Setting Up WordPress on DirectAdmin: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on by Shruti
Wordpress on directadmin

Setting up WordPress on DirectAdmin is a relatively straightforward process.

This guide will walk you through the steps needed to install WordPress on DirectAdmin your website using DirectAdmin.

1. Prepare Your Hosting Environment

Log in to DirectAdmin

  • Start by logging into your DirectAdmin control panel with your username and password.

Ensure You Have a Domain Set Up

  • Make sure that you have a domain set up in DirectAdmin where you want to install WordPress on DirectAdmin. If not, you can set it up under Account Manager > Domain Setup.

2. Create a MySQL Database

WordPress requires a MySQL database to store its data.

  1. Access MySQL Management:
    • Go to Account Manager > MySQL Management.
  2. Create a New Database:
    • Click the Create new Database button.
    • Fill in the following details:
      • Database Name: Choose a name for your database.
      • Database Username: Create a user for the database.
      • Password: Set a strong password for the database user.
    • Write down these details, as you will need them later during the WordPress installation.
  3. Click Create:
    • After filling out the form, click Create to generate the database.

3. Download WordPress on DirectAdmin

  1. Download WordPress:

4. Upload WordPress on DirectAdmin to Your Server

Using the DirectAdmin File Manager

  1. Access the File Manager:
    • Go to System Info & Files > File Manager.
  2. Navigate to Your Domain’s Root Directory:
    • Typically, this will be the public_html directory for your primary domain, or a subdirectory if you’re installing WordPress in a subdomain or subfolder.
  3. Upload the WordPress Zip File:
    • Click the Upload files to current directory button.
    • Select the WordPress ZIP file you downloaded earlier and upload it.
  4. Extract the WordPress ZIP File:
    • Once uploaded, click on the ZIP file and choose Extract to unzip the WordPress on DirectAdmin into your domain’s root directory.

Using FTP (Optional)

  1. Connect to Your Server via FTP:
    • Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your server. Enter your FTP credentials (you can create/manage FTP accounts in DirectAdmin under Account Manager > FTP Management).
  2. Upload WordPress Files:
    • Upload the extracted WordPress files directly into the public_html directory (or a subdirectory).

5. Configure WordPress Installation

  1. Open Your Domain in a Web Browser:
    • Navigate to your domain in a web browser (e.g., http://yourdomain.com). You should see the WordPress installation page.
  2. Select Your Language:
    • Choose your preferred language and click Continue.
  3. Database Setup:
    • You will be prompted to enter your database details:
      • Database Name: Enter the database name you created earlier.
      • Username: Enter the database username.
      • Password: Enter the database password.
      • Database Host: Usually localhost.
      • Table Prefix: If you want to run multiple WordPress installations on a single database, change the table prefix (e.g., wp_ to wp1_).
  4. Run the Installation:
    • After entering the database information, click Submit and then Run the installation.

6. Complete WordPress Setup

  1. Site Information:
    • Enter the required information:
      • Site Title: The name of your website.
      • Username: The username for your WordPress admin account.
      • Password: Set a strong password for the admin account.
      • Your Email: Your email address (used for account recovery and notifications).
      • Search Engine Visibility: You can choose whether to allow search engines to index your site (usually leave unchecked for a new site).
  2. Install WordPress:
    • Click Install WordPress to finalize the installation.
  3. Log in to WordPress:
    • After the installation is complete, you’ll see a success message. Click the Log In button to access your WordPress admin panel.

7. Post-Installation Steps

Login to WordPress Dashboard

  • Go to http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin and log in with the credentials you just created.

Set Up Basic WordPress Settings

  • General Settings: Go to Settings > General to configure your site title, tagline, time zone, and other settings.
  • Permalinks: Set up your URL structure under Settings > Permalinks. The “Post name” option is popular for SEO-friendly URLs.

Install a Theme

  • Go to Appearance > Themes and browse available themes or upload a custom theme to change your site’s appearance.

Install Essential Plugins

  • Navigate to Plugins > Add New to install essential plugins like SEO tools, security plugins, and caching plugins.

Configure Security

  • Consider installing a security plugin to protect your WordPress site.
  • Enable SSL for your site if it’s not already done (you can manage SSL under Account Manager > SSL Certificates in DirectAdmin).

8. Optional: Set Up Automatic Backups

  1. DirectAdmin Backup Settings:
    • DirectAdmin allows you to set up backups for your entire account, including WordPress files and databases. Go to Account Manager > Site Backup to configure.
  2. WordPress Backup Plugins:
    • You can also install a WordPress backup plugin (like UpdraftPlus) for easy management and cloud backups.

By following these steps, you’ll have WordPress installed and ready to use on your DirectAdmin-hosted domain. From there, you can start building your website, adding content, and customizing it to your needs.

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