Frequently Asked Questions

Starting Up (Installation/Registration)

ServerGuardian can only be installed by server administrators. Website owners hosted on the server cannot install it themselves. This is because ServerGuardian operates at the server level to protect all hosted websites.

ServerGuardian can be installed through your cPanel or Plesk control panel. You’ll find it in the plugin/extension marketplace section. Follow the installation wizard which will guide you through the process. For detailed installation instructions and to explore all available options, please refer to the documentation specific to your control panel (cPanel or Plesk).

Yes, you’ll need an InnovateOne account to use ServerGuardian. During installation, you’ll be prompted to either create a new InnovateOne account or log in to your existing one. This account gives you access to our client portal where you can manage your licenses and subscriptions.

After logging in, you’ll have the option to either use an existing ServerGuardian license (if you have one) or obtain a new license. Existing licenses could be ones that are active on another server that you want to transfer, or inactive licenses that you want to reactivate.

ServerGuardian follows a freemium model, which means you can start with basic protection features at no cost. For advanced protection and additional features, you’ll need to subscribe to one of our paid plans.

If you don’t have an active subscription for your license, you’ll be redirected to our client portal to set up payment for the first month. After completing the payment, you’ll be automatically redirected back to the ServerGuardian admin panel in your server to continue with the setup.

No, each ServerGuardian license is tied to a single server. If you want to transfer your license to a different server, you’ll need to deactivate it on the current server first.

To transfer a license, log in to your InnovateOne account through our client portal, navigate to your licenses, deactivate the license on the current server, and then activate it on the new server during the installation process.

If you install ServerGuardian but don’t complete the registration and licensing process, the plugin will remain inactive and won’t provide any protection for your websites until you complete the setup.

Subscriptions and Billing

ServerGuardian accepts payment via credit and debit cards that support recurring subscriptions. Please note that most prepaid cards don’t support this feature and cannot be used for our service.

All payments for ServerGuardian are processed securely through Stripe. We currently do not support PayPal as a payment method. Stripe ensures your payment information is handled securely and in compliance with industry standards.

Currently, we only offer monthly subscription plans. We do not provide annual payment options at this time.

Once you subscribe, your payment card will be automatically charged each month until you cancel your subscription. An invoice is issued to you every month for your records.

Your card is charged immediately when you first subscribe, and then on the same date each month thereafter for as long as your subscription remains active.

You can cancel your subscription at any time through your InnovateOne client portal. Navigate to the Subscriptions section, locate your ServerGuardian subscription, and select the cancel option. Your service will continue until the end of your current billing period.

No, we do not provide refunds for partially used subscription periods. When you cancel, your service will continue until the end of your current billing cycle.

We do not provide refunds for our services. We recommend trying our freemium tier first to ensure ServerGuardian meets your needs before subscribing to a paid plan.

You can update your payment information at any time by logging into your InnovateOne client portal, navigating to the Billing section, and selecting “Update Payment Method.”

If your payment fails, we will attempt to charge your card again. If payment continues to fail, your subscription may be suspended. You’ll receive email notifications about payment issues and instructions on how to resolve them.

No, there are no hidden fees. You’ll only be charged the advertised subscription rate for your selected plan.

Product Features & Functionality

ServerGuardian protects all websites on your server by blocking malicious bots before they can access your sites. It works by implementing sophisticated nginx rules that identify and block harmful traffic patterns. For a complete overview of all features, please visit our dedicated features page at https://serverguardian.app/features.

ServerGuardian uses advanced pattern recognition to identify malicious bot traffic based on behavior, user agents, and other identifying factors. When a bot is detected, it’s blocked at the server level before it can consume resources or attempt to exploit vulnerabilities. For technical details on our protection mechanisms, please refer to our documentation at https://serverguardian.app/documentation/plesk/ and https://serverguardian.app/documentation/cpanel/.

ServerGuardian protects against a wide range of bot-based threats including content scraping, brute force login attempts, vulnerability scanning, spam bots, and DDoS attacks. For a comprehensive list of protected attack vectors, please visit our features page at https://serverguardian.app/features.

ServerGuardian can protect all websites hosted on your server, but provides flexibility for server administrators. Administrators have the option to enable or disable protection on a per-domain basis through the control panel. This allows you to customize your security approach for different websites based on their specific needs.

The free version provides basic bot protection with less frequent rule updates. Paid subscriptions offer enhanced protection with daily or multiple-times-daily rule updates, priority support, and additional advanced features. For a detailed comparison, please visit our pricing page at https://serverguardian.app/pricing.

Yes, ServerGuardian allows for customization of protection rules through the admin interface. You can enable or disable specific protection modules based on your needs. Detailed instructions for customization can be found in our documentation at https://serverguardian.app/documentation.

Yes, ServerGuardian includes a dashboard that displays statistics on blocked attacks, traffic patterns, and protection status. These insights help you understand the security threats facing your websites and the effectiveness of the protection. For more information on available reports, please refer to our documentation.

Yes, you can use our free Site Scanner tool at https://secureaudit.serverguardian.app/ or the built-in ‘Test’ button in the admin panel for each domain. These tools simulate attacks on your websites and show you exactly how your ServerGuardian protection is responding.

No, there are no hidden fees. You’ll only be charged the advertised subscription rate for your selected plan.

Performance & Compatibility

No, ServerGuardian has minimal impact on server performance since it operates at the nginx configuration level. In fact, most users experience significant performance improvements after installation because malicious bots and unwanted traffic are blocked before they can consume server resources.

ServerGuardian works with both Linux and Windows server environments. It’s designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing server setup regardless of the operating system.

ServerGuardian supports both nginx and Apache web servers. The system implements specialized rules tailored to each environment to provide optimal protection.

There are no specific minimum system requirements for ServerGuardian beyond what’s already needed to run your hosting control panel (cPanel or Plesk). If your server can run these panels, it can run ServerGuardian without any additional requirements.

Performance improvements vary depending on how much bot traffic your sites currently receive. Many users report significant reductions in server load and resource usage after implementing ServerGuardian, with some seeing up to 30-50% performance improvements during heavy bot attacks.

Yes, ServerGuardian works effectively in cloud-based and virtualized hosting environments just as it does on dedicated physical servers.

Absolutely. ServerGuardian is compatible with popular caching solutions and often enhances their effectiveness by preventing malicious traffic from consuming cache resources.

No, ServerGuardian is designed to only block malicious bots and suspicious traffic patterns. Legitimate visitors will experience faster page loads and improved responsiveness as server resources are freed up.

Security & Updates

ServerGuardian updates are fully automatic. You don’t need to manually trigger updates or manage the update process – the system handles everything for you to ensure you’re always protected with the latest security rules.

Protection rules are updated very frequently. Paid subscribers receive updates daily or even multiple times per day as new threats are identified. Free users receive updates less frequently, typically once every couple of days.

Yes, you can view the last update timestamp in your ServerGuardian dashboard. This information is displayed in the main overview section, allowing you to verify that your protection is current.

Yes, before applying any new configuration, ServerGuardian automatically tests it on your server to ensure it won’t cause nginx to fail. This safety check prevents potential service disruptions from incompatible updates.

If an update fails the pre-deployment testing, it won’t be applied to your server. Both you (the server administrator) and our support team will be notified by email about the issue. Our team will investigate and work to resolve the compatibility issue.

For successful routine updates, no notifications are sent to avoid unnecessary emails. You’ll only receive notifications if there’s an issue with an update that requires attention.

In the rare case that an update causes unexpected issues, you can contact our support team who can help roll back to a previous configuration. Remember that all updates are tested before deployment to minimize this possibility.

While no security solution can guarantee 100% protection against unknown zero-day exploits, ServerGuardian’s frequent update schedule means that protection against new threats is typically deployed very quickly after discovery. Paid subscribers benefit from faster rule updates as new attack patterns emerge.

No, updates are applied without requiring server restarts. ServerGuardian is designed to implement new protection rules with minimal disruption to your services.

Integrations

ServerGuardian integrates directly into your cPanel or Plesk admin interface, providing a seamless experience. This native integration means you don’t need to switch between different interfaces to manage your security settings.

ServerGuardian works by generating custom nginx rules that detect and block malicious bot traffic before it reaches your websites. These rules are automatically implemented at the server level, protecting all hosted websites simultaneously.

You can use ServerGuardian with most security plugins, but caution is needed with plugins that also modify nginx configurations. These may potentially conflict with ServerGuardian’s protection mechanisms.

If you’re planning to use another security plugin that modifies nginx rules, we recommend checking compatibility before installation. If you’re uncertain, contact our support team, and we’ll examine potential conflicts for you.

While comprehensive compatibility checking isn’t officially part of our service, we’re committed to helping our customers. We’ll do our best to examine potential conflicts with other security plugins to keep your server running smoothly.

ServerGuardian is designed to work well with common CDN services. However, if you experience any issues, please contact our support team for assistance in configuring your setup properly.

ServerGuardian operates independently but doesn’t interfere with server monitoring tools. You can continue using your preferred monitoring solutions alongside our protection.

Yes, ServerGuardian adapts to many custom server configurations. However, highly customized setups may require additional configuration. Contact our support team if you have a specialized server environment.

Troubleshooting

If you notice that malicious bots are still accessing your websites, first verify that ServerGuardian is properly activated in your control panel. Then check if your protection settings are configured correctly. You can use our ‘Test’ button in the admin panel for each domain to quickly verify if protection is working, or run a more comprehensive check using our free Site Scanner tool at https://secureaudit.serverguardian.app/. If issues persist after testing, submit the results through our support ticketing system for further assistance.

If legitimate users are being blocked, you may need to adjust your protection settings. Log into your ServerGuardian dashboard and review your rule configurations. You can add specific IP addresses or IP ranges to the whitelist to ensure access for legitimate users. If you’re unsure which rules are causing the false positives, contact our support team with examples of the blocked traffic.

If the interface isn’t loading, try clearing your browser cache and cookies first. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, check if your server meets all the system requirements. You can also try accessing the control panel from a different browser. If the problem continues, there might be a conflict with another plugin or a server configuration issue. Contact support with screenshots and browser console errors if available.

If you suspect a conflict between ServerGuardian and your nginx configuration, first check your nginx error logs for specific warnings or errors. You can temporarily disable ServerGuardian to see if the issues resolve, which would confirm a conflict. For assistance with complex configuration conflicts, submit your nginx configuration files (with sensitive information removed) to our support team.

If an auto-update fails, don’t panic. First, check your server’s error logs for specific error messages. You can try manually updating by downloading the latest version from your client portal and installing it through your control panel. If manual updates also fail, ensure your server meets all system requirements and has sufficient permissions. Contact support if problems persist.

There are two easy ways to verify ServerGuardian is working:

  1. Use the ‘Test’ button in the ServerGuardian admin panel for any domain on your server. This runs a basic security check using our Site Scanner and displays results directly in your admin panel.
  2. For more comprehensive testing, visit our free Site Scanner tool at https://secureaudit.serverguardian.app/. This tool emulates various attackers using fake user agents and provides detailed results of how your server responds to these simulated attacks.
    Both methods will clearly show whether your ServerGuardian protection is successfully blocking malicious traffic.

Support

Support for ServerGuardian is provided through our ticketing system, which can be accessed through your InnovateOne client portal. Simply log in to your account, navigate to the support section, and create a new ticket describing your issue or question.

Our support team works Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern European Time (EET). Support requests submitted outside these hours will be reviewed and addressed on the next business day.

We strive to respond to all support tickets as quickly as possible. Most tickets receive a response within one business day during our regular working hours.

Support requests submitted outside working hours are still examined. If our team determines that your issue is urgent, it will be handled immediately. Otherwise, it will be addressed during the next business day.

To help us resolve your issue quickly, please include your server information, a detailed description of the problem, any error messages you’ve encountered, and steps you’ve already taken to resolve the issue. Screenshots are also helpful when applicable.

Currently, we only provide support through our ticketing system in the client portal. This allows us to track your issue effectively and ensure it’s directed to the appropriate specialist.

Yes, we welcome feature suggestions! The best way to submit them is through our dedicated “Feedback & Suggestions” page at https://serverguardian.app/suggestions. This page includes a form specifically designed for feature requests, bug reports, and general feedback. Your input is valuable to us and helps guide our product development.

Yes, paid subscribers receive priority support over free users. This means that if there are multiple tickets in the queue, we’ll address paid subscribers’ issues first. All support tickets are still evaluated for urgency, with critical issues being handled promptly regardless of subscription status.

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