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RM Linux web hosting Getting Started guide
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RM Linux web hosting Getting Started guide
Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3
2. Available Linux web hosting options ..................................................................................... 3
3. Moving to the new Linux web hosting platform .................................................................... 3
3.1. As an existing Linux web hosting customer: ....................................................................... 3
3.2. As a new customer: ............................................................................................................ 3
3.3. As an existing Windows web hosting customer: ................................................................ 4
4. Important information before you get started ...................................................................... 4
4.1. Your username and password ............................................................................................ 4
4.2. Configuring your FTP client ................................................................................................. 5
5. cPanel .................................................................................................................................... 6
5.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 6
5.2. Logging in to cPanel ........................................................................................................... 7
5.3. More information ............................................................................................................... 7
6. Uploading your website ........................................................................................................ 8
6.1. The directory structure on your remote site ....................................................................... 8
6.2. How to upload your website ............................................................................................... 8
6.3. Using an FTP client ............................................................................................................. 9
6.4. Using a website developer program ................................................................................... 9
6.5. Using cPanel’s File Manager .............................................................................................. 9
6.6. Using your content management software (CMS) ............................................................. 9
7. Backing up and restoring your website .................................................................................. 9
8. Usage statistics and reporting ............................................................................................. 10
8.1. AWStats ............................................................................................................................ 10
8.2. Webalizer .......................................................................................................................... 10
8.3. Webalizer FTP ................................................................................................................... 10
8.4. Analog Stats ..................................................................................................................... 11
8.5. Latest Visitors ................................................................................................................... 11
8.6. Bandwidth ........................................................................................................................ 11
8.7. Raw Access Logs ............................................................................................................... 11
8.8. Error Log ........................................................................................................................... 11
8.9. Choose Log Programs ....................................................................................................... 11
9. Other useful cPanel tools .................................................................................................... 11
9.1. Creating multiple FTP accounts ........................................................................................ 11
9.2. Setting up password protected areas on your website .................................................... 12
9.3. Creating and maintaining databases in your website ...................................................... 13
10. Maintaining your web servers ......................................................................................... 14
10.1. cPanel support for technologies, scripting language and software ................................. 14
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11. Frequently asked questions ............................................................................................. 15
12. More information and useful resources .......................................................................... 15
1. Introduction The RM Linux web hosting platform has been upgraded so that we can offer you a solution that:
Is hosted on resilient virtual hardware offering high availability
Includes the industry standard cPanel for your website administration, which provides a number of benefits (see cPanel section)
Is regularly updated so that software versions (like PHP are always current)
This guide contains all the information you need to know about hosting your website on this new Linux platform.
2. Available Linux web hosting options
There are two Linux web hosting products available; Basic and Advanced. An overview of the differences between the Basic and Advanced web hosting products is available at the end of this document.
3. Moving to the new Linux web hosting platform
3.1. As an existing Linux web hosting customer: The migration of existing RM Linux web hosting customer websites is already
underway. We will be contacting you in due course to let you know when your
website will be migrated.
Please check that the email address on our system is valid. If not, please send an
email containing:
a) your RM customer number,
b) your establishment name,
c) your name and role (e.g. Head Teacher, Network Manager, Website
Administrator), and
d) your new email address
to [email protected]. Once you have been migrated, you will be able to
change your default email address in cPanel. Instructions on how to do this
are available here:
http://rm.com/Support/TechnicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC2131681&nav=0
3.2. As a new customer: South West Grid for Learning customers should order their Linux web hosting on the SWGfL Electronic Service Interface: http://esi.swgfl.org.uk All other customers can order their web hosting website on rm.com: http://www.rm.com/webhosting
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3.3. As an existing Windows web hosting customer: You will only be able to move from Windows to Linux if your website does not contain:
Microsoft® FrontPage® webparts,
Microsoft® Access® databases,
Microsoft® SQL Server® databases,
ASP/ASP.net, or
any other Microsoft® specific components
If your website has been developed in HTML or PHP and uses a MySQL database (if any), you will be able to migrate your website from Windows to Linux. If you are unsure, please contact your Managed Service Helpdesk or RM Support.
SWGfL Service Desk 0845 307 7870 [email protected]
SEGfL Managed Service Team
0845 121 3348 [email protected]
RM Service Desk for JANET
0845 123 7821 [email protected]
RM Service Desk for Walsall
0845 1302206 [email protected]
RM Support 0845 404 0000
4. Important information before you get started
4.1. Your username and password When your website is set up on the new Linux platform, you will receive a welcome email from [email protected] with the subject line: IMPORTANT information for the Website Administrator of your_domain.county.sch.uk.
Instructions on how to request
that the welcome email be
resent, can be found here:
http://www.rm.com/Support/
TechnicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC
2137199&nav=0
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Please store this email, as it contains everything you need to log in to your cPanel account and FTP.
4.2. Configuring your FTP client There are a number of ways to upload your website to the Internet, including:
Using an FTP client, like FileZilla
Using a website developer program, like Dreamweaver
Using a content management system, like Moodle
Using cPanel’s built in File Manager
Using a command line FTP
If you are using a program to upload your website (1, 2, or 3), you need to add some settings to your FTP upload program.
Steps to add your FTP details to an FTP client The steps below are for FileZilla, but all FTP clients are similar. If in doubt, check your program’s help files or support website.
4.2.1. Open your FTP client
4.2.2. Click File, and Site Manager
4.2.3. Under the General tab, type the following:
In Host: type the name of the FTP server provided in your welcome email, e.g. custweb01.vws.ifl.net
In Username: type your FTP username
In Password: type your FTP password
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4.2.4. Click the Advanced tab.
4.2.5. In Default remote directory:, type www
4.2.6. Click Ok
5. cPanel
5.1. Introduction
The Linux web hosting platform is delivered using cPanel, which is an industry standard web hosting control panel that provides a graphical interface and
More information on updating your FTP settings is available here: http://www.rm.com/Support/TechnicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC2124703&nav=0
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automation tools designed to simplify the process of hosting and maintaining a website.
On the previous web hosting platform some Advanced users could access Plesk, which is a similar control panel. cPanel is the replacement for Plesk.
There are a number of benefits and features in the cPanel control panel, including:
Useful Getting Started wizards and videos
The ability to upload your website using File Manager
Usage statistics and reporting, including the ability to monitor your website’s traffic, bandwidth usage, the last 300 visitors to visit your website, and information about who is accessing your website, including hits, files, pages, visits, sites, and kilobytes
Additional security (for Advanced users)
Backup and restore wizards (for Advanced users)
An interface for creating and managing MySQL databases
An interface for setting up password restricted areas in your website
A full list of all available cPanel features is available:
For non SWGfL customers: http://www.rm.com/Support/GeneralDownload.asp?cref=DWN2078890&nav=0
For SWGfL customers: http://www.rm.com/Support/GeneralDownload.asp?cref=DWN2078970&nav=0
5.2. Logging in to cPanel In your welcome email there is a section called ***Site Information and Administration***. To access cPanel, type the URL provided in the email in your Internet browser and click on Ok. Enter your username and password when prompted.
5.3. More information
There is a wealth of cPanel information on the Internet, including forums, discussion groups and websites. Here are some links to help you get started.
Name: Description: URL:
cPanel home page
The cPanel home page http://www.cpanel.net/
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cPanel documentation
The cPanel website containing links to all important cPanel information, installation and user guides
http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation
cPanel glossary A list of technical terms, technologies, scripting languages, features or technical words related to cPanel
http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/CPanelGlossary
cPanel discussion forums
Link to the cPanel developer community forums
http://forums.cpanel.net/developer-discussions.html
cPanel user guide
Online cPanel user guide
http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/WebHome
AWStats Documentation for log analysis software
http://awstats.sourceforge.net/
Help files are also available in cPanel.
6. Uploading your website
6.1. The directory structure on your remote site When you view your website through your FTP client, you will notice that there are
folders we have created for you. These folders have particular functions which are
explained as follows:
Folder name Purpose
access-logs Contains the logs for your website
etc This folder is for you to store website files that you do not want to be publically available (e.g. backup files)
mail Not required
public_ftp This folder is for you to store files that you want to be available via FTP
public_html This folder is for you to store files that you want to be available via HTTP
tmp Folder for temporary files
www www is a shortcut to the public_html folder, which contains all your website files (when uploading via FTP, you will upload to this folder
6.2. How to upload your website
There are a number of ways to upload your website to the Internet, including:
An FTP client, like FileZilla A website developer program, like Dreamweaver cPanel's File Manager
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Your content management software, like Joomla or Moodle
The steps to upload your website differ depending on the tool or program you are using. As a guide:
6.3. Using an FTP client
6.3.1. Log in to your FTP client. The first time you log in, you will be asked for a host name (your FTP server name), username (FTP username) and password (FTP password)
6.3.2. Click Connect or Quickconnect 6.3.3. To upload files, find the file on your local computer (the left hand side)
and either double-click the file or drag it to the correct folder on the remote site (the right hand side)
6.4. Using a website developer program Instructions and terminology will vary between the different programs. Please
refer to the program’s help files or website for instructions.
6.5. Using cPanel’s File Manager 6.5.1. Log in to cPanel using the login details provided in the welcome email 6.5.2. Click File Manager 6.5.3. From here you can manipulate the files in your web hosting space
directly through a webpage; you can edit files with a text editor and move and copy other files.
6.6. Using your content management software (CMS) Instructions and terminology will vary between the different CMS’s. Please
refer to the software’s help files or website for instructions.
7. Backing up and restoring your website
More information on File Manager is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/FileManager
More information on cPanel’s Backup is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/WHMDocs/ConfigBackup
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cPanel provides easy ways for you to back up and restore your website using Backup or the Backup Wizard. Both are enabled if you choose the Advanced Linux web hosting package.
With Backup you can:
Set up scheduled backups
Manually backup or restore files or your website
With the Backup Wizard, you can:
Back up your entire website
Create a partial backup
Restore a portion of your website
While RM backs up the web servers to allow us to restore them in the event of disaster or hardware failure, backing up individual websites and files is the customer's responsibility. We strongly recommend that you take a local copy of your website or back it up using cPanel before making any changes to your website, so that you can restore it if a file has been overwritten or deleted.
In an emergency, we may be able to restore files and websites from our backup tapes to restore the previous of website, but this is will be a chargeable service.
8. Usage statistics and reporting cPanel included a number of monitoring and reporting tools to help you manage your website, including:
8.1. AWStats AWStats is a program that provides information about the visitors to your website in both graphical and statistical views. More information is available here: http://awstats.sourceforge.net.
8.2. Webalizer Webalizer is a web server log file analysis program that produces highly detailed, easily configurable usage reports in HTML format, for viewing with a standard web browser. More information is available here: http://www.webalizer.com.
8.3. Webalizer FTP Webalizer FTP compiles and analyzes information about your FTP server. More information is available here: http://www.webalizer.com.
Important: It is crucial that you take regular backups of your website. You should create a local backup of your website and store it locally before you make any change to your website. The cPanel backup and restore tools are only available if you have chosen the Advanced option.
More information on the Backup Wizard is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/BackupWizard
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8.4. Analog Stats Analog Stats is a program that provides information about the visitors to your website in both graphical and statistical views. More information about Analog is available here: http://www.analog.cx
8.5. Latest Visitors With this tool you can view information about the last 300 people to visit your website, including the visitor’s IP address, the HTTP code the visitor received, the date and time of the visit, the HTTP version, the amount of information accessed in bytes, and the visitor referrer. More information is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/LatestVistors
8.6. Bandwidth This feature allows you to see how your bandwidth is being used. More information is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/Bandwidth.
8.7. Raw Access Logs With cPanel you can access your raw access logs, which will allow you to see what content has been accessed on your website. More information is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/RawAccessLogs
8.8. Error Log This feature displays the last 300 errors encountered by your website. More information is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/ErrorLog
8.9. Choose Log Programs This feature allows you to choose what statistical analysis programs you wish to use. More information is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/ChooseLogPrograms.
9. Other useful cPanel tools
9.1. Creating multiple FTP accounts It is possible to create multiple FTP accounts for your website in the new Linux web hosting platform. To do this: 9.1.1. Log in to cPanel and click FTP Accounts 9.1.2. Fill in all the required information (see example below) 9.1.3. Specify the FTP account's home directory or remove the directory so
that it only says public_html (if you want them to upload to the main website)
9.1.4. Choose the quota that you want to be allocated 9.1.5. Click Create FTP account
More information on creating multiple FTP accounts is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/FTPAccounts
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9.2. Setting up password protected areas on your website
Many establishments require a restricted area that is only accessible by username and password for staff or governors on their website. This is achieved through an htaccess file. The process to set this up is usually complicated, but cPanel has automated and greatly simplified the configuration and maintenance of these files. RM recommends using cPanel to configure and/or maintain this.
If you have already set up password protected areas on your website using
htaccess files, you will be able to manage them through cPanel.
To create or manage password protected areas in cPanel:
9.2.1. Log in to cPanel and click the Password Protect Directories icon 9.2.2. Click the directory/folder you want to protect 9.2.3. The following screen will appear:
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More information on Password Protected Directories is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/PasswordProtectDirectories
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9.2.4. Fill in all the relevant information and click Add/modify authorized user
9.3. Creating and maintaining databases in your website With the Linux Basic package you can create a MySQL database in your website.
With the Advanced offering, there is support for multiple MySQL databases.
Content management software like Drupal, Wordpress and Moodle use MySQL
databases.
cPanel provides useful tools to help you create and maintain your databases.
To create a new database and user:
9.3.1. Log in to cPanel and click the MySQL® Database Wizard 9.3.2. Type in the name of your database and click Next
9.3.3. Type in the name of your database user, and a password (or use the password generator)
9.3.4. Click Create User
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More information on the MySQL Database Wizard is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/DatabaseWizard
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cPanel includes PHPMyAdmin to help you manage your database/s once set-up.
10. Maintaining your web servers To ensure that your web hosting solutions supports the latest technologies,
features and scripting languages, RM will carry out essential maintenance for 2 – 4
hours on one evening per month. We will notify you of this maintenance using your
website’s default email address in cPanel. Please ensure that this email address is
valid. Instructions on changing this email address is available here:
http://rm.com/Support/TechnicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC2131681&nav=0.
Please ensure that you keep your website software (e.g. Drupal, Moodle, or the
PHP code you are using) up to date. If you run old versions of software, there is a
risk that cPanel will no longer support it and your website will not work correctly.
10.1. cPanel support for technologies, scripting language and
software It is possible to see what version of software cPanel supports. To do this:
10.1.1. Open your welcome email and click on the link to cPanel 10.1.2. Type in your cPanel username and password and click Ok 10.1.3. On the left hand side, there is a section called Stats 10.1.4. Under Stats click the Expand Stats link 10.1.5. Included in the stats are the cPanel, PHP, MySQL versions and other
useful information
Important: It is possible to set up multiple email accounts in cPanel, but system notifications from RM will only go to the primary email address.
More information on managing your database with PHPMyAdmin is available here: http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/CpanelDocs/PhpMyAdmin
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11. Frequently asked questions A full list of frequently asked questions is available here:
http://rm.com/Support/TechnicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC2080149&nav=0
12. More information and useful resources Name: Description: URL:
PHP website The PHP website http://uk2.php.net/
PHP tutorial
A simple tutorial showing the basics of PHP
http://uk2.php.net/tut.php
PHP online manual
Online PHP manual
http://uk2.php.net/manual/en/
phpMyAdmin website
phpMyAdmin website
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/index.php
MySQL website MySQL website http://www.mysql.com/
RM Linux web hosting Getting Started guide
Basic 2
Basic 5 (SWGfL only)
Basic 10 (SWGfL only)
Advanced 5 Advanced 10 Advanced 25 Advanced 50
Disk space 2GB 5GB 10GB 5GB 10GB 25GB 50GB
Operating system Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux
Security Anti-virus protection
Anti-virus protection, hotlink protection, leech protection, the ability to deny access to your website by IP address or domain name, and the ability to restrict access to parts of your website
Backup and Restore Daily server backup, websites or files can be restored within 3 months through change control
Important: server backups are for disaster recovery purposes and should not be relied on for webpage or website restores. Customers are responsible for their
own backups.
Includes interfaces for downloading and storing files, databases, forwarders and filters, creating a full or partial website backup,
and restoring a website from the last backup saved.
Help and assistance Getting Started wizard and Video Tutorials Getting Started wizard and Video Tutorials
Website management cPanel, including WHM (Web Hosting Manager) and File Manager
cPanel, including WHM (Web Hosting Manager), File Manager, Image Manager, and Index Manager
Usage statistics and reporting
The ability to monitor your website’s traffic, bandwidth usage, the last 300 visitors to visit your website, and information about who is accessing your website, including hits, files, pages, visits, sites, and kilobytes
Scheduled tasks Not available Available
Add-on installer Not available Available
Scripting languages and features
Support for PHP, Perl, Python, CGI and SSI Support for PHP, Perl, Python, CGI and SSI
FTP support Available Available
Database support 1 MySQL database Unlimited MySQL databases
Important: In order to offer you the most up to date technology and features, Web Hosting servers undergo essential maintenance for two to four hours on one evening every month. You will receive prior notice if this maintenance will impact your service in any way. Please ensure that your email address is current and that your website software (e.g. Moodle, Joomla) remains current.
