Hosting 3: How to work with scripts in Softaculous

Softaculous is a great tool in cPanel that allows to install different scripts, like Wordpress, Joomla, Magento etc. by the click of a button.
However, Softaculous is not just a script installer, it has a number of features, which can make managing your website much easier! So, taking a few minutes to look through this article will definitely show you how to manage your websites in a more efficient way.

First of all, you need to open Softaculous menu in the cPanel. It is under Software and Services section of cPanel. You can use a search bar to locate it faster:

Then you can start managing your scripts through Softaculous using this guidance. It will teach you how to:

1. Install a software
2. Import an installation
3. Set up auto-backups and auto-upgrades
4. Backup software
5. Restore backups
6. Upgrade software
7. Clone an installation
8. Remove an installation

1. Install a software

You can install different software on your site in several clicks using Softaculous auto-installer following this article.

2. Import an installation

If you are using one of CMS scripts available in Softaculous, but initial installation was performed in a different way, you can import the installation to Softaculous. You need to know the name of the installed script and then you are ready to proceed with these steps to import it:

1. Find a script you would like to import using Search or Categories in Softaculous:

2. After you click on the name of the script you wish to import you will see the main page of that script in Softaculous. Navigate to Import tab:

3. Select a domain name from the drop-down menu and type in a directory where you currently have an installation. In our example we have the Wordpress installation in the root folder of nctest.info, so we will keep In Directory field empty. If you have an installation in the subdirectory of your domain, like in nctest.info/wordpress, you will need to type 'wordpress':

3. Click on Import button. You will see Congratulations page if everything’s done properly.

3. Set up auto-backups and auto-upgrades

It is possible to set up auto-backups and auto-upgrades of your script on the installation stage, however, if you forgot to do it you can enable these options at any other moment. In order to do it follow the steps:

1. Open All Installations page of Softaculous:

2. Locate required installation and click on Edit icon:

3. There you need to put check marks in a few check boxes (as shown in the screenshot below) in order to manage auto-backups and auto-upgrades of your website installation:

4. Click on Save Installation Details at the bottom of the page.

NOTE 1: auto-upgrades may fail or break your website, but Softaculous always make a backup of your installation right before performing an auto-upgrade, so you will be able to return back to a working version of your website by restoring that backup.

NOTE 2: it is not recommended to set Backup Rotation to more than 4 in order not to violate the policies of some shared hosting'.

4. Backup software

Creating a current backup of your website installation is a very simple process with Softaculous. It is enough to do the following:

1. Click on All Installations icon:

2. Locate required installation and click on Backup icon:

3. Choose whether you would like to backup the entire installation, database or directory with files. Also, you can add a note to your backup and will see some general info about your installation:

4. Click on Backup Installation to start generating the backup:

5. Restore backups

If something went wrong and your website got corrupted you can stay calm, if you have a backup. Backup restoration allows to return website to its previous state and you can do it following these steps:

1. Navigate to Backups and Restore section in Softaculous:

2. There you can find all available backups of all your websites’ installations. You can choose any of those backups to restore, download or remove using appropriate icons. Also you will be able to check notes left at the moment of backup creation, you need to mouse over the notepad icon to see them:

3. After you click on Restore icon you may choose whether you would like to restore database or directory with files or both:

4. Once you are ready click Restore Installation.
Several minutes and your installation is returned to its previous state!

6. Upgrade software

Softaculous allows to upgrade software with just one click when you need it. If auto-upgrade is not set up for your installation you can follow these simple steps to perform an upgrade:

1. Open All Installations page in Softaculous:

2. If new version of your software is available, you will see a small Upgrade icon under Version section. Click on it:

3. On the next page it is necessary to check the box Create Backup. It is critical since such automatic upgrades may break your website. Moreover, before performing an upgrade it is recommended to create another backup of your installation or of the whole account:

4. Then click Upgrade to start the process.

It can take a few minutes to complete the process and then you'll get Congratulations message. It is recommended to check the installation of your website to make sure the upgrade has not broken your website.
If it has broken your website, you will need to restore a backup following the instructions from the Restore backups section of this article.

7. Clone an installation

If you would like to move/copy current installation to another directory or even domain, Clone option is right what you need.

NOTE 1: clone option is available for a few scripts only at the moment.

NOTE 2: it may be necessary to update some links/paths in the database of your installation after cloning. Not all of them may be re-assigned to the new domain/directory automatically

Let’s say you have mistakenly installed Wordpress to /wp subfolder instead of the root folder of your domain. In this case you will need to do the following:

1. Open All Installations page of Softaculous:

2. Click on Clone button:

3. On the next screen you will see information about the current installation you are cloning. Also, you will need to specify a domain name where you are trying to clone your installation, choose In Directory field and set some other options:

NOTE: In Directory field should be empty if you would like to clone the installation to the root directory of your domain.

4. Click on Clone Installation when you are ready.

8. Remove an installation

Deleting an installation is an easy process as well thanks to Softaculous:

1. Open All Installations page to see your current website installations:

2. Find an installation you would like to remove and click on red cross:

3. On the next screen you will see general information about the installation you are removing and will be able to choose whether all data of this installation should be removed or not: