Intro to Host Godaddy
Godaddy - Domain setting
Godaddy cPanel Email and Login
some notes before setup SSL
SSL Guide
Multiple SSL Guide
Fix some content not secure issue after SSL update
End or Remove Product
Problem and Solution

Intro to Host Godaddy

What is a “host”?
- Ok, a web host is a online network drive with partial function of desktop OS
  - these common functions includes command console application, webpage server application, ftp server application, email server application, database server application

What is “web system” or “web application”?
- Ok, a so-called “web application” like “Wordpress” blog web system, or like a Forum web system, is a package of dynamic web pages, and they are served (presented) by your host's webpage server application
- so technically speaking, “Wordpress” like “web system” or “web application” are not technically a desktop software, they are web page creation recipe for the webpage server application on your host to generate those html pages with data from database server application

What is “Wix” like web application?
- those “Wix” like websites are more like a host with fixed wix web system. so you can't put wordpress web system on the wix host, as they are provided as like a fix bundle of host network drive with servers with wix web system;
- however, wix system will provide all those features like wordpress, forum with extra feature extension fee.

What is simple difference between “Godaddy like” web host and “Wix like” bundle host
- like “wix”, “squarespace” and etc, they are more like iPhone 1st generation, you can only have Apple made app on iPhone.
- while like “godaddy”, “bluehost” and etc, they is more like a diy-assemble pc, you are provided with a blank pc without any software, only a DOS like Operating system.

Godaddy - Domain setting

use Godaddy's domain on Wix:
- basically, just change the nameservers to wix DNS server address in your domain DNS setting
- ref: https://www.wix.com/support/html5/article/connecting-your-godaddy-domain-to-the-wix-name-servers

preview godaddy host without a domain
- if your IP is 192.168.1.1 (check left side in your host cpanel page)
- and your cpanel login “abc” (check left side in cpanel page, a text like home/abc)
- then you would visit your host root webpage dir at “192.168.1.1/~abc”.
- ref: http://pcunleashed.com/how-to-preview-your-website-before-it-goes-live/

redirect a domain to another website
- Reason:
  - build-in-progress domain directing to current active site (302 redirect setup)
  - old-closing-site domain directing to the new site. (301 redirect setup)
- Redirect option:
  - redirect as forward, just a url jump
  - redirect with masking, which pretend redirected site as its own site its domain name
- ref:
  - https://sg.godaddy.com/help/manually-forward-or-mask-your-domain-or-subdomain-422
  - https://www.hochmanconsultants.com/301-vs-302-redirect/

offsite DNS hosting
- ref: https://ie.godaddy.com/help/add-dns-hosting-20165
- basic use domain registered at other place on godaddy
- steps
  1. Domain Manager Page: DNS menu > Add DNS Hosting
  2. put the domain name, then it shows nameservers, put that name servers into that domain nameserver setting on the registered site.
  3. then, that domain will show as available on godaddy domain section, and ready for related domain settings

subdomain creation manually:
- https://sg.godaddy.com/help/add-a-subdomain-4080

domain transfer into godaddy
- Account name > (drop down menu) Go Shop Godaddy.com;
- in top main, click Domain > (sub menu) Domain Transfer tool
- search the old domain name (you need to unlock old domain on old reg site and get EPP code)
- do the step to initial transfer
- Check result: go My Account > Domains > (sub menu) Transfer to check result

Godaddy cPanel Email and Login

webmail access in browser

the cPanel email login link is: http://YourDomainName.com/webmail
if you have not add ssl to your host and domain, then click add Exception and understand risk and proceed to access it.

Email Client on Desktop

the best and free email client is: https://www.thunderbird.net/
as it auto detect the email income and outgoing server setting from dns, and use IMAP as access method

Mobile Client

record down your income server in cPanel email configure page,
and choose Other type email in email account setup option, and use IMAP access method, then type all the information in setup process
- Note: “user name”, “account name”, “email” all means your full email address in the process

In addition to cPanel email, godaddy also have paid pro email and office365 email, go shop and find office365, the top tab will show price for each of the options:

godaddy pro email: https://sg.godaddy.com/email/professional-business-email
office365 email: https://sg.godaddy.com/business/office-365

For office365 email, since each main email cost money, you may add alias for main email like info@ or contact@ to catch email to main email for free: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/email/add-another-email-alias-for-a-user?view=o365-worldwide

some notes before setup SSL

if you install wordpress with http home link type

read below first, you may understand why this process may be your option before setup SSL
once you setup purchased SSL, you may have to update wordpress all links from old http to https
so before SSL setup, use installatron or whatever to backup http version of current wordpress
delete the wordpress installation on server
install SSL as process below
restore the installatron backup to new location, and choose https link of the site domain
- or install fresh wordpress with https link and restore old backup content into new wordpress
that way, most wordpress default link will be updated in new site with https

alternative, maybe at start, install wordpress use https as home link

this method, SSL update process below basically use your 3rd party signed certificate instead of your self-sign certificate
while you develop the site, just add exception to your self sign certificate to continue development process
once later update the new SSL, there is no need to update https links, as it is https link at start, just you need to tell browser to allow you continue visit site
drawback, while if you build site for someone else, they also need to add exception to browser when they visit the site before you use purchased ssl

or, just purchase the SSL before you do any site

that way, you dont need to do any update process as above 2 method,
but you lose the certificate time as you develop the site and not show to public
if your site take half year to build, then you waste half year of certificate time for your purchased ssl certificate

now, you can read below process to decide which is your best workflow for SSL update

SSL Guide

you can buy ssl just for primary domain, you can also buy ssl just for one of secondary/addon domain. (save money purpose) or you can buy multiple sites ssl or subdomain all ssl.
for single domain case (updated 2022) (primary or addon)
1. buy ssl
2. go additional product to setup
3. enter domain name for ssl (domain can be domain managed by godaddy or other party, but you need admin email for that domain)
4. choose ssl issuer, both is fine. just go for first option and agree
  1. (note, if your domain and hosting both under godaddy, seems, it is auto verified and you can directly go Certificate tab under SSL to see it, refresh in 1-2min, thus you may not need the email steps if you see issued, just go step cPanel)
5. choose verification method: admin@yourdomain.com and txt method (email is very useful, since you will get email instruction, so better create admin@yourdomain.com first)
6. go email, (normally within 10min, you can use resend in ssl page to send again, normally into your spam box called verify)
7. click the email inside to confirm, go ssl page to refresh (it will show verification complete), within 2-3 min, below will show status issued
8. go cPanel > SSL/TLS
9. under “Install and Mgt SSL for https”, click “manage ssl sites”
  - under “install an ssl website”
  - browse certificate, choose “the godaddy issued one w your-domain-name” (if it is issued and it not show up in this step, use below old case to continue), it should auto fit crt and bundle, while private key section is actually from the text file content you save at the ssl beginning step, copy content and paste into private key part
10. ssl done, you should see lock when browse site with https
for single domain case (old) (primary or addon)
1. buy ssl
2. go additional product to setup
3. enter domain name for ssl
4. in next page, you will ask to save private key(will be used later) and csr files. (important to save)
5. choose verification method: admin@yourdomain.com and txt method (email is very useful, since you will get email instruction, so better create admin@yourdomain.com first)
6. choose ssl issuer, both is fine. just go for first option and agree
7. (at right now), you will go email box to check the instruction,
  - it will show your a link, go to that link. and click yes to prove you are owner of the domain.
8. back to the ssl setup process,
9. wait for one day for the certificate to issue (normally within 10 min if everything setup in godaddy)
10. go product > ssl > manage:
  - under download certificate > choose server type (for godaddy linux, it is apache server app)
  - it is a zip file with (random.crt, random.pem, gd_bundle…crt)
11. to install certificate (.crt) into cPanel
  1. go cPanel > SSL/TLS
  2. under “Certificates (CRT)” > click “Gen,View,Upload,orDel”
  3. under “upload a new certificate” section, choose file and get .crt file the zip you downloaded (the random number one)
  4. once uploaded, back, then back to SSL/TLS page
  5. under “Install and Mgt SSL for https”, click “manage ssl sites”
    - under “install an ssl website”
    - browse certificate, choose “the godaddy issued one”, it should auto fit crt and bundle, while private key section is actually from the text file content you save at the ssl beginning step, copy content and paste into private key part
12. ssl done, you should see lock when browse site with https

Make sure, wordpress is redirectly all to https

wordpress > setting: wp address + site address, add https not http
then use plugin: really simple ssl to redirect all
make sure all content that has been hard html/css coded update to https as well

during coding,

use generic:
//yoursite.com/sample.jpg 
instead of
http://yoursite.com/sample.jpg or https://yoursite.com/sample.jpg

if you see warning of “part of site is not secure”, use browser inspect > network to see which link is not loading with http

Multiple SSL Guide

to protect multiple SSL, one solution is buy ssl for each, another solution is buy “Multiple Domain” ssl, which cover all site.
there are
1. “Multi-Domain SAN/UCC SSL Certificate”
  - (SAN = Subject Alternative Name certificate )
  - (UCC = Unified Communication Certificate)
  - ref: https://sg.godaddy.com/help/what-is-a-multiple-domain-ucc-ssl-certificate-3908
  - ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFtcS0wkQEE
  - requires: all site hosting is on same hosting account (same hosting),
  - note: all sites will be showing in certificates; www. and no-www count different website for this
2. wildcard ssl
  - as name sames, it is for secondary domains only. must be same common name for its domains.

note: wordpress setting sets the “site address url”, so that www or non-www will forward address to all incoming, www or non-www to same setted url address, so that one should be the domain in multiple certificate

UCC SSL setup:

ref:
- step: https://sg.godaddy.com/help/request-my-ssl-certificate-562
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFtcS0wkQEE
first, make sure your domain DNS server is set to godaddy, (especially those domain transferred from other site)
- if your DNS server is not set to godaddy, then those domain may use email verfiy method in mentioned later below
- as if DNS server is under godaddy, verification process should be automatically done in later step.
after purchase, add rest domain to primary domain as addon domain
create admin@ each domain email at cPanel
click on UCC ssl setup button
choose the primary domain for the SSL, (without www, just domain.com like that)
then, add rest domain to the list,
- note: (update: 2022.02 seems put either www or non-www, both format url have lock on current godaddy case, only one format put there is enough seems?!) make sure you use the format you site will use, like www.domain.com or domain.com format, as which you will use in wordpress adddress, then forward both www or w.o to the same format
- as rest addition domain, take only www or w.o www as different site, so if you want to use both www and w.o www for the site address, you need to add both,
- however, the primary domain will auto secure both www and w.o www format, just rest addition domain only take 1 for each slot.
- so if you just want to use www.domain.com, just put that format there, and forward non.www to that address as automatically done by wordpress
choose either issuer, or just go with 1st one.
go next, the verify ownership step, (if your domain DNS is under godaddy, it is automatically, auto verfied), if your domain not on godaddy DNS, you should go check your admin@yourdomain.com, to click link to verify.
next step, install certificate to cPanel (note, if you domain is fully control under godaddy, this step should also be automatically done, and go cPanel you should see side panel, the lock is on for your primary domain), if not, then you need to follow godaddy manual install step for other domain situation:
(Final) to check your installed SSL on your cPanel, go cPanel > SSL : bottom link “Manage SSL”, you will see the list of site which has Lock for the address.
- (Specially note: it seems even I put www.mydomain.com for addition domain of ucc ssl, mydomain.com also has lock, seems godaddy now offer free coverage for both www and non www now. lol)
(Final extra) it seems only main domain ssl is auto installed, the rest domain need one manual extra click
- go “Manage SSL”, at bottom, there is “Install an SSL website”, select load up the domain to install,
- once loaded, click install certification button at bottom, then it is done for that domain. (seems only defined domain name format is secured, if I put www.TheDomain.com, then the www.TheDomain.com is locked, TheDomain.com is not, but anyway, you should stick to the domain format you prefer, and force ssl and redirect all format to the one you like, wordpress will handle that automatically.)

Fix some content not secure issue after SSL update

Fix parts of content for page not secure after new ssl install

for wordpress site case, just install a plugin to auto fix it
- Really Simple SSL: https://wordpress.org/plugins/really-simple-ssl/
- WP Force SSL: https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-force-ssl/

if you like to manual fix, go firefox console, you should see the list of content that is not secure

check list
1. your custom css, content inside should change to https link
2. image, css, js linked from other non ssl site, should move to your own site
3. ref: https://really-simple-ssl.com/knowledge-base/how-to-track-down-mixed-content-or-insecure-content/
4. [better backup first before this step] https://really-simple-ssl.com/knowledge-base/how-to-fix-mixed-content-in-elementor-after-moving-to-ssl/
  - elementor > tool > replace : http://yoursite.com to https://yoursite.com

End or Remove Product

If you don't want to use the product and cancel the payment
- go manage of domain or hosting, click cancel or remove product.
- you will get a email on owner's email address

Problem and Solution

Contact Form 7 sending and local Office 365 Email receiving issue

Problem: contact form 7 can send to other email box, but not its own hosting Office 365 email
Solution:
1. go cPanel, Email Routing/(old Email MX),
2. choose the @domain for the email address
3. change from local mail exchange (default for godaddy free cPanel email) to remote mail exchange (since office 365 is remote)

Contact Form 7 email or email in general from wordpress not sending with external DNS

Problem: most time, wordpress on godaddy should work out of box for email, but sometimes when DNS is setup on 3rd party domain registrar, the mx record detection is not that automatically on server side
Solution: instead use wordpress auto mail server detection, use “WP Mail SMTP” plugin to directly setup mail routing
1. install WP Mail SMTP plugin,
2. in setting page, use a email account already in your email server as sender, for “FromEmail”,
3. in Mailer, choose last one, other SMTP, (just like mailbox setup in your phone or outlook)
4. enter standard email server info you got (normally in your cPanel email account first mail)
  1. SMTP host, “SSL” as encrytion (important for godaddy email server setting), SMTP port
  2. auto TLS on and authentication on, user name and pass is your cPanel email username and pass
5. that should make your wordpress email function works

Force HTTPS

after bought the ssl lock, then better force all http to https:
for self built site: https://sg.godaddy.com/help/redirect-my-cpanel-website-to-https-27870
for all: https://sg.godaddy.com/help/redirect-http-to-https-automatically-8828
notes: htacess may different for other hosting providers

Mail RoundCube error Connection to storage server failed

https://www.milesweb.com/hosting-faqs/connection-to-storage-server-failed/
https://bobcares.com/blog/roundcube-connection-to-storage-server-failed/
basically, check your host provider

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