Short answer
Create a subdomain such as
staging.yourdomain.com and install or copy the site there. It is genuinely separate from the live files, costs nothing extra, and is the right place to test updates before they reach visitors.Password-protect the staging folder so search engines and the public never index a duplicate of your site.
Learn more
- Using a subdomain as a staging siteSet up a private copy of your site on a subdomain to test updates, PHP versions and redesigns without risking the live site.
- How to create a subdomainCreate a subdomain such as blog.yourdomain.co.uk in DirectAdmin, where its files go, and how SSL and DNS are handled.
- How to password-protect a folderAdding a username and password prompt to any folder of your website with DirectAdmin’s password protected directories.