i am using the joomla cms. how do i manage user access to my website?

Answer by: Stuart Pierce, Aplus.Net Knowledge Base Support

Joomla is one of the most powerful Open Source Content Management Systems on the planet. It is used all over the world for everything from simple websites to complex corporate applications. Joomla can be used to easily manage every aspect of your website, from adding content and images to updating a product catalog or taking online reservations. Joomla is easy to install, simple to manage, and reliable. It is available for installation through the Aplus.Net Control Panel for the following Unix-based hosting plans:

• Pro Unix
• eCommerce Unix

Once the Joomla CMS is installed, you can create different types of user access to your website. Joomla has two main hierarchies for User Groups: one for access to the Front-end (so users can login to your website and view designated sections and pages) and one for Back-end Administration access.

Here is how you can create new users for your Joomla website:

1. Start by logging into the Aplus.Net Control Panel at http://cp.aplus.net using your Registration Number and Customer Password.
2. Select Web Hosting from the top navigation bar.
3. Next, select Hosted Domains and click on Manage Hosted Domains.
4. Now, select the hosted domain that you’d like to manage.
5. Click the Design tab.
6. Click the Joomla icon.
7. Click the Config button.
8. Click the Manage Users button. You will be redirected to the Joomla User Administration.
9. Click the New button found on the top-right navigation.
10. Now, you have to enter the new user details in the respective text fields. A key detail is the Group to which the new user will be assigned. Here is an explanation of the Group access levels:

• Registered - These Users are able to login to the Front-end web site. Additional information (sections and pages) may be available to a user once logged in. In general, access provided to a parent group (like Registered) is inherited by the child groups (like Author).
• Author - These Users are given access to submit new content and edit their own content items/pages by logging into the Front-end.
• Editor - These Users are given access to submit and edit any content by logging into the Front-end.
• Publisher - These Users are given access to submit, edit and publish any content by logging into the Front-end.
• Manager - This group allows access to content creation and other system information.
• Administrator - This group allows access to most administration functions.
• Super Administrator - This group allows access to most administration functions.

11. Click the Apply button when you are done entering the user details.

Note:

• Users with Front-end Access will be able to login at your Joomla website Homepage.
• Users with Back-end Administration Access should login at http://yourdomain.com/administrator/ (if you have installed Joomla in your main /html directory) or at http://joomla.yourdomain.com/administrator/ (if you have installed Joomla as a subdomain named “joomla”).

Please replace yourdomain.com with your actual hosted domain name.

The Joomla CMS help section on Managing Users is available here:

• http://help.joomla.org/content/view/476/221/

Related links:

• I have a Unix-based hosting plan. How can I install the Joomla CMS on my website?
• How can I install additional templates for my Joomla website?
• How do I make my Joomla website URLs Search Engine Friendly?