Documentation

Welcome to WebDNS. Follow these steps to set up your professional email hosting:

1. Create an account - Register for an account and choose an email hosting plan that suits your needs.
2. Add your domain - Enter your domain name in the dashboard.
3. Configure DNS records - Follow the guided DNS setup to point your domain to our mail servers.
4. Create mailboxes - Set up email accounts for your team.
5. Start sending email - Connect your preferred email client or use the built-in Webmail in your dashboard.

To use your own domain for email, you need to configure the following DNS records at your domain registrar:

Your dashboard provides the exact values for each record. After adding the records, click "Verify DNS" in your dashboard to confirm everything is configured correctly. DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate.

Once your domain is verified, you can create mailboxes for your team:

1. Navigate to Mailboxes in your customer dashboard.
2. Click Create Mailbox.
3. Enter the desired email address (e.g., [email protected]).
4. Set a display name and a secure password.
5. Click Create to provision the mailbox.

The mailbox is created instantly and ready to use. Each mailbox comes with its own storage quota as defined by your plan.

Configure your preferred email client with the following settings:

Incoming Mail (IMAP)

Outgoing Mail (SMTP)

POP3 (Alternative)

Tip: If your domain has autoconfig and autodiscover DNS records configured, most modern email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail) will automatically detect these settings.

Email aliases allow you to create additional email addresses that forward to an existing mailbox. For example, you can create [email protected] as an alias that delivers to [email protected].

Creating an Alias

1. Navigate to Aliases in your customer dashboard.
2. Click Create Alias.
3. Enter the alias address (e.g., [email protected]).
4. Select the destination mailbox where emails should be delivered.
5. Click Create.

Aliases do not have their own mailbox or storage. They simply forward incoming email to the destination mailbox. You can create multiple aliases pointing to the same mailbox.

Our built-in webmail client lets you read, compose, and manage your emails directly from your browser. No software to install.

How to Connect

1. Log in to your customer dashboard.
2. Click the Webmail button in the sidebar.
3. Select the mailbox you want to access.
4. Enter the mailbox password (the password you set when creating the mailbox, not your account password).
5. You are now connected. Your session stays active for 2 hours of inactivity.

Features

• Read, compose, reply, and forward emails
• View and download attachments with image previews
• Manage folders - move, delete, mark as read/unread
• Bulk actions - select multiple emails and delete, move, or mark them at once
• Empty Trash and Junk folders with one click
• Send attachments up to 2 MB per file

Security

Your mailbox password is encrypted and stored only in your browser session. It is never saved permanently. All connections to the mail server use SSL/TLS encryption. Email content is rendered in a sandboxed environment that blocks scripts and other potentially harmful content.

Troubleshooting

• Incorrect password error - Make sure you are entering the mailbox password, not your account login password.
• Session expired - After 2 hours of inactivity your session expires. Simply enter your password again to reconnect.
• Page refresh - The webmail will automatically reconnect if your session is still active.

Our web hosting is powered by LiteSpeed and includes a full control panel built directly into your dashboard. Here is how to get started:

1. Create an account - Register and choose a web hosting plan.
2. Your account is provisioned automatically - Your hosting account, primary domain, and control panel access are set up instantly.
3. Point your domain - Update your domain's A record to point to our server IP (shown in your dashboard).
4. Upload your files - Use the built-in File Manager or connect via FTP.
5. Go live - Issue a free SSL certificate and your site is ready.

Your hosting control panel is accessible from the sidebar under Hosting. From there you can manage files, domains, databases, FTP accounts, cron jobs, backups, and more.

The built-in File Manager lets you manage your website files directly from your browser.

Features

• Browse and navigate your hosting directory structure
• Create new files and folders
• Edit files with the built-in code editor (syntax highlighting included)
• Upload files from your computer
• Download individual files
• Rename, move, copy, and delete files or folders
• Extract archive files (.zip, .tar.gz, .gz) directly on the server
• Set file permissions (chmod)

How to Access

1. Go to Hosting in your dashboard sidebar.
2. Click File Manager.
3. Your document root is displayed by default. Navigate using the breadcrumb or folder list.

Tip: For large file transfers, consider using FTP instead. The File Manager is best for quick edits and small uploads.

Manage all your hosting domains and SSL certificates from the Domains section of your control panel.

Adding a Domain

1. Go to Hosting > Domains.
2. Click Add Domain.
3. Enter the domain name (e.g., example.com).
4. The domain is added to your hosting account and a document root folder is created automatically.
5. Point the domain's A record to your server IP address (shown on the page).

SSL Certificates

Every domain can get a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate:

1. Go to Hosting > Domains.
2. Click the SSL button next to your domain.
3. Click Issue SSL. The certificate is issued and installed automatically.
4. Certificates auto-renew before they expire.

PHP Version

You can set the PHP version for each domain individually. We support PHP 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5. To change the PHP version:

1. Go to Hosting > Domains.
2. Click the PHP dropdown next to your domain.
3. Select the version you need. The change takes effect immediately.

Create and manage MySQL databases for your websites and applications.

Creating a Database

1. Go to Hosting > Databases.
2. Click Create Database.
3. Enter a database name and a secure password.
4. Click Create. Your database is ready to use immediately.

Connection Details

Use these details in your application's configuration file (e.g., wp-config.php for WordPress).

Managing Data

You can manage your database tables and data using the built-in database manager accessible from the Databases page. Click the Manage button next to any database to open it.

FTP accounts let you upload and download files using any FTP client (FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck, etc.).

Creating an FTP Account

1. Go to Hosting > FTP Accounts.
2. Click Create FTP Account.
3. Enter a username, password, and the directory the account should have access to.
4. Optionally set a disk quota.
5. Click Create.

Connection Details

Each FTP account is restricted to its configured directory and cannot access files outside of it.

Install popular web applications on any of your hosting domains in minutes. Our one-click installer handles everything — downloading files, creating databases, configuring settings, and setting up admin access.

Available Applications

Installing an Application

1. Go to Hosting > Apps in your dashboard.
2. Click Install on the application you want.
3. Select the domain and optionally specify an install path (e.g. /blog, /shop, or leave empty for root).
4. Enter a site title, admin credentials, and admin email.
5. For apps that require a database (most apps), database details are pre-filled automatically.
6. Click Install. The installer will download files, create the database, and configure the application.

Once complete, you can log in to your app's admin panel directly from the dashboard using the single sign-on (SSO) button — no need to remember separate credentials.

Managing Installed Apps

From the Apps page you can:

• View all installed applications with their domains, versions, and install paths
• Log in to any app's admin panel with one click (SSO)
• Visit the live site directly
• Delete an installation (with options to remove files, database, or both)

Tips

• Each app shows the minimum PHP version it requires. You can change PHP versions per domain from Hosting > Domains.
• You can install multiple apps on the same domain using different paths (e.g. WordPress at / and Matomo at /analytics).
• Grav is the only app that does not require a database — it uses flat files for all content storage.
• For WordPress, the installer automatically configures LiteSpeed Cache for optimal performance.

Schedule automated tasks to run at specific times or intervals.

Creating a Cron Job

1. Go to Hosting > Cron Jobs.
2. Click Add Cron Job.
3. Use the visual schedule builder to set when the job should run, or choose from common presets (every minute, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly).
4. Enter the command to execute (e.g., php /home/user/public_html/cron.php).
5. Click Save.

Common Presets

Cron jobs are synced directly to the server's crontab. Changes take effect immediately.

Create and restore backups of your website files and databases.

Creating a Backup

1. Go to Hosting > Backups.
2. Choose the backup type: Full (files + databases), Files Only, or Database Only.
3. Click Create Backup. The backup is generated on the server.
4. Once complete, you can download or restore the backup.

Restoring a Backup

1. Go to Hosting > Backups.
2. Find the backup you want to restore.
3. Click Restore. Files and/or databases will be restored to the state captured in that backup.

Important: Restoring a backup will overwrite the current files and/or database content. Make sure you have a recent backup before restoring an older one.

Customise PHP configuration on a per-domain basis. This is useful for applications that need specific PHP settings.

Available Settings

Changing PHP Settings

1. Go to Hosting > Domains.
2. Click the PHP Settings button next to the domain.
3. Adjust the values as needed.
4. Click Save. Changes take effect immediately.

View your website's error logs and access logs to diagnose issues and monitor traffic.

Error Logs

Error logs show PHP errors, warnings, and notices generated by your website. To view them:

1. Go to Hosting > Error Logs.
2. Select the domain you want to view logs for.
3. Recent errors are displayed with timestamps, file paths, and error messages.

Access Logs

Access logs show all HTTP requests to your website, including the visitor's IP address, request path, status code, and user agent. Useful for monitoring traffic and identifying issues like 404 errors or suspicious activity.

Disk Usage

The Disk Usage page gives you a breakdown of storage consumption across directories, databases, and inodes. Use this to identify large files or folders that may be consuming your quota.

Manage your subscriptions and billing from your customer dashboard:

• View your current plans - See your email and hosting plan details, usage, and renewal dates.
• Upgrade or downgrade - Change your plan at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately.
• View invoices - Access your complete billing history and download invoices.
• Update payment method - Manage your payment details through our secure billing portal powered by Stripe.
• Cancel a subscription - You can cancel at any time. Your service will remain active until the end of your current billing period.

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. We accept all major credit and debit cards.

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your account. When enabled, you'll need both your password and a second verification method to sign in.

Available Methods

• Email Code - A 6-digit code is sent to your email address each time you log in. Codes expire after 10 minutes.
• Authenticator App - Use an app like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator to generate time-based codes. This is the recommended method as it works even without email access.

Setting Up 2FA

1. Log in to your account and go to Account Settings.
2. Click Manage 2FA to open the two-factor authentication settings.
3. Choose your preferred method - Email Code or Authenticator App.
4. For Email Code: confirm your password and 2FA will be enabled immediately.
5. For Authenticator App: scan the QR code with your app, then enter the 6-digit verification code to confirm setup.
6. After enabling either method, you will receive 10 backup codes. Save these in a safe place.

Backup Codes

Backup codes are single-use codes that let you sign in if you lose access to your primary 2FA method. Each code can only be used once.

• You receive 10 backup codes when you first enable 2FA.
• You can regenerate new codes at any time from your 2FA settings (this invalidates all previous codes).
• Store your codes securely and treat them like a password.
• If your remaining backup codes are running low, regenerate a fresh set.

Signing In with 2FA

After entering your password, you'll see a challenge screen asking for your verification code. Enter the code from your email or authenticator app. If you can't access your code, click "Use a backup code" and enter one of your saved backup codes.

Disabling 2FA

You can disable two-factor authentication from your account settings at any time. You'll need to confirm your password to make this change. If you're locked out of your account, contact support for assistance.

I can't send or receive emails

• Check that your domain's DNS records are correctly configured in your dashboard.
• Verify your mail client settings match the configuration details above.
• Ensure your mailbox password is correct. You can reset it from the dashboard.
• If you recently added your domain, allow up to 24 hours for DNS propagation.

My emails are going to recipients' spam folders

• Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC DNS records are all properly configured.
• Check your domain verification status in the dashboard. All records should show as verified.
• Avoid sending large volumes of email to recipients who haven't opted in.

My website is showing a 500 error

• Check your Error Logs in the hosting control panel for details.
• Make sure your .htaccess file does not contain syntax errors.
• Verify your PHP version is compatible with your application.
• Check that file permissions are correct (644 for files, 755 for directories).

My website is not loading after adding the domain

• Verify that your domain's A record points to the correct server IP (shown in your dashboard).
• DNS changes can take up to 24-48 hours to propagate. Try clearing your browser cache or using a different network.
• Make sure you have uploaded files to the correct document root folder.

How do I reset a mailbox password?

Go to Mailboxes in your dashboard, click on the mailbox, and use the password reset option.

Can I use my own domain?

Yes! Both our email and web hosting services are designed for you to bring your own domain. You can add any domain you own.

What happens if I exceed my storage quota?

For email, the mailbox will no longer accept new messages. For web hosting, you may not be able to upload new files. You can free up space or upgrade your plan for more storage.

Need more help?

Contact our support team by submitting a ticket from your customer dashboard or email us directly.