STUDIO
Choose another installation method

INSTALLATION HELP · 02 / 04

Install with your web host

CUP on compatible hosting, such as OVH.

This guide will walk you through preparing your hosting, installing CUP and activating your plan.

OVH example: the steps below prepare a dedicated subdomain for CUP. Installation does not require creating an OVH MySQL database.

INSTALLATION HELP

Using GPT or Claude?

Ask it to help you install CUP, one step at a time.

Show prompt
I want to install CUP on web hosting. Ask for my hosting provider, whether I have a dedicated CUP subdomain, whether its HTTPS certificate is active, whether PHP 8.2 or later is available, and whether I have SFTP access. Never ask me for credentials. If hosting is ready, go straight to installation. Then guide me to upload only installer-cup.php into the dedicated folder, open it over HTTPS, and complete the checks and setup after installation.

Official CUP guide : https://cup-studio.com/en/instal/hebergement-web/

Guide me in plain English, one step at a time, and wait for my reply before continuing. Use the CUP guide and official documentation; do not guess menus, commands or compatibility. If information is missing, say so and help me verify it.

Security: never ask me for a password, activation code, licence serial number, key or token. I will enter licence details only in the official CUP installer. Do not suggest commands that erase, reset or replace data. Explain the effect of any command that changes the system and wait for my approval before asking me to run it. Do not expose sensitive services to the Internet. Ask me to hide personal information in screenshots and error messages.

Start by asking the first question needed for this guide.

Never share your NAS password or licence code/serial number with an AI.

01

Prepare hosting (if needed)

Only do this if your web hosting is not ready for CUP yet.

If your hosting, subdomain and SFTP access are already ready, go straight to step 02.

PREPARATION · IF HOSTING IS NOT READY
01.1Choose the hosting planRECOMMENDED
WEB HOSTING PLAN

The Pro plan

This is the plan used for this OVH example. Prices and features can change, so check the offer when subscribing.

Click to enlarge · Our example, Pro plan
01.2Link the subdomain to the correct folderMY SITES

In OVH Manager, open My sites and link the chosen subdomain to a dedicated folder, for example /cup. This folder becomes the site root: cup.your-domain.com will display its contents.

Use a subdomain dedicated to CUP. Do not replace the root folder of a live website.

01.3Check the SSL certificateHTTPS

In the SSL Certificates tab, check that the CUP subdomain has an active Let’s Encrypt certificate. Wait until the provider shows it as active before continuing.

Why wait?

The certificate proves to the browser that the server is authorized to answer for this exact domain name and encrypts the connection. Until it is ready for the exact subdomain, the browser may show “This connection is not private”: the certificate presented does not match the site. Do not enter credentials or bypass the warning. Once the certificate is active, open https://cup.your-domain.com and check that the warning is gone.

Example of a warning not to ignore · click to enlarge

The certificate must cover CUP’s subdomain, not only the main domain. Initial activation may take a little while after adding the domain or updating DNS. If OVH already shows “Active” but the warning persists, check that the certificate and website folder use the same subdomain and that DNS points to the correct hosting plan.

When the status is active and the warning is gone, open the https:// address before starting the installer.

OVH guide · Let’s Encrypt certificate ↗
01.4Check the PHP versionPHP 8.2+

CUP requires PHP 8.2 or later. The installer also checks for curl, ZIP, OpenSSL, mbstring, GD, fileinfo and JSON extensions, HTTPS and write access.

The global PHP version may affect several websites on the same hosting plan. Check their compatibility before changing it.

01.5Prepare SFTP accessPORT 22

Find the SFTP server and login in the FTP - SSH tab. Connect with SFTP on port 22 and open the subdomain root folder, for example /cup.

Download the CUP installerZIP file · 1 PHP file · free compatibility check

You can download this file before purchasing to check your web hosting: upload it to an empty web folder and open it over HTTPS. Compatibility checks appear without a code. CUP is installed only after you enter an activation code and submit the form.

Click to enlarge · Example of the file to upload

The destination folder must be empty. Upload only installer-cup.php, not a full CUP archive. Never share your SFTP password.

OVH guide · FTP / SFTP connection ↗

Hosting ready? Continue with Install CUP.

02

Install CUP

Upload the standalone installer, open it over HTTPS and follow its checks.

CUP INSTALLATION · HOSTING READY

After uploading the file with SFTP, open the installer URL. It first checks that the hosting plan can run CUP. Once the checks pass, the form below appears.

Form after hosting checks pass · click to enlarge

Continue only when all checks pass. If one fails, correct the indicated hosting setting and run the installer again. Do not delete existing files just to pass a check.

  1. Open the installerVisit https://cup.your-domain.com/installer-cup.php.
  2. Let the checks completeIf a check fails, fix the reported issue before continuing.
  3. Complete the form and start installationEnter the email registered in CUP Central for this licence, choose a short owner login (no @ sign or spaces), create and confirm a password of at least 12 characters containing a letter and a number, and enter the CUP serial number. Then click “Check and install CUP” once.
  4. Wait without closing the tabCUP verifies the serial number, downloads the authorized package and installs the files. This may take a little while.
After submitting the form · click to enlarge

While this screen is shown, do not close the tab, reload the page or click a second time. Wait for the completion message before continuing.

When CUP confirms installation, the success page appears. The version shown depends on the package installed and may differ from this example.

Success screen · click to enlarge
FROM HERE · STEPS SHARED BY ALL INSTALLATION METHODS
  1. Enter CUP with your login detailsClick “Enter CUP” and sign in with the login and password you created during installation. Then remove the installer with SFTP, as shown below.

The CUP sign-in screen appears next. Enter the owner login and password you chose during installation.

If CUP offers two-step verification at this first sign-in, choose “Not now” and enable it after configuring email delivery.

Before inviting clients, configure email delivery in Preferences, under “SMTP Configuration”. CUP needs this to send invitations, alerts and other messages.

Email configuration · click to enlarge

Enter the settings supplied by your email provider: server, port, SMTP address, alert recipient and sending mailbox password. This OVH example shows ssl0.ovh.net and port 465; check the values for your own account. The SMTP password stays on the CUP server and must never be shared in a screenshot or message.

Once email delivery is configured, enable two-step verification in security settings. A one-time code will be sent by email in addition to the password at sign-in.

Enable two-step verification · click to enlarge

This protection is recommended to secure your files and client workspaces. If you chose “Not now” at first sign-in, you can enable it here.

CUP then asks you to complete your administrator profile. Add the contact details you want to use in CUP and with clients, then save the profile.

Profile to complete after first sign-in · click to enlarge

The photo, phone, WhatsApp and personal calendar subscription are optional. Check the email address before saving. The calendar subscription link is private; do not share it publicly.

Finish by checking the licence in CUP. Confirm CUP Central is reachable, the edition shown matches your plan (Light or Pro), and the domain matches your installation address.

Example of an active licence · click to enlarge

If the status is not active or the domain/edition does not match, select “Check now” and verify network access and the information supplied with the licence. Do not publish the unique licence identifier.

See the illustrated guide to refresh your licence ↗

Once signed in, return to your SFTP app and delete installer-cup.php from the /cup folder. This file should not remain accessible on the website.

Installation initializes CUP’s data; you do not need to create an OVH MySQL database.

03

Check and personalise CUP

Confirm your licence and tailor CUP’s visual identity to your studio.

Enter the email address registered in CUP Central for the licence. installer-cup.php also asks for the serial number, so keep the licence email handy during setup.

AFTER INSTALLATION · PERSONALISE CUP

Open CUP Personalisation to tailor the workspace to your studio: choose an accent colour, display name and tagline, default visuals, welcome text and favicons. Preview the welcome message before saving your changes.

Example of CUP visual settings · click to enlarge

Choose images that remain clear at small sizes and review the welcome message as a client will see it. Favicons identify CUP in the browser tab and shortcuts.

You can then set the signature added to email invitations, alerts, approvals and deliveries: logo, display name, role, phone, email address, website and custom text.

Email signature preview · click to enlarge

Add a logo if you have one, verify the contact details and light/dark appearance, then choose “Save and send a test” to check the result in your inbox.

AFTER INSTALLATION · PUSH NOTIFICATIONS

To enable push notifications, add a scheduled task after installation: cup/assets/cup-push-worker.php, PHP 8.3, every hour. These are the settings from our OVH example; check the instructions for your CUP version.

OVH guide · CRON scheduled tasks ↗
04

Update CUP

Apply updates to use the latest available version of CUP.

To start an update, open Management, then Updates. You can also use the version button at the top of CUP when a new version is available.

Management → Updates · click to enlarge
Quick access when an update is available

In the update centre, check the installed version and the version authorized by CUP Central. The package signature is checked before installation; account, project, comment, client and settings data are preserved.

Keep the update centre open until download, verification and installation are complete. Do not reload the page or restart the operation. The version numbers and package size in this screenshot are examples and may change.

CUP installation and updates do not require creating an OVH MySQL database.

NEED HELP?cedric@cup-studio.com

NEXT STEP · AFTER INSTALLATION

Explore your first steps in CUP

Your hosting provider manages server access. Go straight to the two workflows in CUP.

Explore both workflows