Using the Client Portal

The UncleBTech client portal is your central hub for managing all hosting services, domains, billing, and support. This guide covers all portal features and how to use them effectively.

Portal Access and Login

Accessing Your Portal

Portal URL: https://my.uncleb.tech

Login Process:

Navigate to the portal URL
Enter your email address (used during account creation)
Enter your password
Click "Sign In" to access your dashboard
Enable "Remember Me" for convenience on trusted devices

First-Time Login:

# If you haven't logged in yet:
1. Check your welcome email for activation link
2. Click the activation link
3. Set your permanent password
4. Complete any required profile information
5. Access your dashboard

Password Management

Changing Your Password:

Click your profile icon in the top-right corner
Select "Account Settings" from the dropdown
Navigate to "Security" tab
Click "Change Password"
Enter current password and new password
Confirm the change

Password Requirements:

Minimum 8 characters
At least one uppercase letter
At least one number
Special characters recommended

Security Tip: Use a unique password for your hosting account and consider enabling two-factor authentication when available. Never share your login credentials with others.

Dashboard Overview

Main Dashboard Components

Account Summary:

Service Status: Real-time status of all your services
Recent Activity: Latest invoices, support tickets, and service changes
Quick Actions: Common tasks like opening control panels or submitting tickets
Resource Usage: Overview of storage, bandwidth, and other resource usage

Service Cards:

Each service displays:
- Service name and type
- Current status (Active, Suspended, Pending)
- Expiry date and renewal information
- Quick action buttons (Manage, Renew, Upgrade)
- Resource usage indicators

Navigation Structure

Main Menu Items:

Dashboard: Overview of account and services
Services: Detailed service management
Domains: Domain registration and DNS management
Billing: Invoices, payments, and billing history
Support: Submit tickets and view support history
Account: Profile settings and security options

Managing Your Services

Service Overview

Service List View:

Navigate to "Services" in the main menu
View all active services with status indicators
Use filters to find specific services by type or status
Click "Manage" next to any service for detailed management

Service Details:

Service Information:
- Service name and description
- Current plan and pricing
- Resource allocations and usage
- Expiry date and renewal status
- Associated domains and add-ons

Accessing Control Panels

WordPress & Cloud Hosting (Enhance CP):

Go to "Services" → Select your hosting service
Click "Manage Service"
Click "Open Control Panel" or "Access Enhance CP"
You'll be automatically logged into your hosting control panel

LaunchStack Hosting (Coolify):

Navigate to your LaunchStack service
Click "Open Coolify Dashboard"
Access your developer-focused PaaS interface
Manage applications, deployments, and services

Service Management Actions

Common Service Actions:

Upgrade/Downgrade: Change your service plan
Suspend: Temporarily suspend service
Cancel: Request service cancellation
Renew: Renew service before expiry
Add-ons: Purchase additional features

Upgrade Process:

Click "Upgrade/Downgrade" next to your service
Select new plan from available options
Review pricing changes and effective date
Confirm upgrade and payment method
Upgrade typically takes effect within 2 hours

Domain Management

Domain Overview

Domain List:

Active Domains: All domains registered or managed through UncleBTech
Expiry Dates: Clear display of domain expiry dates
Auto-Renewal Status: Whether domains are set to auto-renew
DNS Status: Current DNS configuration status

DNS Management

Accessing DNS Settings:

Go to "Domains" in the main menu
Click "Manage DNS" next to your domain
View current DNS records
Add, edit, or delete DNS records as needed

Common DNS Record Types:

# A Record (IPv4 address)
Type: A
Name: @
Value: 192.168.1.100
TTL: 3600

# CNAME Record (alias)
Type: CNAME
Name: www
Value: yourdomain.com
TTL: 3600

# MX Record (email)
Type: MX
Name: @
Value: mail.yourdomain.com
Priority: 10
TTL: 3600

Domain Registration and Transfer

Registering New Domains:

Use the domain search widget on the homepage
Check availability and select desired domains
Complete registration with accurate contact information
Configure DNS settings for your hosting

Domain Transfers:

Navigate to "Domains" → "Transfer Domain"
Enter domain name and authorization code
Verify contact information
Complete transfer process (typically 5-7 days)

Billing and Invoice Management

Invoice Access

Viewing Invoices:

Navigate to "Billing" → "Invoices"
View list of all invoices (paid and unpaid)
Click any invoice to view detailed breakdown
Download PDF copies for your records

Invoice Information:

Invoice Details:
- Invoice number and date
- Service period covered
- Itemized charges
- VAT calculations (if applicable)
- Payment due date
- Payment status

Payment Management

Payment Methods:

Go to "Billing" → "Payment Methods"
View saved payment methods
Add new credit cards, PayPal, or bank accounts
Set default payment method for auto-renewals
Enable or disable auto-pay for services

Making Payments:

Click "Pay Now" on any unpaid invoice
Select payment method or add new one
Review payment details and amount
Complete secure payment process
Receive immediate payment confirmation

Auto-Renewal Settings

Managing Auto-Renewal:

Navigate to "Services" or "Domains"
Click "Auto-Renewal Settings" for each service
Enable or disable auto-renewal
Set renewal timing preferences
Configure payment method for renewals

Billing Tip: Enable auto-renewal for critical services to prevent accidental expiry. You can always disable it later if your needs change.

Support and Ticket Management

Submitting Support Tickets

Creating New Tickets:

Navigate to "Support" → "Submit Ticket"
Select appropriate department:
- Technical Support: Hosting and technical issues
- Billing Support: Payment and billing questions
- Sales: Pre-sales questions and upgrades
- Abuse: Report abuse or security issues
Choose priority level (Normal, High, Urgent)
Provide detailed description of your issue
Attach relevant files or screenshots
Submit ticket and receive confirmation

Ticket Information to Include:

Essential Details:
- Domain name or service affected
- Specific error messages
- Steps to reproduce the issue
- When the problem started
- What you were trying to accomplish

Helpful Additional Information:
- Screenshots of error messages
- Browser and device information
- Recent changes made to your site
- Impact on your business or users

Managing Existing Tickets

Ticket Management:

Go to "Support" → "My Tickets"
View all open and closed tickets
Click any ticket to view conversation history
Reply to tickets to provide additional information
Close tickets when issues are resolved

Ticket Status Indicators:

Open: Ticket submitted and awaiting response
In Progress: Support team actively working on issue
Waiting for Customer: Awaiting your response or action
Resolved: Issue resolved, awaiting confirmation
Closed: Ticket closed and issue resolved

Support Response Times

Response Time by Plan:

Standard Plans: 24 hours for initial response
Priority Plans: Under 12 hours for initial response
SLA Plans: Under 4 hours with dedicated engineer
Emergency Issues: Immediate response for critical outages

Account Security and Settings

Security Settings

Two-Factor Authentication:

Go to "Account Settings" → "Security"
Click "Enable Two-Factor Authentication"
Scan QR code with authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy)
Enter verification code to confirm setup
Save backup codes in secure location

Login Security:

Session Management: View and manage active login sessions
Login History: Review recent login attempts and locations
IP Restrictions: Optional IP address restrictions for enhanced security
Device Management: Manage trusted devices and browsers

Profile Management

Updating Profile Information:

Navigate to "Account Settings" → "Profile"
Update personal information:
- Name and contact details
- Company information (if applicable)
- Communication preferences
- Time zone and language settings
Save changes to update your profile

Notification Preferences:

Notification Types:
- Service updates and maintenance
- Billing and payment reminders
- Security alerts and notifications
- Marketing communications (optional)
- Support ticket updates

Privacy and Data Management

Data Access and Control:

Data Export: Request export of your personal data
Data Correction: Update or correct personal information
Data Deletion: Request deletion of personal data (subject to legal requirements)
Privacy Settings: Control how your data is used and shared

Advanced Portal Features

API Access Management

API Key Generation:

Navigate to "Account Settings" → "API Access"
Click "Generate New API Key"
Set permissions and access levels
Copy and securely store your API key
Use API key for programmatic access to services

API Key Management:

# Example API key usage
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer your-api-key" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     https://api.unclebtech.com/v1/services

Team and User Management

Adding Team Members (Business Accounts):

Go to "Account Settings" → "Team Management"
Click "Add Team Member"
Enter email address and select permissions:
- Full Access: Complete account management
- Billing Only: Access to billing information
- Technical Only: Access to hosting and technical settings
- Read Only: View-only access
Send invitation and manage permissions

White-Label Options (Agencies)

Agency Portal Customization:

Custom Branding: Replace UncleBTech branding with your own
Custom Domain: Access portal via your own domain
Client Management: Manage multiple client accounts
Branded Communications: System emails with your branding

Mobile Access and Responsive Features

Mobile Portal Features

Mobile-Optimized Interface:

Responsive Design: Full functionality on mobile devices
Touch-Friendly: Optimized for touch interaction
Quick Actions: Easy access to common tasks
Offline Capability: Basic offline access to account information

Mobile-Specific Features:

Push Notifications: Mobile notifications for critical alerts
Quick Pay: Streamlined payment process for mobile
Emergency Access: Quick access to emergency support
Biometric Login: Fingerprint/Face ID login where supported

Progressive Web App (PWA)

PWA Features:

Add to Home Screen: Install portal as app on mobile devices
Offline Access: Limited offline functionality
Fast Loading: Optimized loading for mobile networks
Native Feel: App-like experience on mobile devices

Troubleshooting Portal Issues

Common Portal Problems

Login Issues:

Forgotten Password: Use "Forgot Password" link on login page
Account Locked: Contact support for account unlock
Two-Factor Issues: Use backup codes or contact support
Browser Compatibility: Try different browser or clear cache

Performance Issues:

Slow Loading: Clear browser cache and cookies
Timeout Errors: Check internet connection and try again
Display Issues: Disable browser extensions or try incognito mode
Mobile Issues: Update browser or try desktop version

Getting Portal Support

Portal-Specific Support:

Email: portal@unclebtech.com for portal-specific issues
Live Chat: Available through the portal for immediate assistance
Emergency Access: Alternative access methods for critical situations

Information to Provide:

Account Email: Email address associated with your account
Error Messages: Exact error messages you're seeing
Browser Details: Browser type and version
Device Information: Desktop, mobile, tablet details
Steps to Reproduce: What you were trying to do when the issue occurred

Portal Access Promise: We guarantee portal access issues will be resolved within 2 hours during business hours, or immediately for urgent business-critical access problems.

Best Practices for Portal Usage

Security Best Practices

Strong Passwords: Use unique, complex passwords
Regular Reviews: Regularly review account activity and settings
Secure Networks: Avoid using public WiFi for sensitive account access
Logout Properly: Always log out completely when using shared computers
Monitor Activity: Review login history and account changes regularly

Efficient Portal Usage

Bookmark Important Pages: Bookmark frequently used portal sections
Use Quick Actions: Take advantage of dashboard quick actions
Set Up Notifications: Configure notifications for important events
Regular Maintenance: Regularly review and update account information
Mobile Access: Use mobile portal for quick checks and emergency access

Organization Tips

Service Naming: Use clear, descriptive names for services
Contact Organization: Keep contact information current and organized
Documentation: Document important account information and procedures
Team Access: Properly configure team access and permissions
Regular Reviews: Conduct regular reviews of services and settings

Need help with the client portal? Contact our support team at portal@unclebtech.com or submit a ticket through the portal for assistance with any portal-related questions or issues.