cPanel control panel interface

How to Grant cPanel Access to Pinion Designs

When you need technical support for database management, file transfers, or server-level configurations, you may need to provide cPanel access to our team. This guide will walk you through creating secure phpMyAdmin and FTP access.

Quick Setup Instructions:

Follow these steps to grant cPanel access to Pinion Designs:

Step 1: Access Your cPanel Dashboard

  1. Navigate to your hosting provider’s cPanel login (usually yourwebsite.com/cpanel or through your hosting dashboard)
  2. Log in with your cPanel credentials
  3. You should see the main cPanel interface with various icons

Step 2: Create FTP Account

  1. In cPanel, look for the Files section
  2. Click on FTP Accounts
  3. Click Create FTP Account

FTP Account Details:

  • Log In: piniondesigns or pinion-support
  • Domain: Select your domain from dropdown
  • Password: Generate a strong password (save this for sharing)
  • Directory: Leave as default (/public_html/piniondesigns) or set to /public_html/ for full access
  • Quota: Set to “Unlimited” or adequate size (e.g., 1000 MB)
  1. Click Create FTP Account

Step 3: Set Up Database User for phpMyAdmin

  1. In cPanel, look for the Databases section
  2. Click on MySQL Databases

Create Database User:

  1. Scroll to MySQL Users section
  2. Click Add User
  3. Fill out the form:
    • Username: piniondesigns (will be prefixed automatically)
    • Password: Generate strong password
    • Password (Again): Confirm password
  4. Click Create User

Grant Database Privileges:

  1. Scroll to Add User to Database section
  2. User: Select the user you just created
  3. Database: Select the database(s) we need access to
  4. Click Add
  5. On the privileges page, check ALL PRIVILEGES or select specific ones:
    • ✅ SELECT (read data)
    • ✅ INSERT (add data)
    • ✅ UPDATE (modify data)
    • ✅ DELETE (remove data)
    • ✅ CREATE (create tables)
    • ✅ ALTER (modify structure)
    • ✅ INDEX (manage indexes)
  6. Click Make Changes

Step 4: Provide Access Credentials

Securely share the following information with Pinion Designs:

FTP Access:

  • FTP Server: Your domain or hosting server address
  • Username: The FTP username you created
  • Password: The FTP password
  • Port: 21 (standard) or 22 (SFTP)

phpMyAdmin/Database Access:

  • phpMyAdmin URL: Usually yourwebsite.com/phpmyadmin or through cPanel
  • Database Username: The database user you created
  • Database Password: The database password
  • Database Name(s): The specific databases we need access to

Alternative Method: Main cPanel Access

Creating Sub-Account (if available)

Some hosting providers allow sub-account creation:

  1. Look for Subaccounts or User Manager in cPanel
  2. Create new sub-account:
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Username: piniondesigns
    • Access Level: Select appropriate permissions
  3. Grant access to needed features:
    • ✅ File Manager
    • ✅ phpMyAdmin
    • ✅ FTP Accounts
    • ❌ Email accounts (unless needed)
    • ❌ Billing information

Security Best Practices

🔒 Limited Access Scope

  • Only grant access to specific databases that need work
  • Restrict FTP access to necessary directories when possible
  • Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts

📧 Temporary Credentials

  • These credentials should be temporary
  • Change or remove access once work is completed
  • Consider using temporary passwords that expire

👀 Monitor Activity

  • Check cPanel logs for access activity
  • Monitor database changes if critical data is involved
  • Review file modifications through File Manager

🕐 Time-Limited Access

  • Set up access only when work begins
  • Remove access immediately when work is complete
  • Don’t leave accounts active indefinitely

What We Can Help With

Database Management (phpMyAdmin)

  • Database optimization and repair
  • Table structure modifications
  • Data import/export operations
  • Query optimization and troubleshooting
  • Backup and restore operations

File Management (FTP)

  • Website file uploads and downloads
  • Configuration file modifications
  • Plugin and theme installations
  • Backup file management
  • Server-side script installations

Server Configuration

  • .htaccess file modifications
  • PHP configuration adjustments
  • SSL certificate installations
  • Error log analysis

Removing Access When Complete

Remove FTP Account:

  1. Go to cPanel → FTP Accounts
  2. Find the Pinion Designs account
  3. Click Delete
  4. Confirm deletion

Remove Database User:

  1. Go to cPanel → MySQL Databases
  2. Scroll to Current Users
  3. Find the Pinion Designs user
  4. Click Delete User
  5. Confirm deletion

Change Main Passwords:

If you shared main cPanel credentials:

  1. Change your cPanel password
  2. Update any database passwords that were shared
  3. Consider changing FTP passwords for other accounts

Troubleshooting

Can’t Create FTP Account

  • Solution: Check if your hosting plan allows multiple FTP accounts
  • Alternative: Temporarily share main FTP credentials (change password after)
  • Contact: Reach out to your hosting provider for assistance

phpMyAdmin Access Issues

  • Check URL: phpMyAdmin URL varies by host (/phpmyadmin, /pma, etc.)
  • Database Permissions: Ensure the user has proper database privileges
  • IP Restrictions: Some hosts restrict phpMyAdmin by IP address

Permission Denied Errors

  • FTP: Check directory permissions and quota limits
  • Database: Verify user privileges are correctly assigned
  • cPanel: Ensure sub-account has necessary feature access

Alternative Access Methods

If standard methods don’t work:

  • Hosting Provider Support: Ask your host to create temporary access
  • Screen Sharing: Guide us through changes via screen share
  • File Upload: You can upload files we provide via your existing access

Hosting Provider Specific Notes

Shared Hosting (GoDaddy, Bluehost, etc.)

  • May have simplified user management interfaces
  • Some features might be restricted on basic plans
  • Contact support if standard cPanel features aren’t available

VPS/Dedicated Servers

  • Full cPanel access typically available
  • More granular permission controls
  • May require root access for some configurations

Managed WordPress Hosting

  • May not provide direct cPanel access
  • Alternative file management through hosting dashboard
  • Database access might be through specialized tools

Security Checklist

  • Create unique usernames (not “admin” or “user”)
  • Generate strong, random passwords
  • Limit database access to specific databases only
  • Restrict FTP access to necessary directories
  • Set reasonable quota limits
  • Document what access was granted
  • Plan removal date/process
  • Monitor access logs during work period
  • Remove all access when work is complete
  • Change any shared passwords

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues setting up cPanel access:

Summary Checklist

  • Access your cPanel dashboard
  • Create FTP account: username piniondesigns
  • Create database user with appropriate privileges
  • Test access credentials before sharing
  • Securely share FTP and database credentials
  • Notify Pinion Designs that access is ready
  • Monitor access during work period
  • Remove all access when work is complete
  • Change any shared passwords for security

This process ensures secure, temporary access for technical support while maintaining control over your hosting environment and sensitive data.

Important Notes

🚨 Backup First

Always create backups before granting database access. This ensures you can restore if anything goes wrong.

📱 Two-Factor Authentication

If your cPanel has 2FA enabled, the sub-accounts typically work independently while keeping your main account secure.

💾 Database Safety

Consider creating a database backup before granting phpMyAdmin access, especially for production sites.

🔄 Access Logs

Most cPanel installations log FTP and database access, allowing you to monitor what actions were performed.