---
title: "Prepare your installation"
description: "Domain, hosting with PHP 8.1 or later, HTTPS, FTP and the official archive: all you need to prepare your installation of Éclair CMS with no surprises."
url: "https://eclair.academy/en/paths/beginner/prepare-installation"
lang: "en"
author: "Thierry Gustin"
published: "2026-11-02"
updated: "2026-11-02"
---

# Prepare your installation

> **Key takeaways** — To prepare your installation of Éclair, you need a domain name, Apache or LiteSpeed hosting with PHP 8.1 or later (8.3 recommended), an HTTPS certificate, FTP access or a file manager, and the official 480 KB archive. Install at the root of a domain or subdomain if you can.

Taking twenty minutes to prepare your installation makes everything that follows very simple. You'll gather a domain name, compatible hosting, FTP access and the official Éclair archive, then choose where to install your site. A final checklist lets you confirm that nothing is missing before you start.

> **Before you start** — Time: 20 minutes, plus the time your hosting takes to be activated if you don't have it yet. Prerequisite: know what Éclair is ([Discover Éclair CMS](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/beginner/discover-eclair)). To compare plans, keep the [Choosing your hosting](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting) guide open.

## What you'll be able to do

### 🌍 Choose domain and hosting

Know exactly what you need, and what you can do without.

### 🛠 Check the server

Verify PHP, extensions and HTTPS before uploading a single file.

### ✅ Start fully prepared

Tick off a 9-point checklist before installing.

## What do you need to install Éclair?

The list is short, on purpose:

1. **A domain name**: your site's address, for example `atelier-nova.fr` for Camille Martin's ceramics studio.
2. **Web hosting** with PHP, on Apache or LiteSpeed. A shared hosting plan is more than enough.
3. **A way to upload files**: an FTP client or your host's file manager.
4. **The official Éclair archive**, which weighs 480 KB.

Add an email address and a password of at least 10 characters for your future account. On the other hand, you don't need a database: that's one step fewer than with WordPress, and one less source of errors.

## Choose compatible hosting

Almost all shared hosting runs on Apache or LiteSpeed, as at OVH, o2switch, Hostinger, IONOS or PlanetHoster: Éclair installs there as is. To compare plans, read [Choosing your hosting](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting), then your host's step-by-step guide, for example [o2switch](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting/o2switch), [Hostinger](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting/hostinger) or [OVHcloud](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting/ovhcloud).

No dedicated guide for your host? The [universal method for cPanel, Plesk and DirectAdmin](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting/cpanel-plesk-directadmin) covers the most common control panels. Éclair also runs on an Nginx server, but without `.htaccess`: you need to reproduce its rules in the configuration, as explained in the [Nginx, VPS, proxy and CDN](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/expert/nginx-vps) lesson.

[Compare hosting providers](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting)

## Which server requirements should you check?

| Item | Requirement | If it's missing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PHP | 8.1 or later, 8.3 recommended | Below 8.1, Éclair shows a message in French: “Éclair a besoin de PHP 8.1 ou plus récent.” (Éclair needs PHP 8.1 or later) |
| Required extensions | `mbstring`, `json`, `dom`, `session`, `zlib` | Red item in the wizard: the installation is blocked |
| `gd` extension | Recommended | Images are neither resized nor converted to WebP |
| `zip` extension | Recommended | No one-click backup: copy via FTP instead |
| `curl` extension | Recommended | No IndexNow, no AI assistant and no art direction font |
| Write permissions | `data`, `cache` and `media` folders | Red item: give them 755 permissions via FTP |
| HTTPS | Active certificate (Let's Encrypt, free) | Warning, and no MCP connector |

The required extensions are enabled by default almost everywhere. You change the PHP version in your host's customer area, often in one click: choose 8.3 if it's offered. With PHP 8.1, Éclair works, but the wizard will advise you to switch to 8.3 or later.

You don't have to check everything by hand: the setup wizard checks each of these points on its first screen and explains what to fix.

## Get your upload tools ready

There are two ways to upload files to your hosting:

- **An FTP client**, such as [FileZilla](https://filezilla-project.org/), which is free. Your host gives you the FTP server address, your username and your password, usually in your customer area.
- **Your host's file manager**, which opens in the browser, with nothing to install.

> **Hidden files** — Éclair contains several `.htaccess` files. Their names start with a dot, and many programs hide them. Turn on the “Show hidden files” option (its exact name varies by program) before uploading. Without these files, every page except the home page will show a 404 error.

## Download the official archive

1. Open the [project page on GitHub](https://github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms), the only official source.
2. Download [eclair-cms-1.8.0.zip](https://github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms/raw/main/dist/eclair-cms-1.8.0.zip) (480 KB).
3. Unzip the archive on your computer: you get an `eclair` folder and three text files, including `LISEZ-MOI.txt`.
4. Open the `eclair` folder: you should see `index.php`, `.htaccess` and the `app`, `assets`, `cache`, `data` and `media` folders.

You'll upload the **contents** of this folder, not the folder itself. The three text files stay on your computer.

## Where to install Éclair: root, subdomain or subfolder?

| Location | Example | Where to upload the files | Good to know |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Domain root | `atelier-nova.fr` | The public folder (`public_html`, `www`…) | The recommended choice |
| Subdomain | `classes.atelier-nova.fr` | The subdomain's folder, created in your customer area | Also suits the MCP connector |
| Subfolder | `atelier-nova.fr/site/` | A subfolder of the public folder | Detected automatically, but the MCP connector may fail |

Why the distinction? The MCP connector links Claude or ChatGPT to your site, and some apps look for authorization at the root of the domain. If you plan to use it one day ([Understanding the MCP connector](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/ai-mcp/understanding-mcp)), install Éclair at the root of a domain or subdomain.

![The contents of the eclair folder copied from the computer to the hosting's public folder](https://eclair.academy/media/2026/11/eclair-academy-upload-en.png)
*What goes to your hosting: the contents of the eclair folder, not the folder*

## Plan a 2-hour window

For security, the installation must be completed within 2 hours of the site's first visit. Without this rule, anyone could take over a site that was uploaded and then forgotten. The right habit: upload the files, then run the wizard straight away.

If you miss this deadline, nothing is lost. Delete the `data/install-window.php` file via FTP and reload the page: the wizard starts again.

## The checklist to prepare your installation

| No. | Check | Example for Atelier Nova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | The domain name is registered and linked to the hosting | `atelier-nova.fr` |
| 2 | PHP 8.1 or later is active, preferably 8.3 | PHP 8.3 selected in the customer area |
| 3 | The HTTPS certificate is enabled | `https://atelier-nova.fr` opens with no warning |
| 4 | FTP access or the file manager is ready | Server, username and password written down |
| 5 | Hidden files are shown | `.htaccess` visible in the `eclair` folder |
| 6 | The 1.8.0 archive is downloaded and unzipped | `eclair` folder on the desktop |
| 7 | The account email is chosen | Camille's business address |
| 8 | A password of at least 10 characters is ready | A 4-word phrase, easy to remember |
| 9 | The admin URL is chosen | `atelier-nova.fr/atelier` |

All nine points ticked? When you prepare your installation this well, the next lesson takes just a few minutes.

![Installing Éclair in three steps: upload the folder, answer four questions, the site is live](https://eclair.academy/media/2026/11/eclair-academy-install-en.webp)
*The three steps waiting for you in the next lesson*

## Key points

- You need a domain, Apache or LiteSpeed hosting with PHP 8.1 or later (8.3 recommended), an HTTPS certificate and FTP access.
- No database is needed.
- Download the archive from the official GitHub repository, then upload the contents of the `eclair` folder, hidden files included.
- For the MCP connector, install at the root of a domain or subdomain.
- The installation must be completed within 2 hours of the first visit.

## Going further

- [Install Éclair step by step](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/beginner/install-eclair): uploading the files and the 5 screens of the wizard.
- [Choosing your hosting](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting): a sourced comparison and recommendations by profile.
- [Troubleshooting](https://eclair.academy/en/docs/troubleshooting): 404 or 500 errors, installation locked, forgotten password.
- Official sources: the [supported PHP versions](https://www.php.net/supported-versions.php) on php.net, and [Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/), the authority that issues free HTTPS certificates.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to create a MySQL database?

No. Éclair uses no database: everything is stored in protected files in the `data/` folder. If your host offers to create one, you can skip that step.

### My host offers PHP 8.1. Is that enough?

Yes, Éclair works from PHP 8.1 onwards. The setup wizard will simply show a tip to switch to PHP 8.3 or later if your host offers it.

### Can I install Éclair without HTTPS?

Yes, but the wizard will point it out, and the MCP connector for Claude and ChatGPT requires an `https://` address. First turn on your host's free Let's Encrypt certificate, then open your site over `https://`.

### Can I test Éclair on my computer?

Yes, with PHP installed locally and its built-in server. The exact command and the tests are described in the [Local development and testing](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/expert/local-development) lesson.