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# Instances

  • Instances list
  • SSL Certificate Details
  • Creating new instance
  • Instance details
  • Instance templates

This section offers detailed information about instances within the PanelAlpha platform. Instances refer to websites created by PanelAlpha end-users and hosted by administrators. On the admin side, you can access the list of all your clients' instances and quickly create a new instance, assigning it to a single user.

# Instances list

Instances section covers comprehensive lists of instances divided into three categories:

  • Active Instances with the following information:
    • ID number - press and you will be redirected to the instance details
    • DNS status:
    • URL - domain with its SSL status
    • User - assigned user
    • Version - WordPress version where the instance has been created
    • WooCommerce version - if applicable
    • Number of visitors to the website
    • Current information on backups
    • Plan based on which the instance has been created
    • If access is shared, a list of users visible on hover
    • Date of creating the instance
    • Allowed actions:
      • Manage the instance from the admin level
      • View instance in the client area (you will be logged in as a user)
      • Delete the instance
  • Failed Instances - List of instances in which installation has failed, try to install it again or remove the instance permanently.
  • Archived Instances - From this place, you may remove archived instances permanently.
  • Instancce Templates - List of instance templates that can be used as a base for creating new WordPress installations

# SSL Certificate Details

The SSL Certificate Details feature provides administrators with quick access to certificate information and management options for domains. This information is accessible by hovering over the lock icon in the URL column.

The SSL Certificate Details popup displays two primary sections of information:

  • SSL Certificate installed on server: Displays details about the certificate currently installed on the server
  • Detected SSL Certificate: Shows information about the certificate detected for the domain

# Managing SSL Orders

Within the SSL Certificate Details popup, administrators can modify SSL order settings using the Change button.

Clicking the Change button allows administrators to:

  1. Select an SSL Provider from the available options
  2. Choose the Challenge Type for domain validation
  3. Configure whether the certificate should also include a wildcard option

# Challenge Type Selection

The Challenge Type selection is particularly important as it determines the verification method used during the SSL certificate issuance process. Administrators can select the most appropriate challenge type for each domain depending on their specific configuration and requirements.

This feature enables administrators to efficiently manage SSL certificate orders for individual domains directly from the domain management interface.

# Creating new instance

Admin users are allowed to create new instances directly from the admin area.

  1. Find a button Create Instance at the top of the page.
  2. A simple modal form will appear - provide some basic information required to create a new WordPress installation.
    Note that the process is the same as in case the instance is created by the end-users in the client area.
  • User - Select a user to which the instance will be assigned to.
  • Service - Choose a service on which the instance will be created, by choosing a service you determine the onboarding method, limits, and other features defined in the plan associated with the selected service.   Now, additional steps will be adjusted depending on the plan associated with the previously selected service, for the example purposes, we will show creating an instance with Quick Onboarding method:
  • Provide the Site Name
  • Enter the Domain and set a subdirectory if needed.
  • If you choose to create a new clean instillation:
    • Choose the WordPress version.
    • Select a theme from the dropdown list.
  • For cloning an existing installation:
    • Select one of the existing instances to clone.
  • When creating from instance template:
    • Choose an instance templae based on which the new website will be created. You may choose between all existing templates which have an "Active" status.
  1. Press Create to confirm. That is it. When the installation is complete, the created instance will be visible both in the admin and client area, assigned to the selected user.

# Instance details

To gain more insights into a particular instance, use the "Manage Instance" option. This feature allows you to access detailed information about an instance, including its configuration settings and any relevant metadata.

Press the relevant action button, instance ID or a URL on the list and you will be redirected to its details page.
The instance details page is divided into three parts:

  1. The first one contains the most basic data on the instance, such as name and URL, page preview, service details and action buttons that allow managing the site and logging to WP admin site and many others.

  2. Graph charts:

    • Unique Visitors
    • Bandwidth
      Both graphs are equipped with advanced filtering options that allow to change date ranges and zoom specific time periods for more precise data. You may also download the current chart view in an SVG, PNG or CSV formats.

  3. Activity Logs and Server Logs sections with all actions listed. Use date filter and search box to find specific entries.

  4. Allowed actions on an instance:

    • Manage as owner - Log into PanelAlpha client area where you can preview the management page of the instance.
    • WP Admin - You will be redirected to the WP Admin panel to manage the website directly.
    • Save as Template - Provide the template nasme and save, the instance will be offered for end-clients as a template to create new installations.

# Instance templates

Under Instances → Instance Templates there is a list of all already existing templates, that is instances that have been saved by the administrator as a template to be used as a base for creating new installations.

An instance can be saved as a template in: Admin Area → Instances → Instance Details → Actions → Save As Template. Once created, it will appear on the list. Here you may preview the template details like name, version, or date of creation, and:

  • Change the status to:
    • Active - only active templates can be used to create new installations either in the admin area or in the client area
    • Inactive - such template will not be allowed to be used either for clients or for admin to create new websites until its status is changed to active
  • Perform actions directly on the template:
    • Create an instance from the template - you will have to assign a user, a service, enter the site name and domain to complete the process, and create an instance.
    • Rename the template
    • Delete the template permanently

Now that a list of templates is ready, you have to define which template will be available for which plan. To do so, proceed to Configuration → Plans and create plans with suitable specifications. The options to define the instance template can be found under the Onboarding method tab and are different per each type.
Please refer now to the dedicated section in the documentation to see the options per onboarding method:

  • Super Quick Onboarding method:
    • Use Template For New Sites - Select a template that will be used by default for creating websites (you can impose using a template or the onboarding solution - Extendify)
  • Quick Onboarding method:
    • Use Template For New Sites - Select a template that will be used by default for creating websites; here you may allow clients to choose a theme
  • Standard Onboarding method:
    • Force Using Instance Template:
      • If enabled, you can select a template that will be used by default for creating websites.
      • If you leave this option disabled, the end client will be allowed to pick any template to create their website among all active instance templates.