What this is and when you need it
End-to-end path from a fresh 3l3vate Hosting account to a working website: confirm DNS, place files (or install WordPress), turn on HTTPS, and smoke-test. Use this as your first project checklist.
Prerequisites
- Active hosting at https://client.3l3vatehosting.co.za
- Domain registered (with us or elsewhere)
- Nameservers or A record ready to point at this hosting (or Cloudflare in front — see Cloudflare articles)
- Optional: site files (HTML/ZIP) or a decision to use WordPress
Step 1 — Open DirectAdmin
- Sign in at https://client.3l3vatehosting.co.za.
- Open My Services → your hosting package → Login to DirectAdmin.
- Confirm Evolution loads.
[Screenshot 1: Client area → My Services → Login to DirectAdmin]
Expected result: DirectAdmin home with Search and left menu.
Step 2 — Confirm the domain exists on the account
- In Evolution, open Account Manager → Domain Setup (or Search:
domain setup). - Check that your domain (for example
yourbusiness.co.za) is listed. - If it is missing and your plan allows addon domains, click Add Domain, enter the domain name, and save (see the addon-domain article for field details).
- Note the document root (typically
domains/yourbusiness.co.za/public_html).
[Screenshot 2: Domain Setup → domain list with document root]
Expected result: Domain listed; you know which folder holds the website files.
Step 3 — Point DNS at hosting
If you use 3l3vate nameservers
- At your registrar, set the nameservers we supplied in the welcome / service email.
- Wait for propagation (often minutes to a few hours; worldwide can take up to 24–48 hours).
If you manage DNS in DirectAdmin
- Open Account Manager → DNS Management.
- Select your domain.
- Ensure the A record for
@(and usuallywwwas A or CNAME) points to your hosting IP from the welcome email. - Keep MX records correct if email will live here.
If you use Cloudflare
- A/AAAA for the website should target your 3l3vate IP.
- Keep MX and typically
mailas DNS only (grey cloud). - Finish SSL mode as Full (Strict) only after Let’s Encrypt exists on DirectAdmin.
[Screenshot 3: DNS Management → A and MX records]
Expected result: Visiting http://yourbusiness.co.za reaches this server (even a default or empty page counts).
Step 4 — Put the website in public_html
Option A — Upload an existing site (File Manager)
- Open System Info & Files → File Manager.
- Navigate to
domains/yourbusiness.co.za/public_html. - Click Upload and send your
index.html(or ZIP, then Extract). - Avoid leaving installer ZIPs publicly downloadable after you finish.
[Screenshot 4: File Manager → public_html → Upload]
File Manager public_html. DirectAdmin Evolution demo — your panel may look similar.
Option B — WordPress with Softaculous (if available on your plan)
- Search
softaculousor open the app installer icon. - Choose WordPress → Install.
- Set directory (leave blank for domain root), site name, admin user, and strong password.
- Complete install and save the wp-admin URL and password.
Option C — Manual WordPress
Follow Install WordPress with Softaculous or manually when Softaculous is not on your plan: create MySQL database + user, upload WordPress files, run /wp-admin/install.php.
Expected result: Opening the domain shows your site (or the WordPress setup / home page), not a DirectAdmin placeholder you did not intend to keep.
Step 5 — Turn on HTTPS (Let’s Encrypt)
- Confirm HTTP already resolves to this hosting.
- Open Account Manager → SSL Certificates (Search:
ssl), if available on your plan. - Select the domain → enable Let’s Encrypt / free certificate → include
wwwif you use it → Save. - Optionally enable a force-HTTPS / redirect option if shown for that domain.
[Screenshot 5: SSL Certificates → Let’s Encrypt issue form]
Expected result: https://yourbusiness.co.za loads with a valid padlock.
Step 6 — Create a business mailbox and test
- E-mail Manager → Email Accounts → + Create Account.
- Create
info@yourbusiness.co.zawith a strong password and sensible quota. - Open Webmail, send a test to a personal address, and reply.
Step 7 — Smoke-test checklist
| Check | Pass when |
|---|---|
| Homepage | Loads on https without certificate warnings |
| www | Either loads or redirects cleanly to the apex (or vice versa) |
| Contact form | Delivers to your new mailbox (if you use one) |
| Mobile | Readable on a phone browser |
| Backup | Manual backup created before you hand the site to a designer for big edits |
[Screenshot 6: Browser padlock on https homepage]
Field tips when installing WordPress
| Field | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Site name | Your trading name as customers should see it |
| Admin username | Avoid admin — use a unique name |
| Admin password | Long and unique; store in a password manager |
| Admin email | A mailbox you check daily |
| Directory | Empty for https://domain/ ; blog for https://domain/blog/ |
If something goes wrong
Domain shows another host’s page. DNS not updated or not propagated — recheck registrar NS / Cloudflare A record IP with the welcome-email IP.
403 or 404 on a new upload. Confirm files are in the correct public_html; ensure index.html or index.php exists; see HTTP errors article.
SSL fails to issue. DNS must already point here; wait for propagation; remove conflicting CAA only if you know you need to; WhatsApp +27 66 222 1346.
Softaculous missing. Not all plans include it — use manual install or ask info@3l3vatehosting.co.za what your plan allows.
Related articles
- Add a domain, addon domain, or subdomain
- Free SSL (Let’s Encrypt) in DirectAdmin
- Install WordPress with Softaculous or manually
- Create email accounts and forwarders
