Guide to the Plesk WordPress Toolkit

If you’re running a WordPress site on a server managed with Plesk, the WordPress Toolkit is your best friend. It’s a powerful, user-friendly interface that lets you install, manage, secure, and update your WordPress sites—all from one dashboard, no technical expertise needed.

What is the WordPress Toolkit?

The WordPress Toolkit is an all-in-one management solution for WordPress sites within Plesk. It takes care of routine tasks (like installing, updating, and securing WordPress) so you can focus on your content and business.

How to Use the Plesk WordPress Toolkit

1. Accessing the Toolkit

• Login to your Plesk control panel.
• Look for the WordPress icon or find WordPress Toolkit in the left sidebar or under the “Web Applications” or “Domains” section.

2. Installing WordPress

• Click Install WordPress.
• Fill in the required details:
  • Choose the domain/subdomain where you want to install.
  • Set your site title, admin username, password, and email.
• Click Install. That’s it! Plesk handles the rest.

Tip: You can also install multiple WordPress sites on different domains or subdomains this way.

3. Managing Sites

Once your site(s) are set up, you’ll see a list of all your WordPress installations. For each site, you can:

• Log into WordPress Admin with one click—no password needed!
• Clone your site (for staging or backups).
• Back up or restore your site.
• Update WordPress core, themes, and plugins individually or all at once.
• Manage plugins and themes: Activate, deactivate, install, or delete them right from Plesk.

4. Securing Your Site

• Click the “Check Security” button.
• The Toolkit will scan your site for common vulnerabilities and recommend fixes (like disabling file editing, restricting access to sensitive files, etc.).
• Apply the recommended security measures in one click.

5. Staging & Cloning

• Create a staging site (a copy of your live site for testing changes) easily with the Clone or Copy Data feature.
• When you’re happy with your changes, sync the staging site back to your live site.

6. Maintenance Mode

• Instantly put your site into Maintenance Mode while you’re making updates or changes, displaying a friendly message to visitors.

7. Managing Updates

• Set updates to occur automatically or manually, depending on your preference.
• See at a glance which sites, plugins, or themes need updating.

Why Use the WordPress Toolkit?

• Saves time: No more logging into multiple dashboards or running manual updates.
• Reduces risk: Security features help keep your sites protected.
• Streamlines management: Manage all your WordPress sites from a single dashboard, even across different domains.

Final Tips

• Regularly back up your sites before making major changes.
• Use the cloning feature for safe testing of new plugins, themes, or updates.
• Take advantage of the security scan after each major change.

In summary:
The Plesk WordPress Toolkit is designed to make your life as a site owner or web developer significantly easier. With its intuitive tools for installation, management, security, and updates, it’s the ultimate control center for your WordPress sites—all without leaving Plesk. If you haven’t explored it yet, now’s the time!

Using Webalizer and AWStats in cPanel for Traffic Analysis

When you want to understand how many people are visiting your website, where they’re coming from, and what they’re doing on your site, cPanel offers two handy tools: Webalizer and AWStats. Both are web analytics programs, but each has its own style and strengths.

1. Webalizer

Webalizer gives you a visual breakdown of your website’s traffic. It’s fast and straightforward, showing you graphs, charts, and tables that summarize your site activity.

How to Use Webalizer:

1. Log into cPanel.
2. Scroll to the Metrics section and click on Webalizer.
3. You’ll see a list of your domains. Click View next to the domain you want to analyze.
4. Webalizer will show you:
   • Monthly/ daily visits
   • Number of hits
   • Bandwidth usage
   • Top URLs, referrers, and search strings
   • Visitor countries
5. Click on any month to drill down into more detail for that period.

Tip: Look for spikes or trends—Webalizer’s colorful graphs make it easy to spot changes over time.

2. AWStats

AWStats offers a more detailed breakdown of your web traffic, with a focus on clarity and depth. It’s great for digging deeper into your stats, such as user agents, visit duration, and how people found your site.

How to Use AWStats:

1. Log into cPanel.
2. In the Metrics section, click on AWStats.
3. Choose the domain you want to review and click the corresponding View button.
4. AWStats provides:
   • Number of unique and returning visitors
   • Monthly, daily, and hourly traffic breakdowns
   • Most viewed pages
   • Countries of your visitors
   • Search engine queries and keywords
   • Browsers and operating systems used
   • Error reports (like 404 errors)
5. You can click on different sections (like “Countries” or “Pages-URL”) to see more details.

Tip: Use AWStats to find out which content is most popular and which keywords are bringing you traffic from search engines.

Which One Should You Use?

• Webalizer is great for a quick overview, especially if you like graphs and charts.
• AWStats is your go-to for deeper, more granular details and if you want to know exactly how people are interacting with your site.

A Couple of Notes:

• Both tools analyze your server’s access logs, so stats are based on all requests (including bots).
• Neither tool filters out automated traffic by default—keep that in mind for accuracy.
• Stats are updated periodically (often daily), so real-time data might not always be available.

In summary:
Both Webalizer and AWStats are built right into cPanel to help you make sense of your website’s traffic. Log in, pick your tool, and start exploring the numbers—they can show you what’s working, what’s not, and help you make better decisions for your website’s growth!

What is the IP Blocker Tool in cPanel?

The IP Blocker in cPanel is a security feature that lets you prevent specific IP addresses—or even entire ranges of IP addresses—from accessing your website. Think of it as a digital gatekeeper: if someone (or something) is causing trouble, you can simply tell the gatekeeper not to let them in.

Why Would You Use the IP Blocker?

• Blocking Hackers or Abusive Bots: If you notice suspicious or malicious activity from a certain IP address, you can block it to protect your site.
• Preventing Spam: Block IPs that repeatedly spam your contact forms or comments.
• Regional Restrictions: Occasionally, you might want to block access from certain countries or regions.

How Does It Work?

When you add an IP address (or a range) to the block list, cPanel updates your website’s .htaccess file. This file tells your web server to deny requests coming from those addresses. As a result, anyone using a blocked IP will see an error message instead of your website.

How to Use the IP Blocker in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Find the IP Blocker tool: It’s usually under the “Security” section, simply labeled “IP Blocker.”
3. Enter the IP address or range you want to block: You can block a single address (like 192.168.0.1), a range (like 192.168.0.1-192.168.0.255), or even use CIDR notation (like 192.168.0.0/24).
4. Click “Add.” The IP is now blocked from accessing your site.

A Few Things to Remember

• Use with care: Accidentally blocking the wrong IP could prevent legitimate visitors—or even yourself—from accessing your website.
• Temporary measure: For serious security issues, blocking an IP is helpful, but it’s not a complete solution. Combine it with other security practices for best results.
• You can unblock: If you make a mistake, just remove the IP from the block list.

In summary:
The IP Blocker in cPanel is a straightforward but powerful way to control who can (and can’t) access your website, adding an extra layer of protection and peace of mind.

How to Use the Cron Jobs Feature in Plesk

Cron jobs are scheduled tasks that your server runs automatically at set intervals—perfect for automating repetitive tasks like backups, script execution, or email reports.

1. Log in to Your Plesk Panel

• Open your browser and enter your Plesk login URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com:8443).
• Enter your username and password.

2. Access Scheduled Tasks (Cron Jobs)

• In the left sidebar, click on Websites & Domains.
• Find and click your domain name (if you have more than one).
• Look for the Scheduled Tasks or Cron Jobs icon (the name may differ depending on your Plesk version) and click it.

3. Add a New Cron Job

1. Click Add Task
   • You’ll see a button like Add Task or Add Cron Job.
2. Choose Task Type
   • Run a command: Executes a shell command/script.
   • Fetch a URL: Uses wget or curl to access a web address.
   • Run PHP script: Executes a PHP script using the PHP interpreter.
3. Enter the Command or Script
   • For example, to run a PHP script, you might enter:
     Copy

     php /var/www/vhosts/yourdomain.com/httpdocs/script.php
     

   • Or to fetch a URL:
     Copy

     wget -q -O - https://yourdomain.com/cron-script.php
     

4. Set the Schedule
   • Use the interface to set how often your task runs (every minute, hour, day, etc.).
   • You can use the dropdowns or enter cron syntax (like 0 2 * * * for 2 AM daily).
5. (Optional) Set Notification Email
   • Enter your email address if you want to receive notifications or output from your cron job.
6. Save the Task
   • Click OK or Apply to save.

4. Managing Your Cron Jobs

• All your scheduled tasks are listed on the Scheduled Tasks page.
• You can edit, disable, enable, or delete any task as needed.
• Check the logs or your notification email to confirm tasks are running as expected.

Tips:

• Always test scripts manually before scheduling them as cron jobs.
• If you’re unsure about schedule syntax, use the Plesk interface’s helpful dropdowns or look up a cron expression generator.
• Keep your scripts secure and only automate trusted tasks.

How to Back Up Your Website Using cPanel

1. Log in to Your cPanel Account

• Go to your cPanel login page (usually yourdomain.com/cpanel).
• Enter your username and password.

2. Find the Backup Tool

• Once inside, scroll down to the Files section.
• Click on Backup or Backup Wizard (either option will work; we’ll cover both briefly).

Option A: Using the Backup Wizard (Easiest)

1. Click on Backup Wizard
2. Select Backup
   • On the wizard’s first page, click Back Up.
3. Choose Full or Partial Backup
   • Full Backup: Backs up your entire account (website files, emails, databases, settings). Note: Full backups can only be restored by your hosting provider, not directly through cPanel.
   • Partial Backup: Lets you download just your Home Directory, MySQL Databases, or Email Forwarders/Filters.
4. Generate and Download Backup
   • For Full Backup: Click Generate Backup, select the destination (usually “Home Directory”), and enter your email if you want a notification when it’s done. Click Generate Backup.
   • Once the backup is ready, you’ll see it listed. Click the filename to download it to your computer for safekeeping.
   • For Partial Backup: Click the section you want (like Home Directory), then click the download link.

Option B: Using the Backup Tool

1. Click on Backup
2. Download a Full Account Backup
   • Click Download a Full Account Backup to generate one.
   • Or, download backups of your Home Directory or specific databases under “Partial Backups.”
3. Save the Backup File
   • Save the file to your computer or external storage.

Tips:

• Back up regularly! This ensures you always have a recent copy if something goes wrong.
• Store backups in a safe place, preferably off your hosting server or in the cloud.
• Before making big changes (like installing new plugins or updates), always create a backup.

How to Manage Domains and Subdomains in Plesk

1. Log in to Your Plesk Panel

• Open your browser and enter your Plesk login URL (e.g., yourdomain.com:8443).
• Enter your username and password.

2. Adding a New Domain

1. Go to Websites & Domains
   • From the left sidebar, click Websites & Domains.
2. Add Domain
   • Click Add Domain (or sometimes Add Domain Name).
3. Enter Domain Details
   • Type your new domain name.
   • Choose your hosting type (usually “Website hosting”).
   • Set the document root if you want a custom folder (optional).
   • Click OK or Add Domain.
4. Update DNS Settings
   • Make sure your domain’s DNS records point to your Plesk server (you may need to update these with your domain registrar).

3. Adding a Subdomain

1. Go to Websites & Domains
   • Stay in the Websites & Domains section.
2. Add Subdomain
   • Click Add Subdomain.
3. Enter Subdomain Details
   • Type your desired subdomain (e.g., blog for blog.yourdomain.com).
   • Select the parent domain.
   • Set the document root folder (by default, Plesk suggests one for you).
   • Click OK or Add Subdomain.

4. Managing Existing Domains and Subdomains

• In Websites & Domains, you’ll see a list of all your domains and subdomains.
• For each, you can:
  • Manage Hosting Settings: Change root directories, enable/disable SSL, set PHP versions, etc.
  • Access File Manager: Upload or edit website files.
  • Manage DNS Settings: Edit DNS records.
  • Remove Domains/Subdomains: Click “Remove” if you no longer need a domain or subdomain (be careful—this deletes related files!).

5. Editing DNS Settings

• Click on DNS Settings for the domain/subdomain.
• Add, remove, or edit DNS records as needed.
• Click Update and Apply Changes when done.

Tips:

• Subdomains are great for creating separate sections of your site (like shop.yourdomain.com or support.yourdomain.com).
• Always back up important data before deleting any domains or subdomains.
• Make sure DNS changes can take some time to propagate (anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours).

How to Check Your Resource Usage in cPanel

1. Log in to Your cPanel Account

• Go to your cPanel login page (usually yourdomain.com/cpanel).
• Enter your username and password.

2. Find the Resource Usage Section

• On your cPanel dashboard, look for a section labeled Statistics or General Information—it’s usually on the right-hand side.
• Here, you’ll see a quick overview of your main resources, like:
  • Disk Usage
  • Bandwidth
  • Email Accounts
  • Databases

3. View Detailed Resource Usage (CPU, Memory, etc.)

• For more detailed information, look for the Resource Usage or CPU and Concurrent Connection Usage icon (sometimes titled “Resource Usage” under the Metrics section).
• Click on it.

4. Check Your Usage Details

• You’ll see a summary of your account’s recent resource usage, including:
  • CPU Usage
  • Memory Usage
  • Entry Processes
  • Number of Processes
  • I/O Usage (Input/Output)
• If any limits are being approached or exceeded, cPanel will show a warning or alert.
• You can click on Details or Current Usage to view graphs and logs for specific time periods.

5. Monitor Bandwidth and Disk Usage

• For bandwidth, click on Bandwidth under the Metrics section to see how much data your account has sent and received.
• For storage, click on Disk Usage to see a breakdown of how much space each folder and file is using.

Tips:

• Regularly checking your resource usage helps you spot issues before they affect your website’s performance.
• If you notice you’re often hitting your limits, it might be time to optimize your site or consider upgrading your hosting plan.

How to Use Softaculous in cPanel to Install Applications (e.g., WordPress)

1. Log in to Your cPanel Account

• Open your browser and visit your cPanel login page (usually yourdomain.com/cpanel).
• Enter your username and password.

2. Find the Softaculous Apps Installer

• Once inside cPanel, scroll down or use the search bar to find Softaculous Apps Installer (sometimes labeled simply as “Softaculous” or “Apps Installer”).
• Click on the Softaculous icon.

3. Choose the Application to Install

• In the Softaculous dashboard, you’ll see popular apps like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and more.
• For WordPress: Click on the WordPress icon (usually at the top or under the “Blogs” category).

4. Start the Installation

• Click the Install Now button.

5. Fill in the Installation Details

• Choose Installation URL: Select the domain and directory (leave the directory blank to install WordPress on your main domain).
• Site Settings: Enter your site name and site description (you can change these later in WordPress).
• Admin Account: Set your admin username, password, and email. Use a strong password for security!
• Select Language: Choose your preferred language.
• Plugins & Themes: (Optional) You can select plugins or themes to install automatically.

6. Advanced Options (Optional)

• You can set up automated backups and choose database names if desired. For most users, the defaults are fine.

7. Install!

• Scroll down and click the Install button.
• Wait a few moments while Softaculous sets everything up.

8. Access Your Application

• Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a success message with links to your site and the admin area (for WordPress, that’s usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin).

That’s it!
You’ve installed WordPress (or another app) using Softaculous in cPanel—no technical headaches required.

Tips:

• Bookmark your admin URL for easy access.
• Regularly update your themes, plugins, and WordPress core for best security.
• Explore the Softaculous dashboard for other useful applications you might want to try!

How to Create and Manage Databases in cPanel

1. Log in to Your cPanel Account

• Open your browser and go to your cPanel login page (often yourdomain.com/cpanel).
• Enter your username and password.

2. Navigate to the Databases Section

• Once inside cPanel, scroll down to the Databases section.
• Click on MySQL® Databases.

3. Create a New Database

• In the Create New Database field, type a name for your new database.
• Click Create Database.
• You’ll see a confirmation message. Click Go Back to return to the databases page.

4. Create a Database User

• Scroll down to the MySQL Users section.
• Under Add New User, enter a username and a strong password (or use the Password Generator).
• Click Create User.

5. Add the User to the Database

• In the Add User to Database section, select the user and the database you just created from the dropdown menus.
• Click Add.
• On the next screen, set the privileges for the user (usually, you’ll want to check All Privileges).
• Click Make Changes.

6. Manage Databases

• Back in the MySQL Databases section, you can:
  • Check Database: Scan for and repair database errors.
  • Rename Database: Change the name of the database if needed.
  • Delete Database: Remove a database you no longer need (be careful—this is permanent!).

7. Access phpMyAdmin (Optional, for Advanced Management)

• Go back to the Databases section in cPanel.
• Click on phpMyAdmin to open the web-based database management tool.
• From here, you can import/export data, run SQL queries, and manage tables directly.

Tips:

• Always back up your database before making major changes.
• Use strong, unique passwords for all database users.
• Delete unused databases and users to keep your account secure.

How to Set Up Email Forwarders in Plesk

1. Log into Your Plesk Panel
   Open your browser and enter your Plesk login URL. Sign in with your credentials.
2. Navigate to Mail
   In the left sidebar, click on Mail to see the list of your domains with email hosting.
3. Choose the Email Address
   Find the domain you want and click on it. Then, select the specific email address you’d like to set up a forwarder for.
4. Set Up Forwarding
   • Click the Forwarding tab at the top.
   • Check the box labeled Switch on mail forwarding.
   • Enter the email address(es) you want emails to be forwarded to. You can add more than one, separated by commas or on separate lines.
   • Click OK or Apply to save your changes.

That’s it! Now, all emails sent to that address will be automatically forwarded to the address(es) you specified.

How to Set Up Autoresponders in Plesk

1. Log into Your Plesk Panel
   (If you’re already logged in, you can skip this step!)
2. Navigate to Mail
   Click the Mail tab in the left sidebar.
3. Select the Email Address
   Click on the email address you want to set an autoresponder for.
4. Set Up Autoresponder
   • Click the Autoresponder tab.
   • Check the box labeled Switch on auto-reply.
   • Fill in the Subject and Message text fields for your auto-reply message.
   • Optionally, set the period when the autoresponder should be active and the frequency for sending responses.
   • Click OK or Apply to activate your autoresponder.

Tip:
Autoresponders are perfect for letting people know you’re away, while forwarders help you manage email efficiently across multiple accounts.