How to access a hosting account via SSH

To access your hosting account via SSH, you should:

1. Enable SSH access for your account in your web hosting panel.

2. Open your SSH client, put your domain name or the IP address of the server into the Host Name field (you can also use server name here, you can check it using this tutorial), enter 21098 into the Port field (22 for a VPS/Dedicated server), choose SSH as your connection type and press the Open button:

3. You will receive the Putty Security Alert. Press OK:

4. When prompted, enter your cPanel username and password (when you enter the password, it is automatically hidden for the security purposes):

That’s it!

How to use Manage Shell in cPanel

Secure Shell (SSH) is a cryptographic network protocol that is used to log into the system via a secure channel. With the help of SSH, you can safely exchange data between two devices. For more detailed information, visit here.

Enabling SSH access allows for:

• Remote hosting control
• The ability to add, remove, edit, backup and restore hosting files and directories
• The easy import and export of your database
• An established connection between 2 different servers

However, there are some downsides with enabling SSH:

• More difficult to use than a web interface
• Increased security risks

For cPanel Basic Theme:

For cPanel Retro Theme:

How to import and export a database via phpMyAdmin (‘Access denied create database db_name’ error)

In cPanel you can import and export databases using the phpMyAdmin menu which you can find in the Databases section. Note, that only databases of 50MB maximum can be imported/exported in phpMyAdmin. Larger databases have to be imported/exported via SSH. To do this, follow the instructions here or simply submit a ticket to our HelpDesk.

Database import

1. Log into your cPanel
2. Navigate to phpMyAdmin menu:

3. Select the database that you will need import to:

4. In the upper bar, click the tab Import:

5. Click Browse and locate the .sql file from your computer. Once done, click Go:

6. And you will see a notification that your database was successfully imported:

Database export

1. Log into your cPanel
2. Navigate to phpMyAdmin menu:

3. Select the database that you will need import to:

4. Choose the tables that you need to export or click Check All. Click Export to proceed:

5. Select the required file from the drop-down menu in Format and click the Go button:

Access denied create database db_name error. How to fix it?

If you received this error message, you can resolve the issue by following the next steps:

1. Open the dump of your database using any text editor on your computer (for instance, Notepad or WordPad).
2. Find the line: CREATE DATABASE db_name (it can usually be found at the beginning) and remove it.
*db_name – your database name:

3. Save it and import it using the instructions provided above.

That’s it!

How to import and export a database via SSH

You can easily import/export your database using phpMyAdmin menu in cPanel. To do so, follow the instructions here. It allows processing only the databases that do not exceed 50Mb. If your database is bigger, you will need to use SSH commands.

Shell access is disabled on Shared servers by default, so if shell access was not enabled for your account previously, first of all, enable it with the help of this article.

The next step is to log into your account via SSH. This tutorial will guide you through this process.

Note that before performing an export or import, you will need to assign a database to a user. You can do it in cPanel > MySQL Databases menu > Add a User to a Database option:

Make sure that you enable All Privileges option:

You can find more instructions on database creation and assigning it to a user here.

In order to import a database, use the following command:

mysql -u dbusername -pdbpassword dbname < /path/to/file/file.sql

You can also use:

mysql -u dbusername -p’dbpassword’ dbname < /path/to/file/file.sql

or

mysql -u dbusername -p dbname < /path/to/file/file.sql

In order to export, use this one:

mysqldump -u dbusername -pdbpassword dbname > /path/to/file/file.sql

The variable in italics are the following: 

• dbusername: the name of a database user assigned to this database (it should be in the format of CPANELUSERNAME_DATABASEUSER), or your cPanel username
• dbpassword: the database user password (if you use a database user as a username) or your cPanel password (if you use your cPanel username as a username)

NOTE: No space between -p key and the password if you enter it in the command.

• dbname: the name of your database you are importing to or exporting from. It should be created in your cPanel. The format is the following: CPANELUSERNAME_DATABASENAME
• /path/to/file/file.sql: the path to the mysql dump that you are importing to (then a new file will be created) or exporting from your cPanel account. Here you can use both relative and absolute path formats. If you are in the folder with the file, you can just type the file name with the extension. With the absolute path, for example, it will be the following: /home/CPANEL_USERNAME/public_html/database.sql

If you do not receive any error or notification after pressing Enter, it means that the command was performed successfully.

Let us provide with an example.

We will use the following settings:

• dbusername: nctests_user (as a database user), nctests (as a cPanel username)
• dbpassword: 123qwe
• dbname: nctests_database
• path to the file: /home/nctests/public_html/databases/db_file.sql

After defining all the variables, the command will look the following way:

Database import

mysql -u nctests_user -p123qwe nctests_database < /home/nctests/public_html/databases/db_file.sql 

NOTE: You can also use the following command:

mysql -u nctests_user -p nctests_database < /home/nctests/public_html/databases/db_file.sql 

This way, you need to enter the password in the next line:

Database export

mysqldump -u nctests_user -p123qwe nctests_database > /home/nctests/public_html/databases/db_file.sql 

NOTE: You can also use the following command:

mysqldump -u nctests_user -p nctests_database > /home/nctests/public_html/databases/db_file.sql 

This way, you need to enter the password in the next line:

That’s it!

Softaculous is a popular web-based application installer that allows you to easily install and manage various scripts, including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and many others. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to work with scripts in Softaculous:

Step 1: Log in to your cPanel

To access Softaculous, you’ll need to log in to your cPanel account. If you’re not sure how to do this, you can refer to your hosting provider’s documentation or contact their support team.

Step 2: Navigate to Softaculous

Once logged in, click on the “Softaculous” icon in the cPanel dashboard. This will take you to the Softaculous interface.

Step 3: Search for a script

In the Softaculous interface, click on the “Script” tab and search for the script you want to install. You can search by keyword, category, or browse through the list of available scripts.

Step 4: Choose a script version

Once you’ve found the script you want to install, click on it to view more information. You’ll see a list of available versions, along with a brief description and installation instructions.

Step 5: Install the script

To install the script, click on the “Install” button. You’ll be prompted to enter some basic information, such as:

• Site name
• Site email
• Database name
• Database username
• Database password

Enter the required information and click “Install” to begin the installation process.

Step 6: Configure the script

After installation, you’ll be taken to the script’s configuration page. Here, you can set up various settings, such as:

• Administrator username and password
• Database settings
• Theme selection (for WordPress and other themes)
• Configuration options (e.g., language, timezone)

Make sure to configure the script according to your needs and preferences.

Step 7: Access your script

Once the installation is complete, you can access your script by clicking on the “View Details” button next to the installed script. This will take you directly to your script’s login page.

Common tasks in Softaculous

Here are some common tasks you can perform in Softaculous:

• Update scripts: To update your installed scripts to the latest version, navigate to the “Scripts” tab, find the script you want to update, and click on the “Update” button.
• Backup scripts: To create a backup of your installed scripts, navigate to the “Backups” tab and click on the “Backup” button.
• Delete scripts: To delete an installed script, navigate to the “Scripts” tab, find the script you want to delete, and click on the “Delete” button.
• Clone scripts: To create a copy of an installed script, navigate to the “Scripts” tab, find the script you want to clone, and click on the “Clone” button.

By following these steps and understanding these common tasks, you’ll be able to easily work with scripts in Softaculous and manage your web applications with ease.

Creating and restoring backups in cPanel is a crucial step in ensuring the safety and security of your website and data. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create and restore backups in cPanel:

Creating Backups in cPanel:

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Click on the “Files” section and then click on the “Backup” icon.
3. Click on the “Home Directory” button to create a full backup of your website’s files.
4. You can also choose to backup individual folders or files by selecting the relevant options.
5. Set the backup destination by choosing from the available options, such as “Remote FTP Server” or “Local Disk”.
6. Choose the compression level and format for the backup file.
7. Click the “Generate Backup” button to start the backup process.

Restoring Backups in cPanel:

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Click on the “Files” section and then click on the “Backup” icon.
3. Click on the “Restore” button next to the backup you want to restore.
4. Choose the restore method:
   • “Home Directory”: Restore the full website backup.
   • “Specific Directory”: Restore a specific folder or file.
   • “Database”: Restore a database backup.
5. Select the backup file from your local computer or a remote server (if you stored it there).
6. Choose the overwrite option: “Overwrite files in place” to replace existing files or “Create new directories” to create new directories.
7. Click the “Restore” button to start the restoration process.

Additional Tips:

• Regularly schedule backups to ensure you have recent copies of your data.
• Store backups offsite (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, or an external hard drive) to ensure they are safe from local disasters or theft.
• When restoring a backup, be cautious not to overwrite important files or data.
• Consider using incremental backups, which only back up changed files since the last full backup, to reduce storage space usage.

cPanel Backup Settings:

1. To change your default backup settings, go to the “Files” section and click on the “Backup Settings” icon.
2. Set up your preferred backup frequency (daily, weekly, or monthly) and choose which directories or files you want to include in your backups.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to create and restore backups in cPanel with ease, ensuring your website and data are safe and secure.