Thank you for starting your new virtual airline with TFDi Design!


With your managed installation now complete, your hosting service transitions to an unmanaged state, placing you in control of ongoing maintenance and updates of phpVMS and other applications you decide to install.


To ensure you are well-equipped for this transition, this guide will serve as your formal handoff, walking you through the site's configuration and outlining your essential next steps.

1. Initial Website Credentials

Use the following credentials to log in to your new phpVMS website. Your account has been granted administrator privileges.

  • URL: crew.yourdomain.com (or your main domain, if selected)
  • Admin Email: The email address associated with your TFDi Design account.
  • Initial Password: tfdidesign
Security Notice: It is critical that you log in and change this default password immediately.

2. Installation Overview

To help you manage your site effectively, this section details how your environment was configured during our installation process.


A. File & Web Root Configuration

Your installation was configured based on your choice of a subdomain or the main domain. Both methods follow security best practices by keeping the core application files outside of the public web directory.

  • If installed on a subdomain (e.g., crew.yourdomain.com): We created a dedicated folder for your site (e.g., ~/crew.yourdomain.com/) and pointed the subdomain's document root directly to the /public folder inside it.
  • If installed on the main domain (e.g., yourdomain.com): The core files are stored in a secure folder (e.g., ~/phpvms/). We then created a symbolic link (symlink) from your main public_html directory to the application's /public folder. This allows the main domain to serve the application securely and simplifies the future update process.


B. Server Environment

  • PHP Version: Your website is running on PHP 8.2.
  • Database: A dedicated database and user have been created and configured. The application is already connected to it.
  • Automated Tasks (Cron Job): A cron job has been configured on your account. This is a background task that automates essential phpVMS processes and requires no action on your part.


C. Environment Configuration (.env File)

Your website's core configuration is stored in a special file named .env, located in your main installation folder. This file holds sensitive data like your database credentials and, most importantly, the email settings you will need to configure.


D. smartCARS 3 API (If Included in Your Package)

If your purchase included a smartCARS 3 license, we have also installed the required API to allow the flight tracking client to connect to your website.


We highly recommend, if you have a GitHub account, to follow the official repository for new releases at https://github.com/invernyx/smartcars-3-phpvms-7-api, or are a member of our Discord with your TFDi account linked to your Discord acount to receive the "smartCARS License Holders" role to be pinged for urgent updates.

3. Required Next Steps

To ensure your site is fully operational, please complete the following steps.


A. Complete smartCARS Setup (If Applicable)

If your service package included a smartCARS license, you must link it to your new website.

  1. Log in to smartCARS Central at https://smartcars.tfdidesign.com/central/ with your TFDi Design credentials.
  2. Navigate to the Community Editor.
  3. If you manage multiple licenses, select the correct one from the dropdown menu before proceeding.
  4. In the Web Script URL field, enter your full API URL: http://crew.yourdomain.com/api/smartcars (be sure to use your actual domain).
  5. Click Save.

B. Configure Email Settings

To allow your site to send emails for new pilot registrations or password resets, you must configure your mail settings in the .env file. We strongly recommend using a dedicated third-party service for reliability.

4. Getting Support

This handoff concludes our managed installation service. It is important to know where to turn for future questions.


Official TFDi Design Support

Please open a support ticket via our helpdesk (the site you're on now) for the following issues:

  • Hosting & Server Issues: Problems with cPanel, email sending, or server availability.
  • smartCARS Issues: Problems with the smartCARS application itself or its interaction with your phpVMS website.

Special Note: Issues related to the core phpVMS software itself (e.g., "How do I add a new aircraft?") are considered out of scope for our official, ticket-based support system. Please use the resources listed below for application-specific help.

Community & External Resources

  • For General phpVMS Support: For questions on how to use phpVMS, troubleshoot errors, addons, and more, please consult the official phpVMS documentation and the community forums.
  • For Community & smartCARS Help (Discord): You can join our official Discord server at https://tfdidesign.com/chat. This channel is primarily for support from other community members and may be a faster way to get answers for basic "how-to" questions.