## Setting up your project

Head to the **Projects** screen in DeployHQ, then click the **New Project** button to get started. You'll be prompted to enter a name for your project, then select where your repository is hosted. Next, click **Create project** and you'll be taken to a screen where you can log in with your repository hosting account to authorize access and then choose your repository.

Repository Links:

-   [Adding a Bitbucket repository](Article: #17)
-   [Adding a Codebase repository](Article: #19)
-   [Adding a GitHub repository](Article: #21)
-   [Adding a GitLab repository](Article: #23)
-   [Adding a repository manually](Article: #25)

## Setting up your A2 Hosting server

Once you've configured your repository, you'll need to connect to your A2 Hosting server. Head to **Servers & Groups**, and click the **New Server** button at the top of the screen.
Start by entering a name, and choosing SSH/SFTP as the protocol.

To find your SSH credentials:

1.  Log into your A2 Hosting Client Area
2.  Navigate to "Hosting" or "Manage Hosting" section
3.  Select your specific hosting account
4.  Go to "FTP/SSH Access" or "SSH Access" settings
5.  View or generate SSH credentials

Important A2 Hosting SSH Access Notes:

-   SSH access is available for most A2 Hosting plans
-   Ensure SSH is enabled in your hosting control panel
-   Use SSH keys for enhanced security
-   Two-factor authentication recommended

Typical A2 Hosting Server Formats:

-   Server Instance: `yourdomain.com` or `servername.a2hosting.com`
-   Hostname: Typically found in your hosting account details

You can use an SSH key instead of a password by taking the SSH key in your DeployHQ server configuration page and pasting it in your A2 Hosting server's `~/.ssh/authorized_keys`.

Connection Troubleshooting:

-   Verify SSH is enabled in cPanel
-   Confirm correct hostname
-   Ensure you're using the correct username (typically your cPanel username)
-   Check network security settings
-   Validate credentials in A2 Hosting client area

Typical Web Application Path:

-   Standard Deployment: `/home/yourusername/public_html/`
-   Web Root: `/home/yourusername/public_html/`

Within **Deployment options**, you can choose to automatically deploy your server and specify a **Deployment subdirectory** if needed.

## Run your first deployment

By default, DeployHQ will upload the whole repository to your server on the first deployment.
Helpful Deployment Guides:

-   [Don't deploy your whole repository on the first deployment](Article: #129)
-   [Using Accelerated TAR Deployments](Article: #664)
-   [Running your first deployment](Article: #43)

## Further reading

DeployHQ features to enhance your deployments:

-   Compiling assets with the [Build pipeline](Article: #301)
-   Running server commands with [SSH commands](Article: #57)
-   [Excluded files](https://www.deployhq.com/support/excluded-files)
-   [Config files](Article: #47)
-   [Integrations](Article: #327)

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_Want to learn more about deployment? Check out our [documentation](https://www.deployhq.com/support) or [contact our support team](https://www.deployhq.com/contact) for assistance._