# cPanel Deployment Guide (No Git) This guide explains how to deploy the Digital Services Panel to cPanel using only the file manager. --- ## Prerequisites - cPanel account with Node.js support OR PHP with Laravel support - cPanel MySQL/MariaDB database - SSH/Terminal access (optional, recommended) - FTP or cPanel File Manager --- ## Step 1: Prepare Files Locally On your local machine (Windows), prepare the project: ```bash cd c:\Users\Ibraheem\Projects\digital-services-panel # Build the frontend npm install --prefix client npm run build --prefix client # This creates client/dist folder with all static files ``` --- ## Step 2: Create Database in cPanel 1. Log in to **cPanel** 2. Go to **MySQL Databases** (or **Databases**) 3. Create a new database: - Database name: `your_username_dbname` - Add a new MySQL user with a strong password 4. Grant all privileges to the user for this database --- ## Step 3: Upload Project Files via cPanel File Manager 1. In cPanel, open **File Manager** 2. Navigate to your app root (e.g., `public_html/` for frontend-only, or a custom Node app folder) 3. Upload the following folders: - `server/` (backend code) - `client/dist/` (built frontend static files) - Root level files: - `package.json` - `.env` (configure with your cPanel DB credentials) - `README.md` ### File structure on cPanel: ``` your_app_root/ ├── server/ │ ├── index.js │ ├── package.json │ ├── routes/ │ │ └── *.js │ ├── middleware/ │ ├── utils/ │ └── scripts/ ├── client/ │ └── dist/ │ ├── index.html │ ├── assets/ │ └── ... ├── package.json └── .env (DO NOT share this file) ``` --- ## Step 4: Configure `.env` File In cPanel File Manager, create or edit `.env` file with your cPanel database credentials: ```dotenv # Laravel Core APP_NAME="Digital Services Panel" APP_ENV=production APP_KEY=base64:YOUR_KEY_HERE APP_DEBUG=false APP_URL=https://yourdomain.com # cPanel Database DB_CONNECTION=mysql DB_HOST=localhost DB_PORT=3306 DB_DATABASE=your_cpanel_database_name DB_USERNAME=your_cpanel_db_user DB_PASSWORD=your_cpanel_db_password DB_CHARSET=utf8mb4 DB_COLLATION=utf8mb4_unicode_ci # Admin Credentials ADMIN_EMAIL=admin@example.com ADMIN_PASSWORD_HASH=your_bcrypt_hash # OR (dev only): # ADMIN_PASSWORD=plain_password # JWT JWT_SECRET=your_long_random_secret_here # URLs CLIENT_URL=https://yourdomain.com FRONTEND_URL=https://yourdomain.com # Integrations (leave blank if not using) WHMCS_URL= WHMCS_IDENTIFIER= WHMCS_SECRET= GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID= GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET= GEMINI_API_KEY= ``` > **⚠️ Important:** Never upload `.env` to public repositories. Keep it private to cPanel only. --- ## Step 5: Install Dependencies via SSH If cPanel supports Node.js, use SSH to install dependencies: ```bash ssh user@yourdomain.com cd path/to/your/app # Install server dependencies npm install --prefix server # Install frontend dependencies (optional, already built) npm install --prefix client ``` --- ## Step 6: Create Database Tables Use cPanel **phpMyAdmin** to run the database schema: 1. Log in to **phpMyAdmin** 2. Select your database 3. Go to **SQL** tab 4. Paste the content from `supabase/schema.sql` (or your Laravel migration SQL) 5. Click **Go** to execute ### OR use Laravel migrations (if you convert to full Laravel): ```bash php artisan migrate ``` --- ## Step 7: Start the App ### Option A: Node.js App on cPanel If cPanel supports Node.js apps: 1. In cPanel, go to **Node.js Selector** or **Setup Node.js App** 2. Create new app: - Application root: `/path/to/your/app` - Application URL: `yourdomain.com` - Application startup file: `server/index.js` - Node.js version: 18+ 3. Click **Save** ### Option B: PHP/Laravel on cPanel If only PHP is supported: - Move `client/dist/*` to cPanel `public_html/` - Use Laravel with PHP-FPM - Route all API calls to your separate Node backend (hosted elsewhere) OR convert backend to PHP --- ## Step 8: Verify Deployment 1. Visit `https://yourdomain.com` 2. You should see your dashboard frontend 3. Try logging in to test `/api/auth/login` endpoint 4. Check cPanel **Error Logs** if issues occur --- ## Updating Files Later To update without Git: 1. **Use cPanel File Manager**: - Edit files directly in File Manager's code editor - OR delete old files and upload new versions 2. **For code changes**: - Modify files locally - Rebuild frontend: `npm run build --prefix client` - Upload updated `client/dist/` and modified backend files via File Manager 3. **Restart the app** (if using Node.js app in cPanel): - cPanel → Node.js Apps → Restart your app --- ## Troubleshooting ### API returns 404 - Check that server routes are correctly configured in `server/routes/*.js` - Verify cPanel app startup file is `server/index.js` - Check `.env` settings for `CLIENT_URL` and `FRONTEND_URL` ### Database connection error - Verify `DB_HOST`, `DB_USER`, `DB_PASSWORD`, `DB_DATABASE` in `.env` - Check that MySQL user has proper privileges in cPanel **MySQL Users** - Confirm database tables exist (check phpMyAdmin) ### Static files not loading - Ensure `client/dist/` is uploaded to correct path - Check cPanel file permissions (should be 755 for folders, 644 for files) ### 2FA or admin login not working - Ensure database tables are created (run schema.sql in phpMyAdmin) - Check `ADMIN_EMAIL` and `ADMIN_PASSWORD_HASH` in `.env` --- ## Security Notes - **Never commit `.env` to Git** — keep it private on cPanel only - **Change default passwords** for admin account - **Use HTTPS only** — configure SSL in cPanel - **Keep dependencies updated** — periodically run `npm install` to get security patches - **Backup your database** regularly via cPanel **Backup** --- ## Useful cPanel Paths - **File Manager**: `yourdomain.com:2083/` → Files tab - **phpMyAdmin**: `yourdomain.com:2083/` → Databases → phpMyAdmin - **MySQL Databases**: `yourdomain.com:2083/` → Databases → MySQL Databases - **Node.js Apps** (if available): `yourdomain.com:2083/` → Node.js Apps - **Error Logs**: `yourdomain.com:2083/` → Logs --- For questions or issues, refer to your cPanel provider's support documentation.