Setup: AlterCPA Lite

This manual will help you deploy AlterCPA Lite in the most simple and convenient way, without going into details and subtleties. We recommend that you deploy the system according to this instruction, because it is suitable for almost any tracker configuration.

Preparing to deploy

For deployment, you will need to prepare the following components yourself:

  1. Dedicated or virtual server on clean Debian 11 without control panel. Exaclty Debian 11. Exactly clean and without control panel. This requirement is critical for the operation of the system; we do not guarantee operation on a different server configuration. Shared hosting will not work.
  2. Domain for the control panel and internal services. We recommend that you use a second-level domain, since we need several subdomains to work. Installing the control panel on a subdomain is not required - you can replace the login form with your landing page on the main domain.
  3. Licence of AlterCPA with any lifetime. When purchasing a license, you need to specify your server IP address and primary domain.
  4. Ability to use the SSH client and FTP client, as well as the clients themselves. Putty is suitable as an SSH client for Windows. Terminus can be used for MacOS. Filezilla recommended as FTP client. MacOS users dont need to install it from the AppStore, simply download it for free from the official website.

Setting up the domain

You need to direct the domain to the purchased server. To do this, you need the IP address of the purchased server. Most likely, it was sent to your e-mail at the time of purchase or is displayed in your server’s personal dashboard.

In the settings of the domain’s DNS servers, select the option "Use DNS servers of the registrar" (or similar). If your registrar does not provide free DNS servers, we recommend using DNS servers from CloudFlare (without a proxy, only DNS).

In the settings of the DNS zone (namely, the DNS zone or DNS records, and not the list of DNS servers themselves), you need to specify the following records. You can use any of the options below, they are interchangeable and depend solely on the capabilities of your registrar. Instead of 12.34.56.78, use the IP address of your server. The list shows respectively the name of the record, the type of record and value.

Case 1. Optimal configuration.

@ A 12.34.56.78
www CNAME @
click CNAME @

Case 2. Works anywhere.

@ A 12.34.56.78
www A 12.34.56.78
click A 12.34.56.78

Setting up the server

Before setting up the server, be sure to wait a while to complete the domain setup. Usually, changing DNS servers takes about a day, setting up records takes about an hour.

Connect to your server via SSH as root. Usually, the root password is sent to the e-mail after the installation of the server on the provider side is completed. In some cases, when you first log in, you need to change the password to a new one. Use a strong password no shorter than 16 characters. If possible, study the issue of SSH connectivity using a certificate and use your certificate when ordering a server. Some servers do not allow you to connect as root using various tricks, so after connecting you need to run the command:

sudo -i

After connecting to the server as root, execute the server installation and configuration commands. The required command is displayed in the "License" section and looks like this:

wget https://cpa.st/lic/q1w2e3r4t5y6u7i8o9p0/track.sh && bash track.sh

Wait a few minutes until the installation script completes.

Initial system setup

Open your main tracker domain in a browser. You will be prompted to create a main administrator. We recommend that you enter a valid email address and a strong password. The administrator has full access to any operations with the system.

Immediately after installation, you must configure the basic system settings. To do this, go to the "Control - Settings" section, in which all the manipulations with the basic settings are carried out.

Section "Basic"

  1. Provide general information: specify the name of your team and contact E-mail.
  2. Enter the details of your mail domain (we recommend Yandex.Connect). If its use is not planned, do not make any changes to the mail settings.
  3. Select a geoIP database (we recommend MaxMind GeoLite (english) as the best one). Enable additional databases if necessary.

Section "Advanced"

In this section you can configure the tracker settings.

Section "Datasets"

In this section you may be interested in the items "Affilate networks" and "Ad networks".