Title: How to Use the Index Manager in cPanel to Control Directory Display
Introduction: In this tutorial, we'll demonstrate how to use the Index Manager in cPanel to control how directories on your website are displayed. This feature is particularly useful for preventing unauthorized access to your directory contents, enhancing your website's security. This tutorial assumes that you have already logged in to your cPanel account.
Step 1: Access the Index Manager
- Locate and click on the "Index Manager" icon within your cPanel dashboard.
Step 2: Select a Directory
- Choose the directory you want to manage and click "Go."
Note: The Index Manager enables you to control how directories on your website are displayed. If there is no index.html file in a given directory, the contents of that directory may be displayed in a browser, which can be undesirable and create security risks. The Index Manager allows you to prevent your directory contents from being shown.
Step 3: Configure Index Manager Settings
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For this example, we'll set up the Index Manager for the "clients" directory. There are four settings to choose from:
a. Default System Setting: Allows the directory contents to be shown. b. No Indexing: Prevents directory contents from being displayed in a browser. c. Standard Indexing (filename only): Prevents browsers from viewing the contents of directories that do not contain image files. d. Fancy Indexing: Prevents browsers from viewing the contents of directories that contain image files.
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Since we don't want the contents of the "clients" directory to be visible, select "No Indexing."
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Click "Save" to apply the changes.
You have successfully updated the index settings, and visitors can no longer view the contents of the "clients" directory.
(Optional) Step 4: Revert to Default Settings
- To revert the settings back to the default and allow visitors to view the directory contents again, simply choose "Default System Setting" and click "Save."
Conclusion: By following this tutorial, you can now effectively use the Index Manager in cPanel to control the display of your website's directories and enhance your site's security.
