8. Emergency log in to the site
If the master manager has lost their password, an emergency log in may be performed.
In a Smallsite Design site, the index.php starting code file is in the site's root folder. Almost all other files are in a special secure folder which has a very long name starting with sd. and including a 256bit cryptographically-generated random number to mitigate against brute force attempts to guess it. It is periodically renamed as an extra measure, but this is only done when a master manager is logging in. This makes the folder name useful as an emergency password as no one outside of those with access to the cPanel interface would know it. The User ID to be used with it is ...
Keep the cPanel account password locked away, as anyone with access to it can control the site using this procedure.
Stepsβ³
π indicates that the step has learning notes. Click Learning to show all of them. Click π to show the step's notes.
This procedure is intended to be performed by: Master manager.
To log into the manage pages:
if not already.
2Open the File Manager page
by clicking on the File Manager link in the Files section.
3List the site root's contents
by clicking on the site's folder in the folder list, which will be public_html or one within it.
The .well-known folder is used by cPanel during the generation and renewal of the site certificate and can be left there. A cgi-bin folder may be shown and though not used by Smallsite Design, it can also be left there.
4Copy the secure folder name
by performing:
4-1Select the secure folder
by clicking on the folder starting with sd.
The item's background is highlighted.
4-2Activate edit mode
by clicking on the folder name.
The folder name changes to a short edit box showing the first part of the name.
4-3Select the whole name
by pressing the Ctrl | Command+A keys.
4-4Copy the name to the clipboard
by pressing the Ctrl | Command+C keys.
4-5Close the browser tab|window
by clicking on its X button.
5Open the site
in a new browser tab|window.
6Open the Login page
by clicking on the Manage link at the bottom of any page.
The keyboard shortcut is whatever key(s) are used for your browser and operating system to invoke use of an access key + \.
7Provide User ID
by typing in ... and clicking the Submit button.