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How do I get Shared Hosting with root access?
Unfortunately, you can’t get Shared Hosting with root access. Why?
Mostly, it’s a matter of security for web hosting providers.
You see, in Shared Hosting your website is hosted with sometimes hundreds of other websites on the same server.
If a hosting provider allowed its Shared Hosting account users root access to their server, any one of these accounts or websites can cause all kinds of havoc for all the websites hosted on that same server.
For example, they could install malware and steal information from individual website’s files etc.
If you want or need root access to your server, then you will need to at least upgrade to a VPS or better, a Dedicated Server.
What exactly is root access in Web Hosting?
Root access in web hosting refers to being able to access all the files.
In fact, everything that is contained in a web server including software, operating programs, website files etc.
Root access not only provides you with access to an entire web server, but it also allows you to change, replace or even delete anything within that server.
In other words, root access are “the keys to the web server kingdom”.
So I’m sure you can understand why most web hosts are very stringent on who has root access to which server, and who does not.
Can I get VPS hosting with root access?
Normally you can get root access to your server with VPS hosting. However, it is not always guaranteed.
Some web hosting providers may offer limited root access to a server even for VPS hosting clients.
Other web hosting providers may not offer root access.
Whereas most web hosting providers will offer VPS hosting clients root access, but they will either offer it automatically or you will need to ask for permission.
So it’s always a good idea to clarify whether or not root access and full root access are included in the VPS hosting plan that you are considering before committing.
What can you do with root access?
With root access to your website’s server you can, but aren’t limited, to do the following:
- Edit or change any files on that server.
- Change the system.
- Provide and remove permissions to other accounts.
- Install software server-wide (MySQL, Apache, etc.)
- Set up software configurations throughout the server.
Bottom line is that root access gives you full control over the server.
When would I need root access?
You would want full root access control to your server if you want to use it for the following:
- Hosting multiple websites.
- Install third party software/applications.
- Use it as a Game server or host.
You can also maintain the entire server as per your own preferences and settings.
How do I get root access to my server?
Since every web host has their own procedures for root access to their servers, your best bet would be to simply find the directions from your particular web host.
However, the two most popular ways that most will access a VPS server will either be through cPanel or WHM.
So it’s best to check with your web host and their instructions on how to best use root access to your server.
What does root credential mean?
If you are a single user with root access, technically your “root credential” is your (username and password).
However, if you allow multiple root users, each user account is assigned with their own “credentials”. Credentials are used for authenticating an account, basically a simple (username and password) of an administrator account.
In practice it works like this: Each administrator that needs root access to the directory of a server can have their own account with their own credentials (username and password) .
This makes it easier to keep an audit trail of who does what in the directory of a server.
This works much better than if all of the administrators shared a single root account.
Because each root user account has its own set of credentials, the credentials for one root user can be changed without impacting any of the other root users.
It is not necessary to coordinate root password changes among all of the administrators because each of them has their own account.
If an administrator leaves for example, that account can simply be deactivated or removed.
What is a root level folder?
A root level folder is a folder at the highest level of the server. This root level folder contains all the files within that particular server.
If you are familiar with cPanel for example and are on a Shared Hosting plan you may have noticed that if you have multiple websites on that account, you will have one primary domain.
That primary domain is basically the “root” domain on that account. Every other domain that you add on to it, commonly known as “addons” in cPanel, are subdomains.
The files for those subdomains are contained within your primary domain name’s root folder.
This is why, or major reason why web hosting providers do not allow root access to their customers on Shared Hosting plans.
With root access you can have access to not only primary domains on that server, but all the subdomains of each as well.
Literally hundreds of websites.
Is Public_html the root directory?
Public_html is the web root for a primary domain name. This means that public_html is the folder where all a website’s files appear when someone types in the main domain.
As I’ve mentioned above, a primary domain name on a hosting account is basically the root domain for that account in which subdomains can then be added on to it.
That does not mean that “Public_html” is the root directory for the entire server. Public_html is simply the root directory for a primary domain.
Shared and VPS Hosting with root access Root access summary.
Let’s be clear, Shared Hosting plans do not offer or come with root access for the reasons I’ve mentioned in this post.
However, VPS Hosting, in most cases, does come with root access.
When looking into VPS hosting plans you do need to inquire:
- Whether or not that VPS hosting does come with root access?
- If so, is that access automatic?
- Is access to the server limited in any way?
You’ll find though that most VPS hosting plans will offer full root access included with their plans.
In some cases, you may have to request permission for access, mainly for security reasons or protocol, but most do offer root access.
