How to Install DirectAdmin on Ubuntu

DirectAdmin is a web-based control panel software that simplifies the management of web servers, particularly those running Ubuntu operating systems. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows system administrators to perform a wide range of tasks, such as managing websites, email accounts, databases, and other server-related functions.

DirectAdmin provides a centralized solution for handling tasks such as domain management, email account creation, database administration, and web application deployment, among others. By offering a streamlined approach to web hosting management, DirectAdmin aims to simplify the process and reduce the complexity associated with server administration, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.

System Requirements for DirectAdmin on Ubuntu

Before providing the installation details about DirectAdmin, it is also crucial to know the system requirements. If your system meets these requirements then you can go ahead and install Directadmin on Ubuntu which we will discuss later. Otherwise, make the necessary changes first to meet the system requirements.

The recommended system requirements to install DirectAdmin on Ubuntu are listed below:

• Operating System: DirectAdmin is compatible with various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu. It supports Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and newer versions.
• Web Server: DirectAdmin works with Apache or Nginx web servers.
• Database Server: MySQL or MariaDB is required for storing website and account data.
• PHP: DirectAdmin requires PHP 7.0 or later versions to be installed.
• RAM: The recommended minimum RAM for running DirectAdmin is 1GB, but 2GB or more is preferable for better performance, especially on servers hosting multiple websites.
• Disk Space: The disk space requirements depend on the number of websites, email accounts, and other resources you plan to host. As a general guideline, you should have at least 10GB of available disk space.

How to Install DirectAdmin on Ubuntu

Follow the below steps to DirectAdmin installation on Ubuntu:

Step 1: Update System Packages

First and foremost update all necessary packages so that everything can run smoothly and you won’t face any trouble later. To do that run the below commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

DirectAdmin requires certain dependencies to be installed on your system. Run the following command to install them:

sudo apt-get install apache2 mysql-server mysql-client php php-cli php-mysql php-gd php-curl libapache2-mod-php libxml2 libexpat1 libssl-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev

Here’s a breakdown of what each package does:

• apache2: The Apache web server, which is required to serve web content.
• mysql-server: The MySQL database server, which is used to store and manage data.
• mysql-client: The MySQL client, which allows you to interact with the MySQL server from the command line.
• php: The PHP scripting language, which is used for server-side web development.
• php-cli: The command-line interface for PHP, which allows you to run PHP scripts from the terminal.
• php-mysql: The PHP extension for MySQL, which enables PHP to communicate with the MySQL database server.
• php-gd: The PHP extension for image processing, which is required for various web applications.
• php-curl: The PHP extension for cURL, which allows you to transfer data using various protocols.
• libapache2-mod-php: The Apache module for PHP, which enables Apache to process PHP files.
• libxml2: The XML C parser and toolkit library, which is required by various applications.
• libexpat1: The XML parsing C library, which is required by various applications.
• libssl-dev: The development package for OpenSSL, which is required for secure communication over the internet.
• libcurl4-openssl-dev: The development package for cURL with OpenSSL support, which is required for secure data transfer.

Step 3: Download DirectAdmin Setup

Once the dependencies are installed, go to the official DirectAdmin website and purchase a license. After purchasing, you will receive a license file (license.dat) and a URL to download the latest DirectAdmin tar file. Use the wget command to download the setup file:

wget -O setup.sh https://download.directadmin.com/setup.sh

Step 4: Make the Installation Script Executable

After downloading the setup.sh file, the next step is to make it executable so that you can run it. The chmod command is used to change the file permissions:

chmod +x setup.sh

Step 5: Run the Installation Script

Running the setup.sh script will initiate the DirectAdmin installation process. The script will guide you through the installation steps, prompting you for various configuration options, such as the changing hostname, email address, and password. But for that, you need to provide your credentials like your license key. Follow the on-screen instructions and provide the required information:

sudo ./setup.sh

Step 6: Configure DirectAdmin

Once the installation is complete, you can access the DirectAdmin control panel by navigating to http://your_server_ip:2222 in your web browser. Use the login credentials you provided during the installation process. Replace your server IP with the actual IP address or hostname of your server.

You may also need to configure Apache to work with DirectAdmin. Open the Apache configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

Look for the following lines and uncomment them (remove the # symbol):

Include /etc/apache2/conf.d/directadmin.conf
Include /etc/apache2/conf.d/php.conf

Save the file and exit the text editor.

Step 7: Secure DirectAdmin

It’s recommended to secure your DirectAdmin installation by following best practices, such as setting up SSL/TLS, creating strong passwords, and configuring firewall rules to restrict access to the control panel.

Step 8: Access DirectAdmin on Ubuntu

After completing the installation and setup DirectAdmin on Ubuntu, you can access the DirectAdmin control panel by opening a web browser on your local machine or a remote computer. Next, enter the following URL in the address bar:

http://your_server_ip:2222

Replace your_server_ip with the actual IP address or domain name of your Ubuntu server where you installed DirectAdmin. You will be prompted to enter your login credentials. Use the username and password you set during the installation process (Step 5).

After successfully authenticating, you will be directed to the DirectAdmin control panel.

Conclusion

DirectAdmin is a powerful web-based control panel that streamlines the management of web servers, particularly those running Ubuntu. It provides a user-friendly interface for handling tasks such as domain management, email account creation, database administration, and web application deployment.

The installation process involves updating the system packages, installing required dependencies, downloading the DirectAdmin setup file, making it executable, running the installation script, and configuring Apache to work with DirectAdmin. It’s crucial to meet the system requirements, such as having sufficient RAM, disk space, and compatible software versions. Additionally, securing the DirectAdmin installation by enabling SSL/TLS, setting strong passwords, and configuring firewall rules is highly recommended to ensure optimal performance and security.

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