Home File & Database Management

File & Database Management

Dennis Nind
By Dennis Nind
• 5 articles

How to Upload Website Files Using the File Manager

The File Manager in your hosting control panel allows you to upload and manage your website files directly from your browser — no FTP software required. Whether you're launching a new site, updating content, or replacing old files, this guide will walk you through it. 🔐 First: Access Your Hosting Control Panel If you’re not already logged in to the control panel, follow this quick guide: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel Once you're in, continue below. 📁 Step 1: Open the File Manager - In the control panel dashboard, look for File Manager - Click it to launch the browser-based file management tool 🌐 Step 2: Navigate to Your Website’s Directory For your main website, open the following folder: /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/ This is your website’s root directory — files placed here will load when someone visits your domain. If you’re uploading files for a subdomain, look for a separate folder under /domains/ with the subdomain's name. ⬆️ Step 3: Upload Files - While inside the correct folder, click the Upload button (usually at the top of the page) - Select your files or drag them in from your computer - Wait for the upload to complete — files will appear in the directory Tip: If you’re uploading a full website folder, consider compressing it to a .zip first. You can upload the zip file and extract it directly in the File Manager. 🏠 Step 4: Set the Homepage File Make sure your homepage file is named either: - index.html - or index.php This tells the web server what to load when someone visits your site. 🛠 Optional Tools in File Manager - Create folders for organisation - Edit files using the built-in code editor - Extract ZIP files to upload multiple files at once - Rename or delete files as needed - Check permissions (folders: 755, files: 644)

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Connecting to Your Hosting Account via FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) lets you connect to your hosting account from an external application like FileZilla, so you can upload, download, and organise your website files with ease — especially useful for larger updates or development work. 🔐 First: Access Your Hosting Control Panel If you haven’t already, follow this guide to access your hosting control panel: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel Once you’re in, go to FTP Accounts to view or create FTP login credentials. 🧾 FTP Connection Details To connect via FTP, you’ll need the following: - Host: - If your domain is live and pointed to our servers, use your domain (e.g. yourdomain.com) - If your domain is not yet pointed, use the server hostname (this was sent in your welcome email) - Username: Found or created in the FTP Accounts section of your control panel - Password: Either set when creating the account, or updated from the control panel - Port: 21 - Encryption: Use Explicit FTP over TLS if supported 🛠 How to Set Up FileZilla (Example) 1. Download FileZilla: https://filezilla-project.org 2. Open FileZilla and go to File > Site Manager 3. Create a new site and enter: - Host: yourdomain.com or the server hostname - Port: 21 - Protocol: FTP – File Transfer Protocol - Encryption: Use explicit FTP over TLS if available - Logon Type: Normal - Username: (from FTP Accounts section) - Password: (set when creating the account) 4. Click Connect You should now see your hosting files appear on the right-hand side of the FileZilla window. ➕ Managing FTP Accounts To create or manage FTP users: 1. In the hosting control panel, open FTP Accounts 2. Click Create FTP Account 3. Enter: - A username - A secure password - The directory they should have access to (e.g. /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html) 4. Click Create You can also edit, delete, or change passwords for existing FTP users from the same screen. 🔄 Domain Not Pointed Yet? If your domain name hasn’t yet been pointed to our servers, that’s no problem — you can still connect using the server hostname, which was included in your welcome email. This is a useful workaround when: - You’ve just purchased the domain and DNS hasn’t propagated - You want to start uploading files before updating nameservers 📁 FTP vs File Manager — When to Use Each - Use FTP for large uploads, multiple file transfers, or syncing project files - Use the File Manager (in your control panel) for quick edits or small uploads in the browser

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Creating and Managing Databases

Many modern websites and applications (like WordPress, Joomla, or Magento) rely on a MySQL database to store content and settings. With Eco Web Hosting, you can easily create and manage your databases directly from the Databases section of your hosting control panel. 🔐 First: Access Your Hosting Control Panel If you’re not already logged in, start here: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel Once inside, look for the Databases section. ➕ Creating a New Database 1. In the control panel, click on Databases 2. Scroll down to the Create Database section 3. Enter a name for your database (it will be automatically prefixed with your hosting username) 4. Click Create By default, this will also create a database user with the same name and assign a secure, randomly generated password. 🔐 Keep your database name, username, and password safe — you’ll need them when setting up apps like WordPress. ⚙️ Advanced Database Creation If you want more control (e.g. custom username/password), you can: 1. Click the Advanced mode option under the database creation form 2. Enter: - A database name - A database username - A secure password (or generate one) 3. Click Create This is useful for developers or advanced setups that require separating user credentials from the database name. 📋 Viewing & Managing Existing Databases At the top of the Databases page, you'll see a list of existing databases: - View the size and number of tables - See how many users have access - Click Manage to open the database management tools - Click Delete to remove a database you no longer need (⚠️ use caution — this is irreversible) 🔄 Editing & Accessing Databases - Manage Users: Assign or remove user access to a database - phpMyAdmin: Launch the browser-based tool to view, edit, or export database content - Server Details (shown at the bottom): Includes your database version, SQL mode, and connection info (hostname, usually localhost) 🔗 Using Database Info in Scripts or Apps When connecting your site or app to the database, you’ll typically need: - Database Name: e.g. u43403_exampledb - Username: e.g. u43403_exampledb - Password: (set during creation) - Host: localhost - Port: 3306 (default)

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Using phpMyAdmin to Import or Export Database Data

phpMyAdmin is a web-based tool that allows you to view, manage, and edit the contents of your website’s databases. It's especially useful for tasks like importing backups, exporting a copy of your database, or running SQL queries. With Eco Web Hosting, you can access phpMyAdmin directly from the Databases section in your hosting control panel — no separate login required. 🔐 Step 1: Access the Hosting Control Panel If you’re not already logged in, follow this guide: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel 📂 Step 2: Open phpMyAdmin 1. In the hosting control panel, click on Databases 2. Click the phpMyAdmin button near the top right of the page 3. This will open phpMyAdmin in a new tab — no need to log in again 📥 Importing a Database (e.g. from a backup or external site) 1. In phpMyAdmin, click the database you want to import data into (from the list on the left) 2. Click the Import tab 3. Click Choose File and select your .sql file (or .zip if it contains a SQL file) 4. Leave the settings at default unless instructed otherwise 5. Click Go at the bottom of the page If the import is successful, you’ll see a confirmation message. Your tables and data should now appear in the database. 📤 Exporting a Database (for backup or migration) 1. Select the database you want to export from the left-hand list 2. Click the Export tab 3. Choose Quick export method and SQL format (recommended for most users) 4. Click Go — your browser will download the .sql file You can keep this file as a backup or use it to migrate your database to another server or hosting account. 🛡 Tip: If you want more control over the export (e.g. only certain tables or formats like CSV), choose Custom export method instead. 🧠 Common Use Cases - Importing a WordPress site’s database - Backing up a live site before making changes - Migrating a database from another host - Viewing or editing specific tables or entries ⚠️ Caution When Importing Importing a database will overwrite existing data if the structure (e.g. table names) is the same. If you're unsure, always back up the current database first — either using phpMyAdmin or JetBackup.

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Understanding FTP and SSH Access in Your Hosting Account

Comprehensive guide to managing FTP settings, connection methods, and troubleshooting access limitations in your hosting control panel Overview Managing your website files securely and efficiently is crucial for keeping your site running smoothly. On Eco Web Hosting shared hosting, you have access to your files via FTP and, in select cases, SSH. This guide will help you understand these access methods, how to configure them, and what to do if you encounter issues. What Are FTP and SSH? - FTP (File Transfer Protocol): The standard method for uploading, downloading, and managing website files. Supported by all Eco Web Hosting shared hosting accounts. - SSH (Secure Shell): A secure command-line connection to your hosting account, allowing advanced management. SSH access is usually restricted or limited on shared hosting for security reasons. Accessing Your Hosting Account via FTP Step 1: Log In to Your Hosting Control Panel - Access your control panel via your Eco Web Hosting client area. - Navigate to Hosting > Manage for your domain, then open FTP Accounts. Step 2: Create or Manage FTP Accounts 1. Go to FTP Accounts in your control panel. 2. To create a new account: - Enter a username and secure password. - Specify a directory (e.g., /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html). - Click Create. 3. To edit or delete an existing account, use the options next to the account listing. Step 3: Gather Your FTP Connection Details - Host: Use your domain name (if pointed to our servers), e.g., yourdomain.com. If not yet pointed, use the server hostname from your welcome email. - Username: As set or shown in FTP Accounts. - Password: The password you set for the FTP account. - Port: 21 - Encryption: Explicit FTP over TLS (recommended) Example: Setting Up FileZilla 1. Download FileZilla. 2. Open FileZilla and go to File > Site Manager. 3. Enter your settings: Host: yourdomain.com Port: 21 Protocol: FTP - File Transfer Protocol Encryption: Use explicit FTP over TLS if available Logon Type: Normal Username: your-ftp-username Password: your-ftp-password 4. Click Connect. Using File Manager (No FTP Client Needed) - Access File Manager directly from your control panel for quick file edits, uploads, or downloads. - Suitable for small updates or if you do not wish to use an external FTP program. SSH Access in Shared Hosting > Note: SSH access is not enabled by default on shared hosting for security. If available, it is often restricted (e.g., Jailed SSH or limited commands). Checking SSH Availability - Look for an SSH Access or Terminal section in your control panel. - If not available, SSH cannot be enabled on your package. Example SSH Command (if enabled): ssh username@yourdomain.com -p 22 - Replace username with your hosting account or cPanel username. Typical SSH Limitations in Shared Hosting - No root/admin privileges. - Only a restricted set of commands available. - File and directory access limited to your own account. Troubleshooting FTP & SSH Access FTP Troubleshooting Common Issues: - Login Fails: Double-check username/password (case-sensitive). Reset via control panel if needed. - Connection Timeout: Ensure you are using Port 21 and Explicit FTP over TLS. Try passive mode in your FTP client. - Can't See Files: Confirm the FTP user’s home directory is correct. - Firewall Issues: Make sure your local network/firewall isn’t blocking FTP traffic. Example: Passive Mode in FileZilla 1. Go to Edit > Settings > FTP > Passive Mode. 2. Select Use passive mode. SSH Troubleshooting - Connection Refused: SSH may not be enabled on your package. - Permission Denied: Wrong username/password, or trying to use root/admin. - No SSH Option in Panel: SSH not included in your shared hosting plan. Tip: For advanced command-line management, consider upgrading to a VPS or dedicated server. Best Practices and Security Tips - Always use strong, unique passwords for FTP and SSH accounts. - Regularly review and remove unused FTP accounts. - Use SFTP or FTPS (FTP over TLS) instead of plain FTP whenever possible. - Never share your login details. Further Help - For persistent issues, consult our FTP connection guide. - For SSH-related queries, see our SSH access policy (if applicable). - If you need more advanced access, consider our VPS or Reseller Hosting solutions. If you need further assistance, please submit a support ticket via your client area. Our team is here to help!

Last updated on Jul 24, 2025