First week setup order
Identity and email first, then captcha, registration, files, limits, storage, one payment gateway, then a test download.
First week setup order
You can open every Settings tab on day one. That usually creates confusion. This order gets a usable, testable site without painting yourself into a corner.
1. Site identity
Admin → Settings → Settings (first tab):
- Site name
- Contact email
- From email (must match how you actually send mail)
- Confirm license key / refresh if needed
2. Email delivery
Until mail works, verification, password reset, and tickets fight you.
- Choose sendmail / SMTP / Gmail under Settings
- Send a test
- Fix From vs SMTP identity before opening registration
3. Captcha
Add provider keys, then enable captcha on register, login, and contact first.
4. Registration policy
Open signup, invite-only, or closed while you finish. Turn registration off if the public should not join yet.
5. Files defaults
Public vs premium-only defaults, allowed extensions, trash retention. These hit every new upload.
6. Users and limits (rough pass)
Set guest / registered / premium so free users are limited and premium is clearly better. Avoid unlimited free bandwidth on day one.
7. Storage
Confirm the local server is healthy under Servers. Add a remote node or CDN only after a normal download works on the main site.
8. One payment gateway
Configure one gateway (sandbox/test if available), run a real test purchase, then go live. Add more gateways after the first path works. Use each provider’s official docs for Client ID / Secret / webhook values.
9. End-to-end test
1. Register a test user (or use admin)
2. Upload a small file
3. Open the download page in a private window
4. Confirm countdown / captcha / premium walls match what you set
10. Then design and programs
Homepage polish, affiliate, reseller, and ads can wait until core upload / download / payment works.