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Installing Dolphin on cPanel with Arannel Hosting


Overview

Dolphin is a powerful and feature-rich community software platform designed to help you build engaging social networking websites, dating sites, online communities, and membership portals. At Arannel Hosting, we make it easy to install Dolphin through our cPanel integration with Softaculous Auto-Installer.

Whether you're creating a niche social network, dating platform, or professional community, you can have Dolphin up and running in just a few minutes.

What is Dolphin?

Dolphin (formerly known as Boonex Dolphin) is an open-source social networking and community building platform that enables you to create:

  • Social networking websites
  • Dating and matchmaking platforms
  • Professional networking communities
  • Membership-based portals
  • Online learning communities
  • Interest-based social groups

Key Features

  • Member Profiles: Customizable user profiles with photos, videos, and personal information
  • Messaging System: Private messaging, chat, and video calls
  • Media Sharing: Photo albums, video galleries, and music playlists
  • Groups and Events: Create and manage community groups and events
  • Blogs and Forums: Built-in blogging and discussion forums
  • Advanced Search: Find members based on various criteria
  • Mobile Responsive: Works seamlessly on all devices
  • Monetization Options: Membership levels, paid services, and advertising
  • Moderation Tools: Comprehensive admin controls and content moderation
  • Extensible: Hundreds of modules and plugins available

Prerequisites

Before installing Dolphin, ensure you have:

  • An active hosting account with Arannel Hosting
  • Access to your cPanel login credentials
  • A domain name pointed to your hosting account
  • An email address for admin notifications
  • Basic understanding of community websites (helpful but not required)

System Requirements

Dolphin requires:

  • PHP 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.0+ recommended)
  • MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.0+
  • Apache web server with mod_rewrite enabled
  • At least 500MB of disk space (more recommended for media-heavy sites)
  • SSL certificate (recommended for security)

Good news: All Arannel Hosting packages are pre-configured to meet and exceed these requirements!

Installation Methods

Arannel Hosting supports two methods for installing Dolphin:

  1. Softaculous Auto-Installer (Recommended - fastest and easiest)
  2. Manual Installation via FTP (For advanced users)

This guide focuses on the Softaculous method, which automates the entire process.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1: Log into cPanel

  1. Access your Arannel Hosting client area
  2. Locate your hosting service
  3. Click "Login to cPanel"
  4. Alternatively, visit yourdomain.com/cpanel and enter your credentials

Step 2: Access Softaculous Apps Installer

  1. Scroll down to the Software section in cPanel
  2. Click on the Softaculous Apps Installer icon
  3. The Softaculous interface will open

Step 3: Locate Dolphin

  1. In the Softaculous search bar, type "Dolphin"
  2. Click on the Dolphin icon from the search results
  3. Alternatively, navigate to Portals/CMS → Dolphin from the left sidebar
  4. You'll see the Dolphin overview page with features and demo links

Step 4: Start Installation

  1. Click the Install Now button
  2. You'll be directed to the Dolphin installation configuration page

Step 5: Configure Software Setup

Choose Installation Location

  • Choose Protocol:
    • Select https:// if you have an SSL certificate installed (highly recommended for social networks)
    • Select http:// if SSL is not yet configured
  • Choose Domain:
    • Select the domain where you want to install Dolphin from the dropdown
  • In Directory:
    • Leave blank to install in your domain's root directory (yourdomain.com)
    • Enter a folder name (e.g., "community") to install in a subdirectory (yourdomain.com/community)

Recommendation: For social networking sites, install in the root directory for better branding and SEO.

Step 6: Configure Site Settings

  • Site Name: Enter your community's name
    • Example: "TechConnect Community", "Singles Meet", "Fitness Network"
  • Site Description: Provide a brief description of your community
    • Example: "A social network for tech enthusiasts"
    • This helps with SEO and user understanding

Step 7: Set Up Admin Account

Important: This is your master admin account with full control.

  • Admin Username: Choose a unique administrator username
    • Avoid common names like "admin" for security
    • Example: community_admin, site_manager
  • Admin Password: Create a strong, secure password
    • Minimum 12 characters
    • Mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters
    • Use the password generator icon for a strong password
  • Admin Email: Enter your email address
    • Receives important notifications and alerts
    • Used for password recovery
    • Should be actively monitored

Security Note: Never use easily guessable usernames or passwords for community sites!

Step 8: Configure Database Settings

Softaculous automatically handles database creation:

  • Database Name: Auto-generated (or customize if preferred)
  • Database Username: Auto-generated
  • Database Password: Auto-generated
  • Table Prefix: Default is bx_ (can be customized for security)

Tip: Keep the default settings unless you have specific database naming requirements.

Step 9: Advanced Options (Optional)

Auto Upgrade

  • Enable Auto Upgrade: Check this box to automatically update Dolphin
  • Recommended for security patches and bug fixes
  • You can also update manually when needed

Backup Location

  • Specify where automated backups should be stored
  • Choose a location or use default
  • Regular backups are crucial for community sites

Email Installation Details

  • Check this box to receive installation details via email
  • Includes admin credentials, database info, and access URLs
  • Highly recommended for record-keeping

Step 10: Select Plugins (Optional)

Softaculous may offer optional plugins or modules:

  • Review available options
  • Select any that suit your community needs
  • You can always install more modules later from Dolphin's marketplace

Step 11: Review and Install

  1. Double-check all your settings
  2. Ensure admin email is correct
  3. Verify domain and directory settings
  4. Click the Install button at the bottom
  5. Wait 2-3 minutes for installation to complete

Step 12: Installation Complete

Once installation finishes, you'll see a success message with:

  • Community URL: Your site's public address
  • Admin Panel URL: Backend administration area
  • Admin Username: Your admin login username
  • Admin Password: Your admin password (if displayed)
  • Database Details: Database name, user, and password

Critical: Save all these details in a secure location!

Step 13: Access Your Dolphin Community

  1. Visit Your Community: Click the community URL or go to https://yourdomain.com
  2. Access Admin Panel: Visit https://yourdomain.com/administration or the provided admin URL
  3. Log In: Enter your admin username and password

Congratulations! Your Dolphin community is now live!

Post-Installation Configuration

Essential Initial Setup Steps

1. Complete the Installation Wizard

When you first log into the admin panel, Dolphin may guide you through additional setup:

  1. Verify site settings
  2. Configure email settings
  3. Set up payment systems (if using paid memberships)
  4. Review privacy settings
  5. Configure media settings

2. Configure General Settings

Navigate to Settings → General Settings:

  • Site Title and Description: Ensure they're properly set
  • Time Zone: Set to your location
  • Date and Time Formats: Choose preferred formats
  • Site Email: Set the default sender email address
  • Language: Select default site language

3. Set Up Email Configuration

Go to Settings → Email Settings:

  • SMTP Settings: Configure email delivery
    • Use Arannel Hosting's mail server
    • Host: mail.yourdomain.com
    • Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
    • Username: Your full email address
    • Password: Your email password
  • Email Templates: Customize notification emails
  • Email Notifications: Configure what triggers emails

4. Configure Membership Levels

Navigate to Settings → Membership Levels:

  • Set up free and paid membership tiers
  • Define permissions for each level
  • Configure membership features and limits
  • Set pricing (if applicable)
  • Enable/disable trial periods

5. Customize Your Site Design

Go to Settings → Design:

  • Choose a Template: Select from available themes
  • Customize Colors: Match your brand
  • Upload Logo: Add your community logo
  • Favicon: Upload site icon
  • Custom CSS: Add custom styling if needed

6. Configure Privacy Settings

Navigate to Settings → Privacy:

  • Set default privacy levels
  • Configure who can view profiles
  • Set content visibility rules
  • Configure search engine indexing
  • Set age restrictions if needed

7. Set Up Content Moderation

Go to Settings → Moderation:

  • Enable/disable content pre-moderation
  • Set up profanity filters
  • Configure spam protection
  • Set up automatic content review
  • Define moderation rules

8. Install Essential Modules

Navigate to Modules or Extensions:

Recommended modules:

  • Advanced profile fields
  • Video chat (if needed)
  • Events management
  • Photo contests
  • Polls and surveys
  • News/announcements
  • Store/marketplace (if needed)

9. Configure Payment Settings (If Applicable)

For monetized communities, go to Settings → Payment:

  • Enable payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)
  • Set up pricing for premium features
  • Configure subscription billing
  • Set up payment notifications

10. Create Essential Pages

Set up important pages:

  • About Us: Explain your community's purpose
  • Terms of Service: Legal terms for members
  • Privacy Policy: Data handling and privacy
  • Community Guidelines: Rules and expectations
  • FAQ: Common questions and answers
  • Contact: How members can reach you

Customizing Your Dolphin Community

Profile Configuration

  1. Navigate to Settings → Profile Fields
  2. Add custom profile fields relevant to your community
  3. Set required vs. optional fields
  4. Configure field visibility settings
  5. Organize fields into logical sections

Setting Up Member Categories

For dating sites or specialized communities:

  1. Go to Settings → Categories
  2. Define member categories
  3. Set up search categories
  4. Configure matching algorithms (for dating sites)

Configuring Media Settings

Navigate to Settings → Media:

  • Set maximum file sizes for uploads
  • Configure allowed file types
  • Set image quality and dimensions
  • Enable/disable watermarks
  • Configure video conversion settings

Setting Up Navigation Menus

Customize site navigation:

  1. Go to Settings → Navigation
  2. Add/remove menu items
  3. Organize menu structure
  4. Set menu permissions by membership level
  5. Create custom menu items

Widget and Block Management

  1. Navigate to Builders → Page Blocks
  2. Add/remove blocks from pages
  3. Rearrange block positions
  4. Configure block visibility
  5. Customize block content

Security Best Practices

1. Enable SSL/HTTPS

  1. Return to cPanel
  2. Go to Security → SSL/TLS Status
  3. Enable AutoSSL for your domain
  4. In Dolphin admin, update site URL to https://
  5. Force HTTPS in Dolphin settings

2. Keep Dolphin Updated

  • Regularly check for updates in admin panel
  • Install security patches immediately
  • Update modules and plugins
  • Backup before major updates

3. Configure Strong Password Requirements

In Settings → Security:

  • Enforce minimum password length
  • Require mix of characters
  • Enable password strength meter
  • Force password changes periodically

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

If available:

  • Enable 2FA for admin accounts
  • Encourage members to use 2FA
  • Configure 2FA settings

5. Implement Spam Protection

  • Enable CAPTCHA on registration
  • Use reCAPTCHA v3 for better user experience
  • Configure spam detection rules
  • Moderate new member content initially

6. Regular Security Audits

  • Review admin access logs
  • Monitor suspicious activity
  • Check member reports
  • Review moderation queue regularly

7. Backup Regularly

  • Enable automatic daily backups
  • Store backups off-site
  • Test backup restoration
  • Keep multiple backup versions

8. Limit Admin Access

  • Create role-based admin accounts
  • Limit super admin access
  • Log all admin actions
  • Use strong credentials for all admin accounts

Performance Optimization

1. Enable Caching

In Dolphin admin:

  1. Go to Settings → Cache
  2. Enable page caching
  3. Enable database query caching
  4. Configure cache lifetime
  5. Clear cache after major changes

2. Optimize Images

  • Compress images before upload
  • Enable automatic image optimization
  • Set appropriate image quality levels
  • Use CDN for image delivery

3. Database Optimization

  1. Access phpMyAdmin in cPanel
  2. Select your Dolphin database
  3. Run optimization on all tables
  4. Schedule regular database maintenance
  5. Clean up old/unused data periodically

4. Use a CDN

  • Integrate Cloudflare or another CDN
  • Offload static content delivery
  • Improve global loading speeds
  • Reduce server bandwidth usage

5. Optimize Server Settings

In cPanel:

  1. Navigate to Select PHP Version
  2. Choose latest stable PHP version (8.0+)
  3. Enable PHP extensions:
    • opcache
    • gd
    • mbstring
    • mysqli
    • zip
  4. Adjust PHP memory limit if needed

6. Minimize Modules

  • Only activate necessary modules
  • Deactivate unused features
  • Regularly audit active modules
  • Remove completely unused modules

7. Configure Video Settings

For video-heavy communities:

  • Use external video hosting (YouTube, Vimeo)
  • Configure video compression settings
  • Set appropriate video quality limits
  • Implement lazy loading for videos

Managing Your Dolphin Community

Member Management

Navigate to Members in admin panel:

  • View All Members: Browse member list
  • Approve/Suspend Members: Moderate accounts
  • Delete Spam Accounts: Remove fake profiles
  • Manage Profiles: Edit member information
  • Send Messages: Communicate with members
  • Member Reports: Review reported users

Content Moderation

Access Moderation panel:

  • Pending Content: Review awaiting approval
  • Reported Content: Handle user reports
  • Spam Queue: Review flagged content
  • Photo/Video Moderation: Review media uploads
  • Comment Moderation
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