Understand the Layout
The first thing we must learn is how to read and understand the layout of cPanel. In most cases the default theme will either be “x” or “x2”. A user can determine the style theme by looking in the address bar. A cPanel URL will look similar to this “http://www.server.com:2082/frontend/x2/index.html” notice the “x2” in the URL string. This lets a user know which theme is being used and if it needs to be changed or not. There are quite a few free themes that come with cPanel and in most cases a hosting company will not mind changing a users theme from one to another. Simple ask to switch to either “x” or “x2”.
Main Page
The main page of cPanel is the heart of operations. From this one page anything can be accessed. On the left side of the main page there are two boxes that contain vital information about a users account. This portion of the page will allow a user to find out where there accounts resources stand, along with the type of software and versions installed.
General Account Information:
The “General account information” section of the main page allows a user to view his or her usage along with the amount of resources that are available.
Hosting Package: This lets a user know which hosting package they are currently under.
Shared IP Address: This is the IP address of the server in which the users account resides. This is a “shard” IP address, meaning that multiple sites use the same IP address.
Sub-domains: The Sub-domains section lets a user know how many sub-domains are currently being used along with how many are available.
Parked Domains: Parked domains are those that can be used like a normal domain name, but mirror the main domain names content.
Add-on Domains: Add-on domain names are those domain names added to an account and can be used and look like their own site. Many users use these to host friends and family. The domain name works just like any other, but points to a sub-domain on the master account.
MySQL & PostgreSQL: These are the amount of SQL tables that are allowed on each account. It also shows the amount used.
Disk Usage: This is the amount of disk space the account consumes. This number reflects the total amount used. This includes the log files, web site files, and hosted accounts.
SQL Disk Usage: This is the amount of space the SQL tables consume on the account.
Disk Space Available: The disk space available is the amount of space allocated to an account.
Bandwidth Usage (Current Month): This is the amount of bandwidth the account has used for that calendar month. The amount is displayed in Megabytes and not Gigabytes.
Email Accounts: This will display the amount of email address being used along with the total amount that can be used.
Email Forwarders: This will display the amount of email forwarders currently being used. Email forwarders are used to route one email address to another.
Auto-responders: This will show the amount of auto-responders that are being used. Auto-responders are automated messages that are sent when someone emails the email address associated with the address with the auto-responder.
Mailing Lists: This will display the amount of mailing lists currently being used. It will also display the total amount that can be created.
Email Filters: This will display the amount of email filters that are currently setup on the account. Email filters work like a filter for a pop email reader like Outlook, but is done server side.
FTP Accounts: This is the amount of ftp accounts created along with the amount that can be created.
The “General Account Information” section is a basic run down of a users account. It displays very useful information about a users account and can also display errors when they are present. Users should check these amounts and settings often, as they are very useful when a user doesn't have many resources to work with and over charges can occur if they go over.
General Server Information:
Operating System: This is the operating system currently being utilized by the server.
Server Status: In this section there is a link that will take the user to a page that will display all the servers services and there status. It also has a little information about the swap, memory, and disk usage.
Kernel Version: This is the current version of the kernel being used by the server. Most users will not need this information.
Machine Type: This is the chipset type of the server.
Apache Version: This will display the current version of Apache running on the server. This allows a user to know if it's up to date or not and also if certain functions will work with it or if it's a later version.
PERL Version: This is the current version of PERL running on the server.
Path to PERL: This is the location in which PERL is installed on the server. This information is needed when running CGI and PERL scripts.
Path to Sendmail: This is the path to the sendmail function on the server. This is needed to utilize this function on the server.
Installed Perl Modules: There is a link located in this section for users to click on. Once loaded it displays the current modules installed on the server. This lets a user know which are installed and which can be utilized.
PHP Version: This is the current version of PHP that in installed on the server.
MySQL Version: This is the current version of MySQL installed on the server.
cPanel Build: This will display the current version of cPanel being utilized by the server. This also lets a user know if it is a stable version or not.
Theme: This section lets a user know which theme is currently installed and being used on their account and the current version of that theme.
Documentation: There is a link to the current documentation proved with cPanel. There is very useful information and instructions within the documentation.
Center of Page
In the center of the page we can now see the buttons to each section of cPanel. Each one of these will take a user to a sub section of the control panel and allow them to perform tasks and make changes to their account. Each one of these have a specific function and many have more then one. This is the heart of the control panel and everything revolves around these buttons. These are the user's navigation through the control panel and to their settings.
