How to setup CloudFlare in cPanel
We are going to take you through the process of setting up CloudFlare. Before you continue if you’re using a SSL certificate on your site then this isn’t the option for you unless you upgrade to their Pro plan, however if you’re not using SSL the cPanel CloudFlare option will set this up for you in a few clicks.
If you are using a SSL then we will be creating a video tutorial on this in the next few days, where you can SSL your site for free.
Setting up is simple
- Login to cPanel
- Select the CloudFlare icon in the software section
- Click the signup button or signup with CLoudflare directly.
Ok now you have signed up you will need to navigate back to cPanel then back into CloudFlare again. If you have already signed up with CloudFlare you can just login.
Ok you will be presented with 2 options if you signed up with Cloudflare through cPaanel
- Provision Domain with CNAME setup
- Provision Domain with full zone setup
When to use CNAME
If your site is using www. then you can use the CNAME setup as the sub domain www. can be routed through CloudFlare. If your site is already set to divert non www. to www. then this is fine for you. If you want everything to go through www. then you can add the following code to your .htaccess file.
[sourcecode language=”plain”]
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^yourdomain.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.yourdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301] [/sourcecode]
If you’re using WordPress just set your site in settings to www. don’t use the above code or you will get an infinite loop.
When to use FULL DNS
If you’re using just the domain name e.g. http://yourdomain.com then you need to use the FULL DNS as you cannot add a CNAME to the ROOT domain only sub domains.
Provision CloudFlare
Once you have chosen which version you want to use then all you need to do is click on the provision button
If you select the FULL DNS option, then you will be presented with the new nameservers that you need to change on your domain name. This means that BirchHosting will no longer manage the DNS aspect of your hosting, CloudFlare will.
How to change your nameservers with domains that are with us can be found on our Video Tutorials Page under Change Nameservers
Thats it you’re all done, if you dont feel confident in setting this up we are more than happy to do this for you.