cPanel and Web Hosting

cPanel and Web Hosting

• Linux serves as the foundation for cPanel's functionality
• Databases are essential for storing and retrieving dynamic website content when using cPanel
• The assigned port for secure HTTPS connections to cPanel is 2083
• To update cPanel login credentials, access the "Password & Security" section under "Preferences"
• Cron Jobs in cPanel allows scheduling automated scripts at specific time intervals
• Gzip enhances website performance by reducing file sizes through compression
• MySQL Database Manager is the cPanel interface for creating and manipulating MySQL databases
• IP Blocker is a cPanel feature used to prevent specific network addresses from accessing a website

cPanel Features and Management

• ALL access level is required for full administrative control when assigning privileges to a new MySQL database user
• The Email Accounts section in cPanel allows creating, managing, and forwarding email accounts
• Subdomains is the cPanel feature that facilitates the creation of secondary website partitions under a primary domain
• The Zone Editor feature manages DNS configurations like A, CNAME, and MX records
• A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) must be created within cPanel to generate a secure SSL certificate
• The File Manager tool in cPanel is used to modify a website file's read, write, or execute permissions
• Backup Wizard is the built-in utility in cPanel for creating and restoring website backups

Domain and DNS Management

• Domain is the unique alphanumeric identifier that directs users to a website
• Top-Level Domain (TLD) refers to the “.com” or “.org” part of a web address
• Second-Level Domain (SLD) is the portion of a domain name that appears directly before the TLD
• Subdomain is the optional segment that precedes the SLD in a domain structure
• Aliases is the cPanel module that enables the addition of domain names that act as redirects to another site
• CNAME record should be used to map a domain name to a different hostname within the DNS
• A Record is the DNS record type required to associate a domain with a specific IP address
• MX Record must be configured to designate the mail exchange server for a domain
• Domain forwarding can be configured using Redirects in cPanel

Email Management

• Email Accounts enables administrators to establish and manage individual mailboxes
• Forwarders setting should be used if an email message needs to be automatically forwarded to another address
• Autoresponders configures automatic email replies within cPanel
• SpamAssassin is the filtering system primarily used for spam detection in cPanel
• Email Filters configures specific rules to sort or block incoming emails
• Encryption tool should be enabled if an encrypted email service is needed for enhanced security

File Management

• File Manager provides an interface for organizing website files and directories
• Compress option should be used to compress multiple website files into a single archive
• ZIP is the most commonly used file format when compressing website files
• Change Permissions action should be taken when needing to adjust read, write, or execute permissions on files
• Backup section of cPanel allows users to retrieve deleted or lost files from a saved copy

Security and Optimization

• IP Blocker enables the blocking of unauthorized IP addresses
• SSL/TLS protocol must be activated within cPanel to secure a website using HTTPS
• Certificate Signing Request (CSR) preliminary file must be generated when requesting an SSL certificate from a trusted authority
• .htaccess configuration file should be modified in cPanel to redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS
• Error Pages feature should be used to create custom error messages for broken links or unauthorized access

Database Management in cPanel

• MySQL database management system is commonly used in cPanel
• phpMyAdmin provides a graphical interface to manage databases
• MySQL Database Wizard allows users to create and assign users to databases
• To authenticate and access the database is the primary function of a database user
• CREATE privilege must be granted to the MySQL user to create tables
• The "Remote MySQL" feature allows external connections to MySQL databases
• Backup Wizard or phpMyAdmin Export are used to back up a MySQL database
• PostgreSQL is a type of database supported by cPanel aside from MySQL
• MySQL Error Logs or phpMyAdmin is where to check for database errors
• MySQL Database Repair Tool is used to repair a corrupt MySQL database

Backup and Restoration

• Backup Wizard is a cPanel tool to create full account backups
• A full cPanel backup includes Files, Databases, Emails, and Settings
• Partial Backup is best for restoring only website files
• Restore a database backup by uploading via phpMyAdmin or Backup Wizard
• JetBackup (if enabled) or Backup Configuration allows automatic scheduled backups
• File Manager or Backup Wizard is the best way to download a cPanel backup for offline storage
• Compatibility should be ensured and file integrity verified before restoring a backup
• To check website functionality and database integrity determines if a backup restoration was successful
• Incomplete or corrupted cPanel backups may cause the restore process to fail or cause data loss
• A third-party Backup tool or cron jobs can automate website backups without using cPanel

Website Performance Optimization

• LiteSpeed Cache (if available) or Gzip Compression helps with caching content to speed up websites
• "Optimize Website" tool or a third-party plug in optimizes images to improve page load time
• Enabling Gzip Compression in cPanel compresses files to reduce page size and speed up loading

Resource Monitoring and Performance

• Resource Usage or CPU and Concurrent Connection Usage is the cPanel feature to monitor resource usage
• High CPU/memory usage by scripts or traffic spikes is a common cause of slow website performance on shared hosting
• Check Resource Usage, AWStats, or Error Logs diagnoses performance issues
• MySQL Slow Query Log (if enabled) identifies slow database queries
• Optimize scripts, enable caching, and use a CDN controls excessive resource usage
• "Optimize Website" feature enables compression to improve loading speed
• Cloudflare CDN can be integrated with cPanel to improve website speed

Security and Protection

• Enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of login security
• Use strong passwords and enable 2FA to protect from brute-force attacks
• ModSecurity protects against web-based attacks and exploits
• Use Directory Privacy (Password Protection) to prevent unauthorized access to a specific directory
• Imunify360 or ClamAV (if enabled) is a security feature that detects malware
• Use IP Blocker or Firewall Rules to restrict access to cPanel based on location
• An SSL certificate encrypts data transfer for secure communication
• Force HTTPS Redirect in SSL/TLS forces HTTPS for all website visitors
• A WAF (Web Application Firewall) enhances security by blocking malicious traffic
• Check SSL/TLS Status verifies if a website has an active SSL certificate

Cron Jobs and Automation

• Cron jobs automates script execution at scheduled intervals
• PHP, Bash, and Python scripts can be scheduled with cron jobs
• Cron job syntax (minute, hour, day, month, weekday) specifies the timing for a cron job
• Include absolute script path and correct execution permissions in a cron job command to avoid errors
• Set a timeout or limit execution frequency prevents a cron job from running indefinitely
• Cron Job Logs or cPanel Error Logs helps debug cron job failures
• Set an email address in the Cron Jobs section to receive email notifications for cron job execution
• Cron Jobs can be used to trigger PHP scripts at intervals

• /dev/null 2>&1 in a cron job command suppresses output and error messages

• Incorrect path, permissions, or script errors could cause a cron job not to execute properly