Web hosting

Where to start

Standalone hosting is for a website you upload or install. Splash Builder and websites built for you have their own editing and publishing workflow. In Sites, Your sites lists website services, Your hosts lists hosting accounts and Your servers lists VPS machines.

Before setup, have an active hosting order, a domain you control and a copy of any existing site and database. Keep your current hosting available until the new copy is tested.

Set up hosting

1. Open the hosting workspace after your order is confirmed. Choose Set up hosting now if the setup prompt is shown.
2. Select one of your domains or choose Another domain I own…. Enter a hostname without a page path.
3. Select the PHP version required by your application. Keep the recommended option if it is compatible with your site.
4. Choose Set up hosting and follow the status. Read the setup email for your SFTP access and domain instructions.
5. If the domain is managed elsewhere, follow the exact DNS values shown. Preserve mail records before changing nameservers.

A domain offered for registration during setup still needs its registration completed. Setting up a hosting account does not reserve an unregistered domain.

Upload your site

In Your hosts, choose Manage files on the correct account. Check the selected account before each upload, database change or installation. The file tools offer new files, folders, uploads, editing and compression. Use the web directory supplied for that account and keep a local copy before overwriting files.

For a database-backed site, create the database, import your export using the available database tools and update the application’s connection settings. Keep database credentials out of public files and screenshots. For WordPress, use the installation option on the intended hosting account and an empty destination; do not install over a site you want to keep.

SFTP is useful for larger transfers. Use the host, username and credentials provided for this account. Uploading files alone does not migrate databases, outgoing email configuration or scheduled jobs.

Hosting tools

Open CloudPanel from the hosting workspace and follow any access setup shown. The workspace also exposes tools for files, databases, PHP, scheduled jobs, SFTP, redirects and deployment where supported by your account.

Before changing PHP, confirm application compatibility and take a backup. When adding a scheduled job, check its path or URL and frequency so it does not run unnecessarily. For redirects, test both the source and destination to avoid a loop. Deployment settings should point at the intended repository and build step; review the result before directing visitors to it.

Backups

Use Storage to review usage and Backups to see available restore points. Check the actual dates and contents rather than assuming a new account already has a backup. Keep an independent copy of important files and databases.

1. Select a backup from before the problem occurred.
2. Save any recent content or orders that would be lost by returning to that point.
3. Choose Restore, read the confirmation and wait for the result. A restore request may need processing before it is complete.
4. Test the website, admin sign-in, forms and database content afterwards.

Launch checks

Check the root domain and www, HTTPS, navigation, images and a complete form submission. For a migrated site, compare key pages and database content with the original before retiring the old host.

Default page: check the upload directory and domain destination. Database error: check database name, credentials and imported data. HTTPS still setting up: confirm DNS points to this hosting account. Form mail missing: configure an authenticated mailbox or delivery service and check its logs. Send support the domain, hosting account, time and exact error, never your passwords.