Hey there! If you’re a developer looking to gain access to cPanel, or you own a cPanel account and want to give your developer access, you’re in the right place.
cPanel is a fantastic tool that makes managing websites and servers much easier, and having access to it can really boost your productivity.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to get cPanel access as a developer.
If you are not a developer but want to grant your developer your cPanel account access, we got you as well!
Whether you’re working on a client’s website or setting up your own, understanding how to navigate and use cPanel will save you a lot of time and hassle.
So, let’s dive in and get you(developer) or your developer to access cPanel!
What is cPanel?
cPanel is a user-friendly tool with a graphical user interface (GUI) that’s based on Linux.
In simple terms, cPanel makes it super easy to manage your website and hosting by providing you with a “human-friendly” dashboard where you can control all your hosting settings.
This means you don’t need advanced technical skills or programming knowledge to handle your website.
A bit of history:
cPanel was developed in 1996 by John Nick Koston.
Since then, it has grown to become a standard solution offered by most affordable shared hosting companies.
It’s widely used because it simplifies website management, making it accessible to everyone, from beginners to experienced web developers.
Key Features
Now, let’s talk about what cPanel can do for you.
Here are some of its major features:
1. File Management: Easily upload, manage, and organize your web files.
2. Database Management: Create and manage databases using tools like MySQL and phpMyAdmin.
3. Domain Management: Handle multiple domains and subdomains from a single dashboard.
4. Email Setup: Quickly set up and manage email accounts, forwarders, and spam filters.
5. Security Features: Implement SSL certificates, IP blockers, and other security measures to protect your site.
6. Software Installation: Use Softaculous or other auto-installers to set up popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal with just a few clicks.
7. Backup Solutions: Create and manage backups to ensure your data is safe and recoverable.
With cPanel, you can manage domains, publish websites, set up email accounts, and organize web files all in one place, making your life a lot easier when it comes to web hosting.
Getting Started with cPanel
Let’s dive into how to get started with cPanel, especially if you’re working with a developer.
Giving a Developer Access to Your cPanel Account
First, it’s important to know that you can control how much access your developer has.
You don’t have to give them full control over everything.
Different Authentication Levels for Developers in cPanel
When giving a developer access to your cPanel account, you can choose different levels of authentication based on your needs and security preferences.
Here are some options:
Full Access
cPanel Access:
Provide your developer with your cPanel username and password, giving them full access to your entire cPanel account.
This level of access allows them to manage everything, including files, databases, email, and more.
FTP Access:
Set up an FTP account for your developer with full access to all directories.
This allows them to upload, download, and manage all files on the server.
Remote Database Access:
Provide your developer with remote database login information, enabling them to access and manage databases from a remote location.
phpMyAdmin Access:
Grant your developer access to phpMyAdmin, allowing them to manage databases through a web interface.
Limited Access
FTP Access:
Set up an FTP account for your developer with limited access to specific directories.
This restricts their ability to manage only certain parts of your file system.
Remote Database Access:
Provide your developer with remote database login information, allowing them to manage specific databases without full cPanel access.
phpMyAdmin Access:
Grant your developer access to phpMyAdmin for managing specific databases.
High-Security Approach
FTP Access:
Set up an FTP account for your developer with limited access to specific directories.
This minimizes the risk by only allowing access to the necessary areas.
Remote Database Access:
Provide your developer with remote database login information for only the required databases.
phpMyAdmin Access:
Grant access to phpMyAdmin for managing specific databases, ensuring they can work on what they need without accessing other areas.
By choosing the appropriate level of access for your developer, you can balance functionality and security, ensuring they have the tools they need to work effectively while protecting your cPanel account and its contents.
Different Areas of Access for Developer in a cPanel account
Email Access:
1. Manage Email Accounts: Allow the developer to create, modify, and delete email accounts.
2. Email Forwarders: Set up and manage email forwarders.
3. Autoresponders: Create and manage email autoresponders.
4. Email Filters: Configure and manage email filters.
File Access:
1. File Manager: Access the file manager to upload, download, and manage website files.
2. FTP Accounts: Create and manage FTP accounts for file transfer.
3. Backup and Restore: Perform backups and restore files from backups.
Database Access:
1. MySQL Databases: Create, modify, and delete MySQL databases and users.
2. phpMyAdmin: Access phpMyAdmin for advanced database management.
Domain Management:
1. Addon Domains: Add and manage additional domains.
2. Subdomains: Create and manage subdomains.
3. Aliases (Parked Domains): Add and manage domain aliases.
4. DNS Zone Editor: Modify DNS records for domains.
Software and Applications:
1. Softaculous/App Installer: Install and manage applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
2. Application Manager: Manage applications and their settings.
Security Settings:
1. SSL/TLS: Manage SSL certificates.
2. IP Blocker: Block specific IP addresses.
3. Hotlink Protection: Set up and manage hotlink protection.
4. Leech Protection: Prevent users from giving out or publicly posting their passwords to a restricted area of your site.
Advanced Features:
1. Cron Jobs: Create and manage scheduled tasks.
2. Error Pages: Customize error pages.
3. Apache Handlers: Manage Apache handlers.
4. MIME Types: Manage MIME types.
Step-by-Step Guide for Granting Your Developer Access to cPanel
Log in to cPanel: Use your credentials to log in.
Navigate to ‘User Manager’: Here, you can add new users.
Create a New User: Fill in the necessary details and choose the level of access for your developer.
Set Permissions: Decide what the developer can and cannot do, like accessing files, databases, or email settings.
Save Changes: Make sure everything is correct and save your settings.
Accessing cPanel as a Developer
Here’s how a developer can access cPanel:
Logging In
To access cPanel, you need to log in with your or your client’s username and password.
Here are the steps:
1. Enter the IP Address or Domain: Go to your web hosting provider and enter the IP address or domain name in your preferred browser.
For example, ‘https://198.51.100.1:2083’ or ‘https://example.com:2083’.
2. Enter Your Credentials: Enter your cPanel username and password in the respective fields.
3. Click Log In: Click the “Login” button to access the cPanel interface.
Dashboard Overview
Files: Manage website files, upload, download, and delete them.
Databases: Handle MySQL databases, including creating and managing them.
Email: Create and manage email accounts, set up forwarding, and configure filters.
Security: Access tools like SSL certificates, firewall settings, and access control lists.
Software: Install popular web applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal with ease.
Basic Configuration
Let’s go over some basic configurations to get everything set up the way you like.
Setting Up Preferences
Language: Choose your preferred language from the dropdown menu.
Contact Information: Enter your name, email address, and phone number.
Security Settings: Set up two-factor authentication and configure your password for added security.
Managing Users
Create a New User: Click the “Add User” button to set up a new user (developer) account.
Set Permissions: Determine what the new user can do within your cPanel account.
Manage Existing Users: Click the “Manage Users” button to see and edit existing user accounts.
Edit User Permissions: Adjust the level of access for any user as needed.
Essential cPanel Tools for Developers
When it comes to managing your or your client’s website, cPanel offers some great tools that can make a developer’s life much easier.
Let’s take a look at some of the essential cPanel tools you’ll be using:
File Management
First up is file management.
cPanel’s File Manager lets you upload, edit, and organize your website files directly through the interface.
It’s like having a file explorer right in your browser.
If you prefer using FTP, cPanel lets you set up FTP accounts to manage server access and transfer files easily.
Database Management
Next, we have database management.
With MySQL Databases, you can create and manage databases, which are vital for many web applications.
For more advanced database management, phpMyAdmin is your go-to tool.
It lets you interact with your databases in a detailed and efficient manner, making complex tasks much simpler.
Domain Management
Managing your domains is a breeze with cPanel.
Addon Domains allow you to add and manage multiple domains under the same cPanel account, which is perfect if you’re handling several projects.
You can also create and configure subdomains, giving your website structure and organization.
Plus, with DNS Management, you can edit DNS records and settings, crucial for domain management and ensuring your site runs smoothly.
Email Management
Finally, let’s talk about email management.
Setting up and managing email addresses for your websites is easy with cPanel’s email account creation tools.
Additionally, you can configure email forwarders and filters to route emails and manage spam effectively.
These cPanel tools are designed to simplify your workflow, helping you manage files, databases, domains, and emails efficiently.
Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just getting started, these tools can help you keep everything under control and running smoothly.
Advanced cPanel Features for Developers
Once your client grants access to their cPanel account, here are some advanced features you should know about as a developer:
Version Control
First, let’s talk about version control.
cPanel integrates with Git, making it easy to manage your code repositories directly from the cPanel interface.
This is perfect for keeping your projects organized and tracking changes.
Security
Next up is security.
cPanel lets you install and manage SSL certificates to keep your website’s communication secure.
Plus, it comes with built-in security features like firewalls and brute force protection to keep potential threats at bay.
Automation
For automation, cPanel offers cron jobs.
This feature allows you to set up scheduled tasks and automated scripts, helping you streamline repetitive tasks and boost efficiency.
Analytics and Monitoring
Lastly, let’s look at analytics and monitoring.
With tools like Awstats and Webalizer, you can analyze your web traffic and understand user behavior.
Additionally, cPanel provides access to error logs, so you can quickly identify and fix issues.
Conclusion
When a client grants you access to their cPanel, as a developer, it’s essential to handle it with professionalism and integrity.
Always respect client privacy, accessing only necessary parts of cPanel and keeping login details confidential.
Secure their data by using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.
Communicate clearly about any changes you make, and document all updates for transparency and future troubleshooting.
Above all, maintain ethical conduct by using your access responsibly and avoiding unnecessary changes.
By following these practices, you build trust and ensure their website is managed with care and professionalism.
