Knowledgebase: Shared Hosting

How to Manually Install WordPress

Posted by on July 28 2014 05:16 PM

This article will outline the steps needed to install WordPress manually on your web hosting subscription.  You can follow these instructions to install WordPress on any shared hosting plan we currently offer.

This article assumes that you are already familiar with how to log in to the customer control panel. If you do not know how to log in or have forgotten your password, please refer to this article first.

Before You Start

Obtaining Your Instant URL

Finding your FTP Credentials

Setting up Your Database

Upload and Install

Common Questions after Installation


 

  • Before You Start

When manually installing WordPress, you will need the following:

 

  • Obtaining Your Instant URL

Normally, your instant URL should be sent to you when your subscription is ordered.  If you have lost this, however, you can also find this information in the control panel: How to Find Your Instant URL

 

  • Finding Your FTP Credentials

Depending on the plan type you have, the location of your FTP credentials may vary.  The following articles will help you find and/or update this information depending on your plan:

How to Set Your Default Windows FTP User Password

How to Set Your Default Linux FTP User Password

 

  • Setting up Your Database

WordPress requires a MySQL database to run.  Typically, you should be able to create a database in the new control panel.  If you are unfamiliar with this, please reference the following guide:

How to Create a MySQL Database

Once you have created a database, you will need the following information handy when you start the installation of WordPress:

  • Database Host
  • Database Name
  • Database Username
  • Database Password

If you need to retrieve your database information, please review this guide on how to do so:  Changing Database Credentials

 

  • Upload and Install

Assuming you have your WordPress files, FTP credentials, and database information, you should be ready to go.  The steps you will take are as follows:

  • Unzip the WordPress files on your computer
  • Use your FTP Client to connect to your webspace:  Using An FTP Program
  • Upload the WordPress files to your webspace:  Where to Upload Site Files via FTP
  • In a web browser, go to the address of your website or instant URL and begin the "famous 5-minute installation. Detailed information on this process is available from the WordPress Codex
  • WordPress is installed!

Congratulations!  You should now have WordPress up and running!

 

Common Questions after Installation

Q: I updated my permalinks and now I get a 404 when I go to any sub-pages.  How do I resolve this?

A: On a Linux shared hosing plan, you can usually resolve this by synchronizing your .htaccess file with the webserver.  If you are running WordPress on a Windows plan, please check your web.config file to ensure that there are no errors.

Q: I installed WordPress on Windows and I would like to use pretty permalinks.

A: No problem! You just need to update your web.config file. The WordPress codex has a section for Permalinks without mod_rewrite.

Q: WordPress was installed using my instant URL, but how do I get it to show my domain name instead?

A: First, you need to make sure that your DNS is pointed to the hosting plan with WordPress installed. If this has been done already, then you usually need to update your Site URL and Blog URL.

Q: How do I configure WordPress so it will send emails from my website?

A: By default, WordPress sends emails through the web server, which is restricted in our shared server environment.  To correct this, you will need to use an SMTP authentication plugin.  This will not only help you to send mail through forms on your site, but will also allow the password reset function to work properly in WordPress.

Q: What can I do to secure my WordPress installation?

A: WordPress, like many other content management systems, requires that you update it periodically.  This can be done in the WordPress dashboard, or by using the instructions found in the Updating WordPress codex article.


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