How to Upload a Static Website to DirectAdmin via File Manager

This guide provides detailed instructions for uploading a static website (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other static files) to DirectAdmin using File Manager, covering main domains, subdomains, and subdirectories.

Prerequisites

• A hosting account with DirectAdmin access, including login credentials (username and password).
• Static website files prepared on your local computer, organized in a folder with an index.html file as the homepage. Validate your HTML code using an online validator to check for errors.
• Compress files into a ZIP archive for faster uploads if you have many files.
• A web browser to access DirectAdmin.
• For subdomains or subdirectories, ensure they are set up in DirectAdmin (see Step 3 for details).

Note: File Manager is suitable for small to medium uploads. For large sites, consider using an FTP client like FileZilla for efficiency.

Step 1: Log In to DirectAdmin

• Open your web browser and navigate to your DirectAdmin login URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com:2222 or https://yourserverip:2222).
• Enter your DirectAdmin username and password.
• Click “Login” to access the DirectAdmin dashboard.
• You can also login through your telaHosting’c client area.

Step 2: Access the File Manager

• In the DirectAdmin dashboard, locate the “System Info & Files” section.
• Click the “File Manager” icon to open the File Manager interface.
• The File Manager will open, typically showing your home directory.

Tip: To view hidden files (e.g., .htaccess), check the File Manager settings or ensure your hosting provider has enabled this option.

Step 3: Set Up and Navigate to the Appropriate Directory

• For Main Domain:
  • Navigate to the public_html folder in File Manager, typically found under /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html.
  • Double-click to open it. This is where your main website files will reside (e.g., https://yourdomain.com).
• For Subdomain:
  • First, ensure the subdomain is created:
    • In the DirectAdmin dashboard, go to “Account Manager” and click “Subdomain Management.”
    • Enter the subdomain name (e.g., sub for sub.yourdomain.com).
    • The document root will typically be set to /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/subdomain_folder or a similar path. Confirm or adjust as needed.
    • Click “Create” to set up the subdomain and its folder.
  • In File Manager, navigate to the subdomain’s folder (e.g., /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/subdomain_folder).
  • Double-click to open it.
• For Subdirectory:
  • Decide the subdirectory path (e.g., public_html/blog for yourdomain.com/blog).
  • In File Manager, navigate to public_html (or the parent directory).
  • Click the “+ Folder” or “New” button in the top menu, enter the folder name (e.g., blog), and create it.
  • Double-click the new folder to open it.

Note: Subdomains may require DNS propagation (up to 24 hours), but files can be uploaded immediately. Subdirectories are accessible instantly upon creation.

Step 4: Upload Your Website Files

• In File Manager, navigate to the desired directory (public_html for main domain, subdomain folder, or subdirectory).
• Click the “Upload” or “Upload Files” button, typically located at the bottom or top of the File Manager interface.
• In the upload interface, drag and drop your files from your local computer, or click to browse and select files.
• If uploading a ZIP file:
  • Upload the ZIP archive.
  • Return to the directory, right-click the ZIP file, and select “Extract” (or use the “Extract” option in the top menu).
  • Confirm the extraction path (usually the current directory) and extract the files.
• Click “Upload” to start the process. Wait for the upload to complete, indicated by a progress bar or confirmation message.

Tip: Ensure the index.html file is in the root of the target directory (e.g., public_html for main domain, public_html/subdomain_folder for subdomain, or public_html/blog for subdirectory). You can upload multiple files simultaneously.

Step 5: Configure Domain/Subdomain Settings (If Needed)

• For Subdomains:
  • Verify the subdomain setup in DirectAdmin’s “Subdomain Management” section.
  • Ensure the document root matches the folder where you uploaded files (e.g., /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/subdomain_folder).
  • Save any changes if needed.
• For Subdirectories:
  • No additional configuration is typically required unless using custom URL rewriting (e.g., via .htaccess).
• These steps ensure your website points to the correct directory.

Step 6: Verify and Test Your Website

• Open a new browser tab and visit the appropriate URL:
  • Main domain: https://yourdomain.com
  • Subdomain: https://sub.yourdomain.com
  • Subdirectory: https://yourdomain.com/subdirectory (e.g., yourdomain.com/blog)
• Your static website should load. If it doesn’t, troubleshoot:
  • Verify file permissions (644 for files, 755 for directories—right-click in File Manager and select “Change Permissions”).
  • Ensure index.html is present and correctly named (case-sensitive).
  • Clear browser cache or use incognito mode.
  • For subdomains, wait for DNS propagation if recently created.
• Check server error logs in DirectAdmin (under “Site Summary / Statistics / Logs”) for debugging if issues persist.

Additional Tips

• Security: Remove sensitive files (e.g., ZIP archives) from public directories after extraction. Use DirectAdmin’s “Protected Directories” for restricted access.
• Updates: To update files, re-upload only the changed files to the same directory.
• File Organization: Maintain a clear folder structure to avoid conflicts (e.g., separate subdomains and subdirectories).
• Alternatives: For frequent or large uploads, consider FTP for faster transfers.
• Contact your hosting provider for account-specific support if needed.

This guide ensures your static website is successfully uploaded to your main domain, subdomain, or subdirectory via DirectAdmin’s File Manager.