cPanel functionality is expansive. We will only touch upon a subset of the functionality available and this is by no means a comprehensive guide. For example, cPanel has some handy image tools for batch thumbnailing and file format conversions. It is not possible to mess up your setup by clicking once on any of the icons on the main menu, so exploring the sub-pages is a safe way to discover new things that you could potentially tweak on your site.

File management

The cPanel file manager comes in two varieties: the legacy version, where you click through the different directory levels and cause a page load with each click; and the new version (shown below), where you can expand and collapse directories and perform actions without causing a page load.

Both versions are easy to use and provide standard features such as creating, copy, moving, deleting, renaming, and uploading files and folders. You can also edit files in either the built-in plain text editor or a code editor, which will highlight code and number each line.

The handling of archived files (zip, gz, tar.gz, bz2.tar) is a real time-saving measure. You can upload an archive onto the server and then unzip it through cPanel – this means uploading only one file instead of potentially thousands. Also, you can create archives of files and folders already on the server.

FTP accounts

In cPanel, you can manage FTP accounts and quotas, assigning different users to different folders. You can also view FTP access logs, see who is currently connected (and kick them off if you want), and set up anonymous FTP access.

E-mail accounts and webmail

From setting up server-side spam filters, to forwarding e-mail addresses, to checking actual mail, cPanel has the entire e-mail process covered.
Suppose, for example, that you want to have Google Apps handle your mail. Adding the relevant MX entry is a quick click and simple form away. Or, if you want your web host's server to manage the mail, you can check it on the server from a choice of standard e-mail interfaces.

Notice in the screenshot above that there is also a link "Configure Mail Client" to a page with standard instructions on configuring your desktop client to access your mail.

Statistics and error logging

As is the case with many of cPanel's functions, the stats packages are standard, with familiar programs such as Awstats, Webalizer, and Analog.

In addition, you can view your bandwidth usage (with charts by month and by domain), FTP statistics, and error logs. The raw access logs are particularly useful to identify possible breaches to any of your site's domains.

Domain management

Depending on the type of account you have with your web host, you might be able to have 1 to an infinite number of domains and sub-domains. Whatever the limit is, cPanel should be able to handle this, with all relevant features such as e-mail management and statistics able to support your setup.
Adding domains and sub-domains, as well as parking domains, is standard stuff, with cPanel handling any complex server configuration in the background.

Fantastico

Fantastico is a third-party application provided by Netenburg. It is the leading autoinstaller for cPanel

Fantastico is unique to cPanel and is an automated installer for many of the most popular, free web applications. For those who find it a hassle to download scripts, upload them to the server, configure the settings files, configure the databases, and run setup wizards, Fantastico automates that entire process. You can choose from scripts such as phpBB for a forum, WordPress for a blog, and LimeSurvey for pools and surveys, then follow the on-screen instructions and fill out some really simple forms to set up the scripts.


After Fantastico has set up a script, it will return the appropriate access location and login information.

Database management

Databases and database users are completely configurable in cPanel. For detailed database table structuring and field editing, phpMyAdmin – once again the standard in its respective area of management – is included. This way, you don't have to hammer out command line code whenever something needs to be done to your database.

The less common task of allowing remote servers access to your database (those that cannot access "localhost") can be performed on the simple Remote Database Access Hosts page: