• Donnerstag, Dezember 11, 2025

This comprehensive tutorial outlines the essential steps for performing key web hosting tasks using the Plesk control panel. By following these instructions, you will gain the knowledge to successfully create and launch a functional website, establish a database for dynamic content, set up professional email accounts, manage critical DNS records, and implement robust backup strategies for your digital assets.

Creating Your First Website

To successfully establish your first website, the following fundamental steps are involved:

  1. Register a domain name.
  2. Add a domain in the control panel.
  3. Create your website.

Registering a Domain Name

A domain name serves as your digital address, allowing visitors to locate your website on the internet. Selecting an effective domain name is crucial; ideal names are typically short, memorable, and easy to spell. For instance, example.com represents a common domain structure. Domain registration is facilitated by accredited organizations known as domain registrars. Many hosting providers also offer domain registration services, often bundling them with web hosting packages for convenience.

Important Consideration: When securing a domain name through your hosting provider, always ensure the registration is officially completed in your name. This ensures full ownership and avoids potential complications should you decide to migrate to a different hosting provider in the future.

Adding a Domain in the Control Panel

For web hosting clients, it is common for the initial domain to be pre-configured by your hosting provider. If your primary domain is not yet active, please contact your provider for assistance. For administrators utilizing the Power User view, the initial subscription would typically have been configured during the control panel's setup process. Integrating a domain within the control panel unlocks the capability to upload website content, utilize integrated site builders like Sitejet Builder, or install various content management systems. While it is possible to add multiple domains, for the scope of this tutorial, managing your initial domain will be the primary focus.

Approaches to Website Creation

There are diverse methods available for developing the content of your website, each presenting distinct advantages and considerations. Below are some of the most widely adopted strategies:

  • Employ a professional designer and upload content. Engaging a professional web designer offers a tailored solution, ensuring your website aligns perfectly with your vision and specific requirements. This approach typically involves a higher investment but delivers a customized and polished result. Your web designer will provide the necessary files, which you can then upload to your hosting account using either FTP or the File Manager tool. Detailed instructions for this process are available in the 'Option A: Uploading Website Content' section.

  • Deploy a website using Git. Collaborating with a web designer, you can leverage the Git version control system for efficient website maintenance and updates. This method involves linking and synchronizing your website with a remote or local repository, allowing for seamless collaboration and version management. For comprehensive instructions on this deployment method, refer to the 'Option B: Deploying with Git' section.

  • Use Sitejet Builder. The integrated Sitejet Builder tool within the control panel provides a user-friendly web interface for website creation. Its robust Content Management System (CMS) features a visual editor and an extensive collection of templates, empowering you to design web pages, add diverse content, and adjust crucial settings such as your website’s name, meta keywords, and favicons. By utilizing one of the pre-designed templates, you can rapidly construct a professional-grade website in just minutes. Further details are provided in the 'Option C: Building Your Website with Sitejet Builder' section.

  • Use a content management system. Content Management Systems (CMS) are powerful third-party applications designed for creating, managing, and maintaining dynamic websites. These systems are highly versatile, often supported by a vast ecosystem of optional add-ons and plugins to extend functionality. While CMS platforms generally offer a superior level of customization compared to integrated site builders, they typically require a greater degree of technical proficiency from the user. Refer to the 'Option D: Installing a Content Management System (CMS)' section for installation guidance.

Option A: Uploading Website Content

Should you have developed your website independently or collaborated with a professional web designer, the website content must be uploaded to your hosting environment before it can be publicly accessible online. The control panel facilitates content uploads through two primary methods: FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or the integrated File Manager. The following instructions detail both approaches, allowing you to select the method most suitable for your needs.

To publish a website using FTP:

  1. Download an FTP client program. You can choose any FTP client you like. If you do not know what FTP client to choose, you can use FileZilla:
  2. Connect to your subscription on the server using the FTP client. To connect, you need the following information:
    • FTP server address. The FTP address should be ftp://your-domain-name.com, where your-domain-name.com is your site’s Internet address.
    • FTP username. This is identical to your system user name. It is important to note that this system user name might differ from the credentials you use to log into the control panel interface. To find what your system user name is, navigate to Websites & Domains > Hosting & DNS > Hosting. Your system username will be displayed there, and you have the option to modify it as needed.
    • FTP password. This is identical to your system user password. If you do not know what your system user password is, navigate to Websites & Domains > Hosting & DNS > Hosting. The password can be securely reset in the Password section.
  3. Switch on the passive mode if you are behind a firewall. Refer to your FTP client documentation to learn how to enter the passive mode.
  4. Upload the files and directories of your site to the httpdocs directory. If you use CGI scripts, place them in the cgi-bin directory.

To publish a website using File Manager:

  1. Go to Websites & Domains > domain name > File Manager and go to the httpdocs directory.
  2. Click the button and then do the following:
    • To upload a single file, click Upload File, locate, and then select the file you want to upload.
    • To upload a single file, multiple files, or a directory with the files therein, click Upload Directory and then drag files or directories to the dashed line box.
    • To upload a file not from your computer but from another website or FTP server, click Import file via URL, specify the URL of the file, and then click Import. For example, the URL can be https://example.com/image.png or ftps://user:password@example.com/example.tar.

      Note: File Manager supports the following protocols for file import: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and FTPS. Depending on the protocol, the user name and password in the URL path can be either optional or mandatory.

      You have uploaded the file. If it was an archive, you have two more steps left.

  3. Click the row corresponding to the archive and then click Extract Files. If the directory contains files whose names match those packed in the archive, select the “Replace existing files” checkbox. The unpacked files will then replace those in the directory.
  4. Click OK.

    Note: File Manager can extract files from the following archive formats: ZIP, RAR, TAR, TGZ, and TAR.GZ.

If your uploaded website requires a database for full functionality, proceed to the 'Establishing a Database' section for instructions on creation.

Option B: Deploying with Git

The control panel offers seamless integration with Git, the industry-standard source code management system favored by web developers. This functionality enables you to manage Git repositories directly and automate the deployment of websites from these repositories to your designated public directory. Git serves as an efficient method for both initial publication and subsequent updates of your website. To deploy a website utilizing Git:

  1. Navigate to Websites & Domains and select Git.
  2. Within the Git Repositories on <your domain> interface, click Add Repository.
  3. Proceed with the necessary steps to configure your Git repository.

Option C: Building Your Website with Sitejet Builder

Sitejet Builder's robust Content Management System (CMS) offers an intuitive visual editor and a diverse set of templates, empowering you to effortlessly create web pages, populate them with content, and fine-tune essential settings such as your website's identity, search engine keywords, and icons. This integrated tool is typically included and available by default. If the Sitejet Builder icon is not visible in the “Adding New Domain” drawer or on the “Get Started” tab, it indicates that your current subscription may not include the necessary “Access to Sitejet Builder” permission; please reach out to your hosting provider for assistance.

To create a new website with Sitejet Builder:

  1. Navigate to Websites & Domains and click Add Domain.
  2. From the Adding New Domain menu, choose Sitejet Builder.
  3. Provide the required website information, then click Add Domain. The Sitejet Builder's Choose a template interface will then appear.
  4. Begin editing your website using the Sitejet Website Builder (CMS).

To use Sitejet Builder on an existing website:

  1. Go to Websites & Domains, and locate the domain name of the website you wish to modify.
  2. Select the domain card, then access the “Get Started” tab.
  3. Click Create Website.
  4. Select a template that best aligns with your website's aesthetic and functional needs.
  5. Proceed to edit your website using the Sitejet Website Builder (CMS).

Important Caution: Deploying a Sitejet Builder website will overwrite and replace any existing files within your website’s document root with the Sitejet Builder files. To prevent any data loss or issues, it is highly recommended to create a comprehensive backup of your website’s current contents before publishing any changes made with Sitejet Builder. A key advantage of developing your website with Sitejet Builder is that it generally eliminates the immediate need for a separate database. You can proceed directly to the 'Setting Up an Email Account' section to learn how to create an email account.

Option D: Installing a Content Management System (CMS)

To establish a website utilizing a Content Management System:

  1. Navigate to Applications and click Install adjacent to your preferred application.
  2. Follow the prompts to configure the CMS of your choice.

It's important to note that when installing a CMS using these instructions, a dedicated database will be automatically provisioned for your website. You can then proceed to the 'Setting Up an Email Account' section to learn how to create an email account within the control panel.

Establishing a Database

Databases are foundational relational structures designed for the organized storage and retrieval of data. They are an indispensable component of modern web hosting environments, with most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) relying on them for functionality. The control panel supports various database servers, including MySQL, MSSQL, and PostgreSQL, providing comprehensive tools to add, remove, access, and manage databases and their associated users. If your website's architecture does not necessitate a database, you may proceed directly to the 'Setting Up an Email Account' section. To create a new database and a corresponding database user:

  1. Navigate to Databases > Add Database.
  2. Input the essential information as prompted.

Setting Up an Email Account

Email services are fundamental for internet communication, allowing users to exchange messages seamlessly. The control panel is fully equipped to function as your dedicated email server, offering robust capabilities to create and manage email accounts. This includes a variety of common email-related operations such as securely changing account passwords, configuring automatic replies, and more. If your current requirements do not include setting up a new email account, you can proceed directly to the 'Configuring Custom DNS Records' section. To establish a new email account:

  1. Navigate to Mail > Create Email Address.
  2. Input all necessary information as requested.

Configuring Custom DNS Records

DNS (Domain Name System) records are vital for translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses, thereby directing visitors to your website online. While the control panel automatically provisions all essential DNS records upon domain creation, it also provides the flexibility to add custom DNS records as needed. If your current setup does not require the creation of a custom DNS record, you may advance to the 'Website Backup Procedures' section. To add a custom DNS record within a domain’s DNS zone, navigate to Websites & Domains > DNS Settings > Add Record. A more detailed procedure for adding a custom DNS record to a domain’s DNS zone includes:

  1. Navigate to Websites & Domains and identify the specific domain for which you intend to add a custom DNS record.
  2. Select the relevant domain card and, from the “Hosting & DNS” tab, click DNS.
  3. Click Add Record to initiate the creation process.

Website Backup Procedures

Regularly maintaining backup copies of your websites is a critical best practice. This safeguards your website's configuration, content, and data against potential damage, accidental loss, or unforeseen technical issues. Should you not require a website backup at this moment, you can proceed to the 'Managing User Credentials and Logging Out' section. To access the comprehensive backup functionality:

  1. Navigate to Websites & Domains and pinpoint the domain name of the website for which you wish to manage backups.
  2. Select the corresponding domain card and, from the “Dashboard” tab, click Backup & Restore.
  3. Initiate the backup process by clicking Back Up.

Managing User Credentials and Logging Out

For web hosting clients, it is common for the initial password used to access the control panel to be configured by your hosting provider. It is highly recommended to change this default password for enhanced security. To update your login password:

  1. Click on your user name located at the top of the page and then select Edit Profile.
  2. Carefully enter the new password details in the designated fields and confirm your changes by clicking OK or Apply.
  3. Following a password change, it is essential to log out of the control panel and then log back in using your newly established credentials. To do this, click your user name at the top of the page, and then select Log out. This concludes our guided tutorial, which we hope has provided valuable insights into managing your web hosting environment effectively.
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