Introduction
Building a website from the ground up can often be a challenging and time-consuming endeavor. Thankfully, a powerful alternative exists to the traditional approach of coding and designing layouts: Open-source Web Applications. These robust scripts are specifically developed to offer website owners an accessible and intuitive platform for creating and managing their online presence. They are typically fostered and maintained by extensive communities, ensuring a continuous stream of critical security updates, new features, valuable improvements, and integrations based on user feedback and demands.
Utilizing an Open-source Web Application as the foundation for your website is generally a straightforward process – you install the application, and it's ready for immediate use. However, the installation procedure itself can sometimes appear confusing or daunting, particularly for individuals new to the world of website development.
To simplify this experience and streamline the process, many hosting providers offer intuitive solutions that enable the installation of Open-source Applications with just a few clicks. Users can often leverage an auto-installer like "Softaculous" directly from their cPanel web hosting account, providing unmatched convenience.
This guide will thoroughly introduce the "Softaculous" auto-installer, a popular cPanel feature designed for the swift and effortless deployment of Open-source Applications. Let's delve into how you can take advantage of this powerful tool!
Accessing the Softaculous Feature in cPanel
Before you can begin utilizing the "Softaculous" feature, you will first need to log in to your cPanel service. Upon successful login, you will encounter a comprehensive list of all the features cPanel provides, neatly organized into distinct feature groups.
To locate the "Softaculous" auto-installer, you have two primary options: either use the convenient search tool located at the top of the cPanel page, or navigate directly to the "Software" features group, where "Softaculous" is typically situated.
Once you have successfully identified the feature using either of the methods outlined, simply click on its icon. This action will redirect you to a dedicated page within cPanel, where you can proceed with various actions related to the "Softaculous" auto-installer.
Overview of the Softaculous Interface
The "Softaculous" feature is designed for ease of use, but a brief introduction to its structure can significantly enhance your experience. Immediately upon accessing the "Softaculous" auto-installer, you will be greeted by its intuitive default page.
The interface typically adopts a clear administrative layout, featuring a prominent main menu positioned on the left side. This menu categorizes all the web applications available for installation. Concurrently, the central area of the page offers a concise summary of your currently installed scripts, often accompanied by suggestions for new applications based on popular choices.
Furthermore, in the top right corner of the interface, you'll discover a set of additional, valuable links designed to assist you with various administrative tasks related to managing your applications within "Softaculous."
Installing a New Open-Source Application with Softaculous
To initiate the installation of a new web application, your first step is to locate it within the Softaculous interface. For this purpose, utilize the "Search" tool conveniently situated at the top of the left vertical menu. As an example, let's proceed with installing "OpenCart." Begin by searching for the application using the method described:
Upon entering the application's name into the search bar, Softaculous will instantly display the relevant results. Once "OpenCart" appears, click on it to proceed with the installation process.
Clicking on the application link will direct you to a dedicated page that provides more detailed information about the selected application and the option to install it. To begin the installation, either click on the "Install" tab located at the top of the application's page or select the "Install Now" button.
Both options will lead you to the installation configuration page for your chosen application. Here, you will be prompted to define various settings crucial for a successful installation.
It is important to note that the specific settings available may vary depending on the application you are installing. However, the most commonly encountered and essential fields to complete include:
- Choose the version you want to install - Use this dropdown menu to select the desired version of OpenCart from all the officially supported options.
- Choose Installation URL - Utilize these dropdown menus to specify the protocol (e.g., http://, https://), the domain, and the installation directory where your application will reside and be accessible to visitors. Softaculous may sometimes pre-fill the installation directory automatically. If you wish to install the Open-source Application directly on your main domain, ensure that the "In folder" field is left empty.
- Admin Email Address - Provide the administrative email address for your new Open-source Application in this text field. This email will be used for important notifications and password recovery.
- Admin Username - Enter the desired administrative username for the Open-source Application you are setting up. Open-source applications typically feature an administrative area where you can manage content and oversee every aspect of your site.
- Admin Password - Create a strong password for the administrative user you just defined. This password will be essential for accessing the administrative area.
- Admin Language - Select the preferred language for your administrative interface using this dropdown menu.
Additionally, regardless of the specific application, you will find a section labeled "Advanced Options" towards the bottom of the configuration page.
This section is often pre-configured with default settings, similar to other fields on the page. However, you have the flexibility to customize these options manually if required:
- Database Name - This defines the name of the database that will be created specifically for this application. Softaculous intelligently suggests a unique name that does not conflict with existing databases on your account.
- Table Prefix - This is a prefix applied to all tables within the application's database, helping to organize and identify them.
- Disable Update Notifications Emails - If enabled, Softaculous will send you an email notification each time an update becomes available for your application.
- Backup Location - Specify the preferred location for the automated backups that Softaculous generates for your application.
- Automated backups - Determine the frequency at which Softaculous will create backups for your installed application (e.g., daily, weekly).
- Backup Rotation - Configure the number of backups Softaculous will retain before overwriting the oldest ones.
Once you have meticulously configured all the installation settings to your satisfaction, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Install" button to commence the installation process.
Provided that your hosting account configuration is accurate, a progress bar will appear centrally on your page after clicking "Install," followed by a completion screen. Should you encounter any issues or errors during the installation, do not hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider's support team for immediate assistance.
Upon the successful completion of the installation procedure, you will be presented with a comprehensive summary. This summary typically includes vital information on how to access and begin using your newly installed application.
Congratulations! Your Open-source Application is now installed and ready for you to explore and develop your website.
Managing Already Installed Applications in Softaculous
To effectively manage your installed Open-source Applications, navigate to the "Installations" box situated in the center of the Softaculous default page, or click on the "All Installations" link found in the top horizontal menu.
Executing this action will direct you to a new page displaying a detailed table that lists all Open-source Applications currently installed via Softaculous. For each application, you will find comprehensive information, including:
- Link: This column provides direct links to the public-facing frontend of your installed application.
- Admin: Here, you'll find a convenient link to the administrative backend of the installed application, allowing you to manage its settings and content.
- Installation Time: This column specifies the exact date and time when the application was initially installed.
- Version: Details the current version of the installed application.
- Options: This crucial column presents a range of additional actions you can perform on each application.
Let's explore the various management options available for each installed application in detail.
Create Staging Environment
A "Staging Environment" is an invaluable option that allows you to create an exact replica of your live website. This copy exists under a different domain, subdomain, or subdirectory, preserving the current state of your site without affecting the live version.
By clicking the "Create Staging" link, you will be taken to a new page where you can configure the parameters for your staging environment. While specific settings may vary by application, the most common configurations include:
- Choose Installation URL: Use the dropdown menu and text fields to define the URL for your website's staging version. It is generally recommended to deploy the staging version in a subdirectory separate from your main application's installation location, often including "staging" in the new directory's name for clarity.
- Database Name: Specify the name of the database that will be used exclusively for the staging version of your website.
Once you have completed configuring your staging version, click the "Create Staging" button to initiate the process.
Softaculous will then take a moment to generate the staging environment for your website. Upon successful completion, you will receive a notification confirming the operation.
The primary benefit of a staging environment is the ability to perform extensive changes, updates, or test new features without risking your live website. Once you are satisfied with the modifications, you can then "push" these changes to your production website. It is crucial to remember that pushing changes from a staging version to production will typically revert the production database to the state it was in when the staging copy was initially created. Therefore, always exercise caution and ensure you have recent backups of your live site.
Clone Application
The "Clone" option functions similarly to the staging feature, enabling you to create a duplicate of your application. However, a key distinction is that the clone option does not provide the direct capability to push changes back to the production environment. After clicking the "Clone" button, you will be redirected to a new page where you must configure the destination for the cloned website.
Once you have specified the desired location, proceed by clicking the "Clone Installation" button at the bottom of the page.
Softaculous will then initiate the cloning process. Upon its completion, you will receive a message indicating the success or failure of the operation.
Backup Application
The "Backup" option is designed to help you create a comprehensive backup of your selected website. Please be aware that for larger websites, this process may take some time and could potentially consume a significant portion of the disk space available on your web hosting account. Therefore, it is always advisable to check your current disk space usage before initiating a full website backup.
The backup configuration process is straightforward. Once you have reviewed the settings, click the "Backup Installation" button located at the bottom of the page.
Softaculous will then generate a complete backup for your website. Once finished, you will be provided with additional information, including details on how to access this backup should you need to restore your website in the future.
Remove Application
As its name implies, the "Remove" option allows you to completely uninstall an application. This action will permanently delete the entire application, along with its associated database, from your web hosting account.
Even if your hosting provider offers automated backups for your account, it is always strongly recommended to download a full copy of the application files and export its database to your local computer before proceeding with a complete deletion.
Edit Application Details
The "Edit" option provides the functionality to modify various details and settings of your installed application. Clicking on the pencil-like icon will lead you to a new page presenting a range of editable options for the application.
Let's review these editable fields:
- Directory: Here you can change the installation directory where the application resides.
- URL: This field allows you to modify the web address through which the application is accessed.
- Database Name: You can update the name of the database currently used by the application.
- Database User: This field enables you to set a new username for the database.
- Database Password: Here, you can define a new password for the database user.
- Database Host: If your application's database is hosted on a different server, you can specify a new database hostname in this field.
- Disable Update Notifications Emails: Disabling this option will prevent Softaculous from sending you email notifications regarding available updates for the installed application.
- Backup Location: Configure the storage location for backups generated by Softaculous.
- Automated backups: This field allows you to adjust the frequency at which Softaculous will perform automated backups of the application.
- Backup Rotation: Configure the number of backups Softaculous will retain before older backups are removed.
- Admin Username: Specify the current administrator username for which you intend to change the password.
- Admin Password: In this field, you can set a new administrative password for your application.
Once you have made all the desired adjustments to the settings, click the "Save Installation Details" button at the bottom of the page.
As demonstrated, Softaculous offers a comprehensive suite of options for both installing and managing open-source applications on your website. Familiarity with Softaculous's full range of functionalities will undoubtedly contribute to a smoother and more efficient experience when performing various management actions on your installed applications. Should you encounter any challenges, please do not hesitate to contact your technical support crew for further information and expert guidance on the matter.
