How to use cPanel’s Web Disk

cPanel Web Disk is a fantastic feature that allows you to manage, navigate, upload, and download the files on your web server as if they were stored on your local computer.

Once enabled, you can use your computer’s file manager (such as File Explorer in Windows or Finder in Mac OS) to browse your server data or drag and drop files between your server and the computer.

1) To get started with Web Disk, log in to your HostPapa Dashboard

log-in-to-dashboard

2) Click on My cPanel or My WordPress.

click-mycpanel

3) Select Files > Web Disk from the cPanel menu.

open-web-disk

4) If you use Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, Windows® 8, or Windows® 10, you must first select Enable Digest Authentication to access your Web Disk on your PC. Click the link on the Web Disk page, then enter your password to continue. 

Note: If the server has an SSL certificate signed by a recognized certificate authority and you can make an SSL connection over port 2078, you do not need to enable Digest Authentication.

enable-digest

6) With the operating system selected, scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you’ll see your server connection details and, for desktop operating systems, a button that allows you to download a configuration script to set up Web Disk on your computer.

Click Download Configuration Script to proceed with setup.

download-script

7) Before you run the script, you must configure your computer’s firewall to allow traffic to flow through the following ports:

  • Port 2078 (SSL)
  • Port 2077 (Clear Text (Not Encrypted))

Note the port differs for servers with SSL certification.

8) Firewall configuration steps vary by the operating system. Check your OS documentation for further instructions. On Windows 10 PCs, enter “firewall” into the Windows Search box and select Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security. Right-click Inbound Rules in the sidebar and choose New Rule from the context menu.

Windows Firewall

9) A wizard opens to help you with the rule configuration. For Rule Type, select Port, then click Next.

Configuration wizard

10) In Protocol & Ports, select TCP as the Protocol, then in the Specific local ports text box, enter 2078 for SSL-enabled servers or 2077 for those without security certification. To open both ports, type 2077-2078.

Protocol settings

11) Click Next to continue.

12) On the Action page, ensure Allow the connection is selected, then click Next.

Action settings

13) In Profile, ensure the location types in which you wish to use Web Disk are checked, then click Next.

Profile settings

14) Finally, enter a rule name and a description, then click Finish.

Description

15) Now, repeat the steps to configure an Outbound Rule. Start by right-clicking Outbound Rules in the sidebar and select New Rule. Ensure you configure the same ports as you did for the inbound rule.

Outbound rule

16) When complete, you should see inbound and outbound rules listed for the cPanel Web Disk.

Rule listing

17) You can now proceed to run the Web Disk Configuration script downloaded earlier. Double-click the file and select Open.

Configuration dialog

18) Enter your HostPapa username and password when prompted to connect to your Web Disk.

Security credentials

You should now be able to view and work with your server’s files and folders on your local computer.

Web Disk

If you need help with your HostPapa account, please open a support ticket from your dashboard.

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