Creating Websites

summary

In this topic, you will learn how to create websites in Plesk and how to put them online, from start to finish.

Overview

To create a website and put it online, there is a number of actions you need to perform. Plesk will help you every step of the way.

  • You need a domain name for your website. Domain names are human-readable names (like “plesk.com”) visitors will use to locate and access your website. You can buy a domain name from an organization called a domain name registrar.

    If you have not yet settled on a domain name, you can use a temporary domain name courtesy of Plesk. It is free and fully resolvable. Once you are ready, you can replace the temporary domain name with a permanent one.

  • You need to create a website in Plesk. This will create all necessary configuration files, and also the website’s own directory where its content will be stored.

    When you create a website in Plesk, it is automatically configured to use PHP, a popular programming language many modern websites are written in.

  • Once you have created the website in Plesk, you need to upload its contents to the server. You can use FTP or Git, or simply upload the files from a local machine using the built-in File Manager.

  • Unless your website is very basic, you will probably need to create a database for it to use.

  • Finally, you need to configure DNS so that anyone using your domain name would be directed to the Plesk server hosting your website.

Alternatively, you may wish to create your website using a content management system (CMS for short), such as WordPress or Joomla! In this case, Plesk offers extensions that take care of creating a database and make setting up easier and faster than installing a CMS by hand. You may also wish to migrate a functioning website hosted elsewhere to Plesk.

Create a Website

This approach is best if one or more of the following are true:

  • You plan to build a custom website to your own specifications. You will either write your own website code or have website code written for you by a third party.
  • You plan to host a website using a development framework, such as Laravel or .NET.
  • You plan to host a website written in JavaScript using Node.js.

Creating a Website

  1. Log in to Plesk.
  2. Go to Websites & Domains, and then click Add Domain.
  3. Select the option best suited to your scenario:
    • “Blank Website” is the default option with no customization. A website with PHP preconfigured out of the box. All other options are based on this one, but with extra features.
    • “Upload files”. File Manager opens automatically on website creation so that you can start uploading the website’s content right away. Learn about uploading files using File Manager.
    • “Deploy using Git”. The Git wizard opens automatically on website creation so that you can start configuring the repository to pull updates from right away. Learn about using Git in Plesk. This option is only available if the Git extension is installed.
    • “Node.js application”. The Node.js wizard opens automatically on website creation so that you can start configuring your Node.js application right away. Learn about hosting Node.js applications in Plesk. This option is only available if the Node.js extension is installed.
    • “Laravel site”. The Laravel wizard opens automatically on website creation so that you can start configuring your Laravel application right away. Learn about hosting Laravel applications in Plesk. This option is only available if the Laravel Toolkit extension is installed.
    • “.NET site”. The .NET Core wizard opens automatically on website creation so that you can start configuring your ASP.NET Core application right away. This option is only available if the .NET Toolkit extension is installed.
  4. Give your website a name:
    • If you have already registered a domain name, enter it in the “Registered domain name” field.
    • You can also use a temporary domain name, courtesy of Plesk. Click Temporary domain name, and Plesk will randomly generate one for you. A temporary domain name looks like this “temporary-name.example.plesk.page”, and it makes your website available online immediately after creation. Once you have registered a domain name, you can rename your website with no issue.
  5. (Optional) To assign a specific IP address to your website or to change the system user credentials, click Webspace settings. System user credentials (created randomly by default) are used to log in to the server via SSH or RDP, and also to upload files via FTP. You can always change the randomly generated system user credentials later.
  6. Click Add Domain to finish creating your website in Plesk.

Your website is now created. You can see it in Websites & Domains. If you chose to use a temporary domain name, it is already available online. However, you need to take a few more steps before your website is fully operational.

Once you have finished all the above steps, your website should be operational and available online. Congratulations!

Create a Website Using a CMS

This approach is best if one or more of the following are true:

  • You prefer to focus on creating content.
  • You do not have the skills or resources necessary to create a custom website.

CMSs enable you to put your content online using a WYSIWYG editor with no need for coding knowledge. Websites created via a CMS can be customized to match your taste and needs using templates and plugins.

Creating a Website Using a CMS

  1. Log in to Plesk.
  2. Go to Websites & Domains, and then click Add Domain.
  3. Select the option best suited to your scenario:
    • “WordPress site”. WP Toolkit opens automatically on website creation so that you can start configuring your WordPress installation right away. Learn about using WP Toolkit. This option is only available if the WP Toolkit extension is installed.
    • “Joomla! site”. Joomla! Toolkit opens automatically on website creation so that you can start configuring your Joomla! installation right away. This option is only available if the Joomla! Toolkit extension is installed.
  4. Give your website a name:
    • If you have already registered a domain name, enter it in the “Registered domain name” field.
    • You can also use a temporary domain name, courtesy of Plesk. Click Temporary domain name, and Plesk will randomly generate one for you. A temporary domain name looks like this “temporary-name.example.plesk.page”, and it makes your website available online immediately after creation. Once you have registered a domain name, you can rename your website with no issue.
  5. (Optional) To assign a specific IP address to your website or to change the system user credentials, click Webspace settings. System user credentials (created randomly by default) are used to log in to the server via SSH or RDP, and also to upload files via FTP. You can always change the randomly generated system user credentials later.
  6. Click Add Domain to finish creating your website in Plesk.

Your website is now created. You can see it in Websites & Domains. If you chose to use a temporary domain name, it is already available online. WP Toolkit and Joomla! Toolkit take care of creating the necessary databases and enable you to start creating content in WordPress or Joomla! right away.

However, unless you are using a temporary domain name, you need to make your website available online. Once you have done it, your website should be operational and available online. Congratulations!

Import an Existing Website

This approach is best if you want to bring an existing website hosted elsewhere over to Plesk. You can import websites hosted in Plesk, cPanel, and a number of other control panels. You can also import websites hosted on servers running no control panel at all. This option is only available if the Plesk Migrator extension is installed.

Learn about importing websites in the Migration Guide.

Once your website has been imported, you will see it in Websites & Domains. To finalize importing the website, you need to update the NS servers’ addresses with your domain name registrar. Once you have done it, your website should be operational and available online. Congratulations!