Shared Hosting Guide

Welcome to your Simbavault Shared Hosting guide. This document will help you get started with managing your website using the powerful cPanel control panel, the industry standard for web hosting management.

Accessing cPanel

cPanel is your all-in-one interface for managing your hosting account, including files, databases, email, and more. You can access it in two primary ways:

1. Through the Client Area: Log in to your Simbavault dashboard, navigate to "My Services," select your hosting package, and click the "Login to cPanel" button. This provides secure, one-click access without needing a separate password.
2. Directly: You can also access cPanel by navigating to https://yourdomain.com:2083 in your browser. You will need to enter your cPanel username and password, which were provided in your welcome email.

Uploading Your Website Files

To get your website online, you need to upload its files to the server. The easiest method is using the File Manager within cPanel.

• In cPanel, navigate to the "Files" section and click on "File Manager".
• Inside the File Manager, locate and open the public_html directory. This is the web root folder for your primary domain, meaning all files for your website must be placed here.
• Click the "Upload" button in the toolbar, select your website files (it's often easiest to upload them as a single .zip file), and wait for the upload to complete.
• If you uploaded a zip file, select it in the File Manager and click "Extract" to unpack your website's contents into the public_html directory.

Creating a MySQL Database

If your website uses a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, or a custom application, it will almost certainly require a database to store its content.

1. In cPanel, find the "Databases" section and click on "MySQL® Database Wizard". This wizard simplifies the process into clear steps.
2. Step 1 (Create Database): Enter a name for your new database and click "Next Step".
3. Step 2 (Create User): Create a database user. Enter a username and a strong, unique password. Use the password generator for best results. Click "Create User".
4. Step 3 (Assign Privileges): Add the user to the database. Check the "ALL PRIVILEGES" box to grant the user full control over the database, then click "Next Step".

Make a note of the database name, username, and password. You will need these details during your application's installation process (e.g., in the wp-config.php file for WordPress).

Installing Applications with Softaculous

Our hosting plans include the Softaculous Apps Installer, a powerful tool that lets you install over 400 popular web applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Magento with just a few clicks.

1. Find the "Softaculous Apps Installer" section in cPanel (it's often near the top).
2. Click on the icon for the application you wish to install (e.g., WordPress).
3. Click the "Install Now" button to open the setup form.
4. Fill out the required details, such as your site name, an admin username, and a strong admin password. You can also select a theme and plugins to install.
5. Click "Install". Softaculous will automatically create the database, copy the files, and configure the application for you!