use a popular web application or content management system (CMS)
like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, or ZenCart, the quickest and easiest way to get these
loaded onto your hosting server is to use a one-click installer like SimpleScripts
or Fantastico.

One-Click Installers are exactly what they sound like: you look up the product you want and
click “install.” The installer will take care of the rest.

For example, if you are a WordPress user, you will not have to manually download a copy of
the WordPress core, only to then upload it via FTP to your website’s server.
 If your hosting company provides these services, they will be available from the control
panel.

Email Management

You can also use your control panel to:

 Set up mail accounts

 Set up email forwarders
 Set up email spam filters.
 Manage email accounts
 Delete email accounts

While this may sound minor, it eliminates hefty administrative tasks in the long run.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a process to access files and folders on the server.

It is also how you move files around.

Did you create an HTML file for your website on your personal computer? Well, to get that
file onto your server and online, you will need to use FTP to transfer the file to your web
hosting provider.

Setting up FTP accounts and access generally requires access to a control panel.

Database Management

You will need a database to manage your data and to manage your database, you will need
a control panel.

For most people, the MySQL databases that come standard with web hosting packages are
sufficient.

As such, many control panels play nice with MySQL.

The control panel also allows you to keep tabs on your database and get answers to
questions like:

 Is my database online?
 How is it performing?
 Are there any issues with my data, database, or database server that I need to know about?

Integration Support

If you are (or want to) use a different type of database, whether it is
a SQL or NoSQL database, you will want to make sure that the control panel supports such
integrations.

For example, some hosts will, by default, support PostgreSQL, but if you need to
use Microsoft’s SQL Server, your choices will be more limited (and, in most cases, more
expensive).

File Management

You may want to use FTP instead of a browser-based file manager to manage the files on
your server.

However, if FTP is not for you, most control panels provide some type of browser-based
file manager — through their ease of use varies tremendously from system to system.

Some web hosts provide an easy-to-use drag-and-drop system, while others seem to have
options that have not been updated since the early 1990s.

Furthermore, using FTP does not mean you can eschew the control panel completely. You
will still need the control panel to set up your FTP users.

You will need to create the users and grant them with the appropriate levels of permissions
needed to complete their tasks.

Backups

Most control panels include some kind of built-in file backup utility that runs regularly.

If this is not the case, you will have access to a third party backup system.

Regardless, your control panel is where you would go to create backups, as well as access
any of the backups that have been created. Sometimes, you may also use it to restore a
backup.
Support

Live chat support and other on-demand support features are almost always administered
through the control panel.

Sometimes, you will also find knowledgebase documentation and FAQs on pages located in
the control panel.

However, some hosts might have these files hosted elsewhere. If this is the case, you
will find links to the documents on the control panel itself.

Why You Should Care About Control

Panels
You are going to get very familiar with your web hosting company’s control panel.

When you first purchase a new hosting plan, you will see the control panel more often than
your new website.

You will have to come back to it on a regular basis — daily, if you’re diligent — to check
basic stats and server usage and make sure everything is running smoothly.

Since you’ll be using it frequently, it’s important to find an option that you enjoy using in
addition to offering the features and functionality you need to do your work.

Your Control Panel and Your Web Hosting Experience

The control panel will be your primary experience of your web hosting account.

You can’t see speed and performance for your website and server, but you can see the
control panel.

How easy or hard it is to use will be a major determining factor in your overall satisfaction
with your web hosting plan.
 The Right Control Panel for You

There are some advanced users out there who want a particular tool and can only get it from
a particular control panel.

But for most of us, any one of them will get the job done — most control panels do about
the same thing.

This is a good thing, especially for those with shared hosting plans who do not have many
options available.

The Matter of Preference

Regardless of what your host offers, you are likely to get a good option that will meet your
needs and do what you need it to do.

With that said, not every one of them will make sense to you.

Each control panel has a:

 Different interface
 Different design
 A different way of dealing with tasks.

If you have a control panel that does everything you need but does not fit your user habits
quite right, you won’t enjoy using it.

How to Choose a Web Hosting

Control Panel
Most web hosting companies only offer one control panel. Some offer two or three to choose
from. Typically, Linux-based plans come with a cPanel WHM, while Windows hosting plans
come with Plesk.

Honestly, your choice of control panel might very well come down to the operating system
your web server is using.
 Premium Plans

If you opt for VPS or dedicated hosting, you will have even more options. You can install
pretty much any option you would like (within reason, of course).

Once you’ve narrowed down your hosting choices to just a few based on other factors, you
should see if they have different control panels.

If your hosts do offer a variety of options, see if you can get a demo.

Many web hosting companies have a “sandbox control panel” that you can try out.

The Most Popular Web Hosting

Control Panels: cPanel vs. Plesk
cPanel is the most widely used of the web hosting control panels available,
with Plesk coming in second.

Much like some people swear by their iPhones, while others will only use phones running the
Android operating system, both cPanel and Plesk users will argue their system is easier and
better, and both are right.

cPanel

cPanel is a web-based, Linux control panel.

There are three tiers comprising the cPanel package, and each tier is used by a different set
of personnel:

 Administrators
 Resellers
 End-user website owners

As we said above, cPanel is web-based so that you will be interacting with the product
through your web browser.
 With cPanel, all your applications and tools are categorized into easy-to-find groups, such
as:

 Files
 Databases
 Software

An Ideal Interface

Icons in each group can be moved around your interface in a drag and drop fashion.

This is similar to moving folders on your desktop, and it allows users to simplify their
experience by front-loading the tools they use most.

There are some limitations, such as not being allowed to move icons from one group to
another.

Installing cPanel

Furthermore, if you are installing cPanel on a VPS or dedicated server, note that it can be
very difficult to uninstall cPanel without completely reformatting your disk drives.

Given such complexity, we will say that once you have chosen cPanel, it can be very difficult
for you to move to another option.

Essentially, uninstalling cPanel is possible, but it is not probable that you will do so.

Plesk

Plesk, on the other hand, has an interface heavily influenced by Windows (it also happens to
run on Windows servers, which cPanel does not).

It combines the icon-based display with more text-based windows, which resemble the
Windows Control Panel.

Things like system and domain information, statistic resources, email management tools,
and applications are presented in two columns, window-style on the main screen.
This makes it easy to find anything you need without any scrolling.

Universal Usage

While cPanel splits its product up based on the personnel it expects to use certain features,
Plesk does not make such defined distinctions.

This is especially between client-side/end-user and server-side/administrative features.

Plesk Extensions allow you to easily add features and functionality to the default
installation, as well as integrate with third-party tools.

Alternatives to Plesk and cPanel

You do not have to use Plesk or cPanel if you do not want to — there are many other control
panel options available.

All of them organize tools in their own unique way and offer slightly different approaches
to accomplishing the same tasks. Some hosts use their own custom control panels, or
customized versions of cPanel, Plesk, and so on!

For example, InterWorx provides a tabbed environment, limiting the content on each screen.

vDeck<> sports a very similar look and feel as cPanel, but categorizes items by
purpose rather than type, so your database, file manager, and website creator are all
lumped under the ‘website’ category.

Different Routes to the Same Outcome

Some users find vDeck’s approach convenient, while others find it less intuitive than
cPanel’s organization.

Both InterWorx and vDeck auto-create a common items category, where your most
commonly used applications and tools are stored. Ultimately, regardless of the control panel
your host offers, you will still be able to accomplish all the same tasks.
 However, you may find it easier to navigate one over the other.

Here are 9 options in which you might be interested in:

1. DirectAdmin
2. H-Sphere
3. InterWorx
4. ISPConfig
5. ISPmanager
6. vDeck
7. Virtualmin
8. Webmin
9. WHM

DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin is an easy-to-use, performant, and highly stable control panel option for Linux
users.

In addition to backing its product with top-notch support, DirectAdmin offers a wide variety
of licensing options to fit the needs of websites both small and large.

DirectAdmin was first released in 2003, and the product has been continuously updated
since then. The company prides itself on keeping up with current technologies, and if you
need a control panel with a multilingual interface, be sure to check out DirectAdmin.

You will find that DirectAdmin supports most of the popular website-related tools,
including MySQL/MariaDB, Apache, NGINX, Litespeed, PHP, and more.

H-Sphere

H-Sphere is a cross-platform control panel written in Java that works with any SQL-type
server/database.

It is a more advanced hosting option, with features including:

 Scalable clustering
 Multilingual support.
 E-commerce functions
 An email system
 Site building tools
 and SSL support
 Note: It is certainly not the easiest-to-use option.

With great power comes a steep learning curve and a user interface that is not a candidate
for best on the web. H-Sphere comes with solid documentation and has a robust
community.

Though the product itself may be tricky, you will find it easy to get help should you need it.

InterWorx

InterWorx is technically the umbrella name for two products:

 NodeWorx: used by server sysadmins to manage servers

 SiteWorx: used by a website owner to manage websites

Obviously, if you are looking for a control panel, you will be interested in SiteWorx.

SiteWorx comes with all of the functionality you expect from a control panel, but its
control panel does feature extra focusing on server cluster management and load balancing.

GUI and Requirements

InterWorx offers the web-based, graphical user interface you expect, but do note that all
functions can be done via command line or API as well.

If you need a control panel option that is as lightweight as possible, InterWorx is definitely an
option you should consider.

The system requirements are minimal, and some have used it to run server clusters on
Raspberry Pi devices.

ISPConfig

ISPConfig is an open source control panel that runs only on Linux machines.

It was first launched in 2005 and is still actively developed.

ISPConfig is a stable, secure, and performant option that comes with lots of documentation
and a large community that is able and willing to help.
 If you need enterprise-level functionality, ISPConfig ships with some.

Notable Features

ISPConfig’s feature set includes:

 Single or multi-server management, including cluster configuration and mirroring options

 Support for Apache and NGINX options
 Email management and security
 DNS and domain management
 Granular access controls
 Data analytics

ISPmanager

ISPmanager is a Linux-based option aimed at users with virtual private server (VPS) hosting
or dedicated servers (though it can certainly be used to provide shared or reseller plans).

There are two versions of ISPmanager: Lite (which is for personal use) and Business (which
is for those providing shared hosting services).

Full Version and Available Extensions

The full ISPmanager option might be a bit too much in terms of features for the everyday
user, and if this is you, consider the ISPmanager Lite.

It is a simpler option that allows you to manage your personal server and websites. If you
need to add to the functionality that ships with ISPmanager, you can do so by installing
extensions.

ISPmanager’s support for third-party software is wide-ranging and includes things like
Apache, NGINX, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Sendmail, Exim, and Postfix.

You can use the open API to integrate and deploy changes to your web hosting.

vDeck

vDeck prides itself on its easy-to-use tools and easy-to-navigate interface.

 vDeck is very similar to Plesk and cPanel (including its looks and appearance), but it comes
with more advanced tools and features built-in.

More specifically, you will get the website, email, domain, and account management features
you expect from a control panel, but you will also get e-commerce and marketing-related
services.

Virtualmin

Virtualmin is an open source control panel designed for use on both physical servers and
cloud servers running Linux or BSD.

There are two versions of Virtualmin.

Different Versions of Virtualmin

First, there is an open source, a community-maintained version that can be used by

anyone free of charge.

However, there is also a premium version of Virtualmin that is more feature-filled than the
open source version and comes with added support.

The paid, premium version is great for those who need a more robust control panel for their
website or web app.

Connection to Webmin

Virtualmin is built on top of (and still integrates well with) Webmin, which we discuss
immediately below.

Virtualmin differentiates itself from Webmin by branding itself as an option for serious system
administrators who need lots of features for managing their infrastructure.

Virtualmin stands out by supporting features not typically found in control panels, such
as:

 LDAP and two-factor authentication

 Command line management
 Advanced access controls
 Other stand-out features in Virtualmin include:

 A full API
 Sysadmin-friendly default settings
 Auditing
 Robust security

Webmin

Strictly speaking, Webmin is not like a control panel when it comes to the features offered —
it is actually a server sys admin tool for managing servers.

However, we thought it would be useful to mention Webmin, especially if you grow to the
point where you are managing multiple servers for your website or web app. Though
Webmin was once available only on *nix systems, it can now be installed on
Windows servers as well.

Though there is a single software developer who created and manages Webmin, Webmin is
based on modules, which makes it easy to customize the product to suit your needs.

Furthermore, anyone who wants to create a module can do so.

WHM

WHM, like Webmin, is a multi-server management tool used by admins (and sometimes
resellers) to manage hosting accounts on a web server.

You should also know that WHM is a sister product to cPanel.

While cPanel focuses on the client-side functionality (that is, those needed to manage the
website), WHM focuses more on server-side features and functionality.

If you use WHM, you will likely be using it in conjunction with cPanel.

How to Create and Connect to an Email Account

Last modified: November 16, 2021

Overview
This document explains how to create an email account and connect to it.

Create email account

To quickly create a new email account, perform the following steps:
1. Navigate to the cPanel’s Email Accounts interface (cPanel >> Home >> Email >>
Email Accounts).
2. Click Create. A new interface will appear.

3. Enter a new email address in the Username text box.

4. In the Password section, enter a secure password in the Password text box.
 5. Click Create to create the account.

For more options and information about this interface, read our Create an Email
Account documentation.
Use Webmail to check your account
To check your email account through Webmail, perform the following steps:
1. Navigate to https://example.com:2096 in your preferred browser,
where example.com represents your domain name.
2. Enter the username part of your email address in the Email Address text box (for
example, username for the [email protected] address).
3. Enter your password in the Password text box.
4. Click Log in.
For more information, read our The Webmail Interface documentation.

Configure a device to check your email

To set up an iOS® or Android™ device to check your email, read our How to Set Up a
cPanel Email Account for iOS® and Android™ documentation. It includes helpful steps and
screenshots that will walk you through the process.

Configure a client to check your email

cPanel provides configuration scripts for many popular mail clients.
1. Navigate to the cPanel’s Email Accounts interface (cPanel >> Home >> Email >>
Email Accounts).
2. Click Connect Devices.
3. Locate the mail client you will be using in the Application section of the Mail Client
Automatic Configuration Scripts section.
4. Review the system’s instructions, then click Proceed to continue. The system will
then attempt to download the script. If it prompts you to open, run, or save the script
file, select Run or Open to continue.
5. The system may ask if you are sure you want to install the script file.
Select Continue or Yes to continue the installation.
6. The system may prompt you for the email account’s password. Enter the password
and click Install.
7. When you complete the process, your mail client will open and log in to your email
account. If your account has a lot of email, it will take a while to download and
synchronize.
If your mail client does not appear in the list, read the Mail Client Manual Settings section of
our Set Up Mail Client documentation.

Set up your calendar and contacts

To set up calendars and contacts on MacOS® or iOS®, read our How to Set Up Calendars
and Contacts documentation.

Remove access to email

To disable access to email, remove the account from the device that is accessing the email.
If you do not have access to the device, change the password to the email account using
the Security section of cPanel’s Manage Email Accounts interface (cPanel >> Home >>
Email >> Email accounts >> Manage).
 Additional Documentation

What is an FTP client?

To understand FTP clients, let’s first discuss FTP. The File Transfer Protocol (or FTP for
short) is a network protocol for transferring files over the internet. FTP can be very useful for
website owners, as it lets you upload website files from your personal device to your hosting
server.

For example, say you have a version of your website saved locally on your computer, such
as a backup or a local test site. FTP is a way of sending these files straight to your server so
you can publish them. WordPress users can also take advantage of FTP for uploading
theme and plugin files downloaded from third-party sources.

In order to send files from a computer to a web server via FTP, website owners use an FTP
client. An FTP client is an application on your computer that connects you to remote servers
through FTP and other protocols. An FTP client provides an environment in which you can
upload files to a server, download files from a server to your device, and view and manage
files stored on your web server.

Many FTP clients allow you to do other things too, like connect to cloud storage platforms
(i.e. Dropbox and Google Drive), edit files located on a server without needing to download
them, and logging your file upload/download history.

FTP clients can usually transfer files through protocols other than FTP as well, notably FTPS
(File Transfer Protocol Secure), which encrypts FTP transfers with the SSL/TLS protocol, and
SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), a different protocol that uses secure shell for encryption.
These are protocols to look out for when reviewing FTP clients, as they ensure your file
transfers are safe from theft or unauthorized changes. When you can, use a secure transfer
protocol over the comparatively insecure FTP.

There are many FTP clients available, some free and some paid. The right FTP client will
depend on your specific needs and your operating system (OS). So, let’s review eight of the
best options, broken down by OS compatibility.

But before we continue, an important note: Always download your FTP client software from
the official product website, or from a file download service endorsed by its developers.
Otherwise, you run the risk of placing malware on your device.

Best FTP Clients for Windows and macOS

1. Cyberduck (for Windows and macOS)

2. FileZilla (for Windows and macOS)

3. WinSCP (for Windows)

4. Free FTP (for Windows)

5. CuteFTP (for Windows)

6. Transmit (for macOS)

7. ForkLift (for macOS)

8. CloudMounter (for macOS)

1. Cyberduck (for Windows and macOS)

Cyberduck is an excellent all-around FTP client for both Windows and Mac users. It’s free,
easy to pick up for new users, and supports FTP and SFTP. It also lets you connect to cloud
storage services like Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure and OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google
Drive — easily and quickly upload your files to any of these locations from one desktop app.

One feature that makes Cyberduck especially good for macOS users is its interface — the
minimalist, modern visuals are designed to blend in with macOS aesthetics, so it barely feels
like you’re working in a separate application. Plus, Cyberduck lets you drag and drop files to
transfer them and can store your passwords in your keychain. As for editing files, this FTP
client integrates with most leading text editors, giving you some flexibility with your preferred
environment.

You can download Cyberduck today at no cost, but be aware that the application
occasionally asks you for donations. You can do away with these prompts by donating $10
to the developers.

Pricing: Cyberduck is free.

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2. FileZilla (for Windows and macOS)
FileZilla is another big name in the FTP client space and is endorsed by many developers for
its flexibility and support for FTP, FTPS, and SFTP. It’s even earned an endorsement from
WordPress for being free and high-quality.

FileZilla offers everything website developers need to connect with their servers. It’s built
around a two-pane display, showing local files to the left and server files to the right. To
transfer, click and drag a file from one side to the opposite. Files are easy to track down and
save with the search and bookmarking tools, and FileZilla can accommodate transfers of
large files greater than four gigabytes with minimal disruption to your workflow.

The interface may not be the sleekest, but for those who don’t care as much about
aesthetics, FileZilla can be learned quickly. And with its frequent updates, the software is
continually adding new features and fixing bugs.

One downside of FileZilla, however, is the ads. In addition to the program itself, FileZilla
installs adware on your computer without asking permission, and will run ads for other
products when you launch the program. Upgrading to FileZilla Pro (for $19.99) removes
these ads.

Pricing: FileZilla is free. FileZilla Pro retails for $19.99.

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3. WinSCP (for Windows)

WinSCP is a free, open-source, Windows-only FTP client, and one of the best choices for
Windows users looking for support for FTP, SFTP, and FTPS. Currently sitting at over 150
million downloads, WinSCP will likely meet your needs without any adware or donation
prompts.

Like other FTP clients, WinSCP takes on a simple interface and divides the main window
into a local files area and a remote files area. The controls are easy to figure out, so you can
start uploading and downloading right away. Plus, the interface is customizable to a large
extent, and there’s an integrated text editor that you can use to modify files without leaving
the program. Advanced users can even take advantage of WinSCP’s scripting capabilities to
automate various tasks.

Overall, many consider WinSCP to be the best free FTP client for Windows. If you prefer the
Windows OS, give this option a go.

Pricing: WinSCP is free.

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4. Free FTP (for Windows)

Free FTP is, you guessed it, a free FTP client for Windows machines. Despite being a
newcomer compared to others, Free FTP has made a name for itself as one of the best. It
has support for FTP, SFTP, and FTPS, and also handles transfers via HTTP.

Free FTP is sprinkled with many little features that make it enjoyable and efficient. It enables
fast uploads and downloads, logs all activity inside the tool, lets you bookmark files for easy
access, reports problems with clear error messages, and can zip any group of files you want
for easy archiving.

The developers of Free FTP also offer a paid version of the tool called Direct FTP. If you like
the free version, you can upgrade for $39 and get features like website preview, permissions
for files and folders, a code snippet library, and syntax highlighting to make your HTML,
CSS, and PHP more readable.

Pricing: Free FTP is free. The premium version, Direct FTP, is $39.

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5. CuteFTP (for Windows)

The first premium FTP client on our list, CuteFTP starts at $59.99 for a single license, and is
a solid pick for those looking to get a bit more from their FTP service.

Specifically, CuteFTP excels in its enhanced security and customer support. In addition to its
support for secure file transfer protocols, CuteFTP includes a built-in password manager and
robust password authentication and encryption to limit remote file access to users you trust.

And, if you prefer to talk to a representative when you need help, you can pay extra for one
year of maintenance and support. This can come in handy if you encounter technical issues
and don’t have time to sift through documentation.
Other notable pros of this tool include drag-and-drop functionality, automation for file
transfers, scheduled backups, security monitoring on transfers, and a built-in HTML editor.

Pricing: CuteFTP is available for $59.99 (with updates at $29.99 each), or for $89.99 for one
year of maintenance and support (with updates at $59.99 each).

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6. Transmit (for macOS)

FTP clients for macOS systems are harder to come by, but there are still a handful of quality
choices out there. Transmit is one such option, allowing for fast file transfers over FTP,
SFTP, and FTPS. This premium client also supports transfers with Dropbox, Google Drive,
Microsoft Azure and OneDrive, and several other leading cloud storage services.

With Transmit, you don’t need to settle for an outdated interface with excessive options. This
tool blends in with the macOS interface that you expect, and cleanly presents only its
essential features. The file viewer is intuitive, and beginners will appreciate the user-
friendliness and attention to detail that the developers have taken with the front-end.

Transmit is also notable for its speed. After many updates, the tool has optimized for faster
file searching and file transfers. If you find yourself frequently moving large files around, time
saved with this tool will make up for its cost.

Pricing: Transmit retails for $45.

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7. ForkLift (for macOS)

ForkLift is another premium option for macOS that seamlessly blends into your environment
and gives you the resources you need to complete FTP and SFTP file transfers, as well as
connections to cloud services like Google Drive, Amazon S3, and Dropbox. Move your files
around via drag-and-drop inside the intuitive two-panel system, and turn on dark mode to put
less strain on your eyes.

One notable unique feature of ForkLift is ForkLift Mini, which places an accessible icon in
your top menu bar and saves any of your remote connections as a disk. To upload files to
your remote server, just drag-and-drop files from Finder. It’s a super-efficient way to initiate
file transfers without needing to open the app.

Pricing: ForkLift is $29.95 for a single-user license, $49.95 for a family license, or $99.95 for
a small business license.

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8. CloudMounter (for macOS)

CloudMounter, our final macOS recommendation, syncs your cloud services to your local
device as disks. You can create network drives for popular services like Google Drive,
Amazon S3, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Backblaze. Then, when you want to upload a file,
simply drag it to the appropriate drive. This saves space on your computer and eliminates
the need to install a separate app for each service — CloudMounter Brings everything
together.

This app also permits FTP, SFTP, and FTPS transfers in the same way: Create a drive for
your remote server, then click and drag to start a transfer. Transfers to all cloud services and
remote servers are encrypted, making CloudMounter a safe, lightweight, high-quality
solution for website owners.

Pricing: CloudMounter retails at $44.99 for use on one device or $129.99 for use on five
devices.

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The Right Tool for the Transfer

FTP is a concept that might seem abstract and unnecessary to the new website user.
However, an FTP client becomes invaluable when you need a way to send files to your
server or to one of your cloud storage solutions. Any tool that makes things easier and faster
without adding too much friction is worth it, and any of the FTP clients we’ve listed above
can handle your file transfers easily, quickly, and safely.

7 Easy Steps To Maintain Your

Website And Increase Traffic
Have you been neglecting your website lately? Chances are if you do,
you’re probably hurting your business more than you think.

Your website is an important part of your business. It represents your

brand in the online community – it’s your primary avenue to attracting
new customers and clients. In fact, having a website is often compared to
having a baby. Like a child, it requires regular care, maintenance, and
overseeing. If neglected, it may start to look unappealing and may hurt
your business in the long run. Given its accessibility, people today turn to
the Internet for information when they want to learn more about a
business. This is why having a good website matters. You need to have
your name out there to gain your potential customers’ trust.

Also, there’s no guarantee that once built, people will come to your site.
It takes a lot of work to establish trust and a regular readership. You
have to give it love and make sure it runs smoothly. The following are
tips that will help you maintain your website and increase traffic:

1. Choose the right website builder

Success starts with the right foundation. The kings of old always sought
out the best builders when constructing their palaces. Thus, if you want
to build a great website, you must also find the best people for the job.

Today, there are many available website builders available on the web
that will help address your business’ needs. The only challenge is finding
the right one that will fit perfectly for your company. There are
many factors when it comes to choosing a website builder. You have to
take into consideration functionality, content management, pricing, SEO
features, compatibility, and social media integration.

It isn’t only about creating the most attractive site; creating an effective
and functional website should also be your website builder’s goal. If
you’re not sure what website builder is fitting for your business, you can
check out the following web builders reviewed by experts.

2. Update Regularly
Updating your site by posting about recent company events, promotions,
or news will make your business more likeable to your consumers.
Nothing puts a reader off more than finding your latest articles dated
almost a year or six months ago. Many times, consumers will check your
website for availability. You don’t want them to think you’ve closed your
business for good. Maintain your website to help them know that your is
business up and running. If you’re too busy and can’t do updates on a
daily basis, you can choose to add content weekly or a few times every
month.

3. Give it a Makeover
People often judge a website based on its homepage and overall design.
If your website is done poorly, has many formatting and text errors, and
contains broken links, then don’t be surprised when nobody’s visiting.
Sometimes, people associate the quality of your product/service
with how your site looks. Truth be told, people will quickly exit the tab
when they visit an outdated-looking or poorly formatted website.

If you want your customers to visit your site on a daily basis, you need to
work on making your site more attractive. This includes fixing your
homepage, navigation bars, headers, logo, and images. You don’t need to
spend a fortune by including expensive designs. If your website is just
starting, try to aim for a simple layout that doesn’t look cluttered or
outdated. Pick appropriate colors and images for your posts. Create a
theme fitting for your website’s product.

4. Review your content

Are you connecting to your audience effectively? How should you create
your content so that you’ll engage readers and turn them into customers?
These are just some of the questions you have to keep in mind when you
have to maintain your website’s content. Basically, your content — in the
form of blog posts, images, and videos — is your gateway to your
potential customers. Before posting, always take time to proofread.
Don’t hit the publish button without taking the time to edit and review a
couple of times. When stating facts, make sure that you’re linking to
credible sources, and don’t try to sound overly salesy and promotional –
remember that your site’s content is your connection to your valued
customers.

5. Optimize Your Website for SEO

Let people find your site by optimizing it for search engines. SEO or
search engine optimization is an important process that will help deliver
a consistent flow of traffic to your site. There are many ways to optimize
your site so your consumers can easily find you. If you have a lot of time,
you can learn how it’s done and do it yourself. Many businesses
nowadays are seeking the help of SEO experts to do these things for
them. It’s a worthwhile investment if you’re looking into increasing your
sales and visibility.

6. Create a Sense of Community

The internet is a rich hub of information and user opinions. People today
are more willing to share their sentiments on subjects they feel most
connected with. This is why creating a sense of community within your
site is such a good idea to acquire a regular readership. By including
commenting systems with your posts, forums, and threads, you can
significantly change how customers perceive your brand. If you take a
look into the some of the most traffic-rich websites, you’ll see that they
have a healthy comment section — and, more importantly, the owner
participates in the discussion. By actively taking part in conversations
and giving even just a little of your time to answer your consumers’
questions, you can maintain your website’s credibility.

7. Use Social Media

Sometimes, it’s not enough to simply “hang out” on your website. You
need to go beyond the borders of your domain. You have to reach other
people to make sales! Using social media is often a cited solution when it
comes to finding a way to promote your website for free! Social media is
known as a top traffic source for many websites. It’s even believed to be
more valuable than direct traffic and results from search engines. So
connect, follow, and share a lot! Let the world know how awesome your
website is through social media.