A control panel is a tool that helps you manage your websites, files, emails, and more—without needing to type a bunch of confusing commands. One of the most popular control panels is DirectAdmin.
I’ve installed DirectAdmin a few times on my VPS (Virtual Private Server), and it’s not as scary as it sounds. I’ll walk you through how I do it, what you need, and why it’s worth learning. Even if you’re new to all this, you’ll be fine.
Let’s go step-by-step, and I’ll explain things clearly so you don’t get lost in geek speak.
What is a VPS?
First, let’s break this down.
A VPS is short for Virtual Private Server. It’s like renting a piece of a supercomputer. You get your own slice of it, and you can do whatever you want with it—just like it’s your own computer. It’s faster and more private than shared hosting (where lots of people use the same space), but it’s cheaper than renting a full server.
When you use a VPS, you usually need to install software yourself. That’s where DirectAdmin comes in.
What is DirectAdmin?
DirectAdmin is a control panel. Think of it like a dashboard for your VPS. It gives you buttons and menus to manage things instead of typing commands.
With DirectAdmin, you can:
- Add new websites
- Manage email accounts
- Create databases for your apps
I like DirectAdmin because it’s light and fast. It doesn’t use up too much memory. That means your websites load quicker.
Before You Begin
Let’s make sure you’re ready before diving in. Here’s what you’ll need:
🛠 Basic Requirements
- A fresh VPS with CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, or Debian. I usually go with AlmaLinux.
- At least 1 GB of RAM, but I recommend 2 GB or more.
- Root access (you need to be the boss of your VPS).
- A DirectAdmin license. You can get one from their website. They even have a trial if you just want to test it.
I know what you’re thinking: “Do I have to use the command line?” Yes, just a little bit. But I’ll guide you, and I’ll try to make it fun. Kinda like going on a digital camping trip—bring snacks.
Step 1: Connect to Your VPS
First, you’ll need to connect to your VPS. You do this using SSH.
SSH is a way to talk to your server safely.
If you’re using Windows, you can use PuTTY (a free program). On Mac or Linux, just open the Terminal.
Type this (replace the IP with your VPS address):
ssh [email protected]
If it asks “Are you sure you want to continue connecting?” say yes. Type your password and press Enter.
Boom—you’re inside your VPS.
Step 2: Prepare the Server
Before installing DirectAdmin, let’s make sure your server is clean.
I always start with a fresh VPS to avoid problems. If there’s old software or junk on the server, it might mess up the install.
Update your server like this:
yum update -y # For CentOS / AlmaLinux / Rocky
apt update && apt upgrade -y # For Debian
Also, set your hostname. This is like naming your server.
hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com
Replace yourdomain.com with your real domain name. The server will thank you later.
Step 3: Download the DirectAdmin Installer
Now we get to the good part.
Download the installer by typing:
cd /root
wget https://www.directadmin.com/setup.sh
chmod 755 setup.sh
This script will install DirectAdmin for you. But don’t run it just yet—we need to tell it what settings to use.
Step 4: Create the Setup File
This is where we add your license info. DirectAdmin will ask for:
- Your Client ID
- Your License ID
- Your Hostname
- Your IP address
Once you have that, run the installer like this:
./setup.sh auto
The script will ask a few questions. Just follow the instructions. It will take 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your server speed.
Feel free to grab a coffee or check if your cat is sitting on your keyboard.
Step 5: Log Into DirectAdmin
After it’s done, it will show you a web address like:
http://your.server.ip:2222
Go to that link in your web browser. You’ll see the DirectAdmin login page.
Use the admin username and the password the installer gave you.
Congratulations—you’re in!
What Can You Do with DirectAdmin?
Once you’re logged in, here are a few things you can do right away:
- Add your domain name
- Create a website or install WordPress
- Set up email accounts like
[email protected] - Manage backups and updates
I like to install WordPress first so I can test if everything is working.
It’s also a good idea to set up a firewall and install an SSL certificate. DirectAdmin helps with that too.
Benefits of Using DirectAdmin
Let’s be real. There are other control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and Webmin. So why DirectAdmin?
Here’s what I think:
- Speed – It doesn’t slow down your VPS. Great for small servers.
- Price – Cheaper than cPanel, and there’s even a free trial.
- Simple UI – I like the clean look. Easy to find things.
- Active community – If you get stuck, others have probably solved it already.
Also, I once tried installing cPanel on a tiny VPS and it crashed. DirectAdmin? Smooth as butter.
Common Problems (And How to Fix Them)
You might hit a few bumps. Here are a few I ran into:
- License errors – Make sure your IP address matches the one on the license.
- Firewall blocking port 2222 – That’s DirectAdmin’s login port. If you can’t open the page, unblock it:
firewall-cmd --add-port=2222/tcp --permanent firewall-cmd --reload - Wrong hostname – Double-check you set it right before installing.
Like my grandma used to say, “Always double-check your spelling—even computers care about grammar.”
Quick Recap: What You Did
Let’s recap everything in one clean list:
- Got a VPS and connected with SSH
- Updated the server and set a hostname
- Downloaded and ran the DirectAdmin installer
- Logged in and started using your new control panel
You’re now the proud admin of your very own server. 🐧
Fun Tip: Don’t Panic, It’s Just a Server
When I first started, I broke things a lot. Accidentally deleted files. Crashed my VPS. Once, I changed my firewall settings and locked myself out. Whoops.
But here’s the thing—servers are just computers. You can reset them. You can start over. That’s the beauty of a VPS. If something breaks, you can rebuild it in 10 minutes.
So don’t be afraid to experiment.
Final Thoughts
Installing DirectAdmin on a VPS might seem hard at first, but it gets easier every time. It’s like learning to ride a bike—except the bike runs a website and sometimes forgets its IP address.
If you’re curious about how websites work behind the scenes, this is a great way to learn. You’ll get more control, better performance, and a cool dashboard to show off.
Got questions or funny install stories? Share them in the comments. I’d love to hear if your cat helped with your install too.
Let me know if you’d like this formatted for WordPress or want a downloadable checklist for this tutorial.
