# Linux and WordPress hosting with cPanel: first steps > Start with HyperDC Linux, WordPress or reseller hosting: sign in to cPanel, point your domain, create mail and databases, check SSL, download backups. Difficulty: Beginner\ Tested on: HyperDC client area HyperDC Linux web hosting, WordPress hosting and reseller hosting run on Linux servers with **cPanel**, served by LiteSpeed from NVMe storage. We run and maintain the server; you manage your sites, email and databases in cPanel. This guide covers the first steps. Plans: [Linux web hosting](/linux-web-hosting), [WordPress hosting](/wordpress-web-hosting), [reseller hosting](/linux-reseller-hosting). ## Before you start - The welcome email with your cPanel user name, password, server address and the **nameservers** for your domain. - Your domain, registered with HyperDC or elsewhere. ## Step 1: Sign in to cPanel - From the client area: **Services › My Services**, open the hosting service and use the cPanel sign-in button in the **Manage** card, where it is shown. - Directly: open `https://example.com:2083` (or the server address from the welcome email) and sign in with your cPanel user name and password. **Verify:** the cPanel home page opens and shows your domain and resource usage. ## Step 2: Point your domain to the account The simplest way is to use the hosting nameservers from the welcome email; then cPanel manages all DNS records, including email. For a HyperDC domain: **Domains › My Domains › Manage Domain › Nameservers**. Alternatively, keep your DNS where it is and point the A record to the hosting server's IP address. See [point a domain to your server](/guides/point-domain-to-server). ## Step 3: Upload your site or install WordPress - **WordPress hosting:** open **WordPress Toolkit** and install WordPress on your domain. It creates the database and the administrator account and applies security hardening. The LiteSpeed Cache plugin and a Redis object cache backend are available for speed. - **Other sites:** upload files with **File Manager** into `public_html`, or use FTP/SFTP with the credentials from cPanel. ## Step 4: Create a database Use **Database Wizard** (or **MySQL Database Wizard**): create a database, a user with a strong password and grant the user privileges on the database. cPanel adds your account name as a prefix, for example `account_shop`. Use `localhost` as the database host in your application. **phpMyAdmin** lets you browse and import data. ## Step 5: Create email accounts Open **Email Accounts** and select **Create**. Enter the address and a strong password. To set up a mail app, use **Connect Devices** next to the account: the **Set Up Mail Client** page lists the server names and ports for IMAP, POP3 and SMTP. Webmail is available from the same page. For good delivery, check that SPF and DKIM are in place: see **Email Deliverability** in cPanel and our [email deliverability](/guides/email-deliverability) guide. ## Step 6: Check HTTPS Open **SSL/TLS Status**. Once your domain points to the account, the free certificate is issued automatically for the domain and its `www` name. **Verify:** your site loads over `https://` without a warning. If the status shows a problem, it usually names the domain that does not point to the server yet. ## Step 7: Choose the PHP version Use the PHP version tool in cPanel (**MultiPHP Manager** or **Select PHP Version**, whichever your account shows) to set the PHP version per domain and enable the extensions your application needs. ## Step 8: Download a backup Your account is backed up weekly and monthly. Keep your own copy too: **Backup** (or **Backup Wizard**) lets you download a full account backup, or just your home directory and databases. ## Reseller hosting: create client accounts With reseller hosting you also get **WHM**, where you create a separate cPanel account for each client, with its own login, files, email and limits. Clients sign in to their own cPanel; you support them and open a ticket with us for anything on the server side. ## Troubleshooting **The site shows a default page.** Your files are not in `public_html`, or the domain still points elsewhere. **SSL/TLS Status shows the domain as failed.** The domain or `www` does not point to the hosting server yet. Fix DNS and wait for the next automatic run. **Emails land in spam.** Check SPF, DKIM and DMARC with Email Deliverability; see [email deliverability](/guides/email-deliverability). **Errors 500 or 503 under load.** The account reaches its resource limits. Check resource usage in cPanel and see [website 502, 503 and 504 errors](/guides/website-502-503-504). ## Next steps - Moving an existing site: [move a website without downtime](/guides/move-website-without-downtime). - DNS records explained: [DNS basics for a new domain](/guides/dns-basics-for-a-new-domain). ## Frequently asked questions ### How do I sign in to cPanel? Use the sign-in button on your service page in the client area where it is shown, or open https://example.com:2083 with the user name and password from your welcome email. ### Is an SSL certificate included? Yes. Linux, WordPress and reseller hosting plans include a free SSL certificate. It is issued once your domain points to the hosting account; check it under SSL/TLS Status in cPanel. ### How do I install WordPress? On WordPress hosting, open WordPress Toolkit in cPanel and install WordPress on your domain. It creates the database, sets up the administrator account and applies security hardening. ### Are backups included? Yes. Your account is backed up weekly and monthly at no extra cost. You can also download your own copy of files and databases from the Backup interface in cPanel. ### Can I use SSH, Node.js or Python? Yes. SSH access is available, and cPanel's Node.js and Python selectors let you choose the version your application needs, within your plan's resource limits. --- Source: \ Updated: 2026-10-09