BENTECH

WordPress Deployment with Softaculous & cPanel

Master the fundamentals of launching a WordPress website on cPanel hosting using the Softaculous 1-click installer, configuring directory paths, setting up administrator…

This course covers the complete lifecycle of deploying a fresh WordPress instance through cPanel. Learners will discover where to access the Softaculous interface, how to configure crucial installation parameters such as protocol and directory paths, how to manage site metadata, and how to access the WordPress dashboard both automatically and manually.

Section 1: Accessing and Navigating Softaculous in cPanel

Learn how to access cPanel and navigate to the Softaculous WordPress management tools.

Lesson 1.1: cPanel Login and Softaculous Navigation

  • cPanel Authentication
  • Softaculous Entry Points
  • WordPress Manager Dashboard

Before initiating any CMS installation, ensure your domain or subdomain is active and properly mapped to your hosting account's web root. When viewing a domain prior to software installation, web servers typically display an empty directory listing or default placeholder. To access installation tools, log in to your hosting account's cPanel control panel using your administrative username and password. cPanel provides multiple avenues to access the Softaculous toolset: via the 'WordPress Manager by Softaculous' link in the left sidebar menu, via 'WordPress Manager by Softaculous' located under the 'Software' group, or via the general 'Softaculous Apps Installer' icon.

Practical work

  1. Log in to your cPanel hosting account dashboard.
  2. Locate and open 'WordPress Manager by Softaculous' using either the left sidebar or the Software section.

Section 2: Configuring and Executing the WordPress Installation

Configure domain protocols, directory paths, site metadata, and admin credentials, and execute the installation process.

Lesson 2.1: Software Setup and Installation Parameters

  • Protocol and Domain Selection
  • The 'In Directory' Field
  • Site Settings & Admin Account Configuration

Click the 'Install' button inside WordPress Manager to open the installation wizard. In the Software Setup section, select 'https://' as the protocol to ensure secure encrypted web traffic, and choose the target domain or subdomain. Pay close attention to the 'In Directory' field. Softaculous frequently enters 'wp' by default. If this is not cleared, your site will only load at 'yourdomain.com/wp'. To install WordPress in the primary root directory of your domain or subdomain, delete 'wp' and leave this field completely empty. Next, specify your Site Name and Site Description under Site Settings. Under Admin Account, specify your Admin Username, Admin Password, and Admin Email. Ensure you use strong credentials rather than default terms. Once configured, scroll down and click 'Install' to let the automated script deploy your files and database.

Practical work

  1. Select your target domain/subdomain and choose https:// protocol.
  2. Delete any text inside the 'In Directory' input box to install to root.
  3. Set a custom site name and secure administrator credentials, then click Install.

Section 3: Verification, Administrative Access, and Security

Verify the live website, explore one-click and manual login methods, and understand security alerts for default credentials.

Lesson 3.1: Site Verification and Admin Access Methods

  • Frontend Site Verification
  • One-Click Dashboard Access
  • Direct Admin URL

After installation, Softaculous confirms that the software was installed successfully and outputs two primary URLs: the public site URL and the administrative URL. First, navigate to your public domain to verify that the front-end loads the default WordPress theme. To access your site administration without entering credentials immediately, click the administrative URL directly inside Softaculous for an instant one-click login to the WordPress dashboard.

Practical work

  1. Open the website in your browser and confirm that the WordPress default page loads.
  2. Click the administrative URL link provided by Softaculous to verify one-click dashboard access.

Lesson 3.2: Manual Dashboard Login and Security Alerts

  • Manual /wp-admin Path
  • Credential Authentication
  • Password Compromise Warnings

When accessing your site from another browser or after logging out, you must authenticate manually. In your browser's address bar, type your full domain name followed by '/wp-admin' (for example: tutorials.bentechs.com/wp-admin). Enter the administrator username and password that you configured during installation. If you used weak or commonly guessed credentials such as 'admin' and 'password', hosting security software (such as Imunify360) will issue a Password Compromise Alert, requiring you to reset your password immediately to protect your installation from brute-force attacks.

Practical work

  1. Log out of the WordPress dashboard.
  2. Open a new browser tab, navigate to your domain followed by /wp-admin, and log in manually.
  3. Ensure your password is strong to prevent security compromise alerts.