How to Install DirectAdmin on a VPS or Dedicated Server

Updated: 30 September 2026 · Applies to: DirectAdmin on current AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, RHEL, Debian and Ubuntu releases (x86-64 and arm64)

DirectAdmin is a commercial web hosting control panel, a lighter alternative to cPanel and Plesk. The installation used to start with an older CentOS server and a list of packages installed with yum; today the script installs what it needs itself, with dnf or apt. Today one script prepares the system and installs everything; the steps below follow DirectAdmin's current installation guide (checked on 29 September 2026).

1. Prepare the server

• A clean server: a fresh installation of a supported release of AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, RHEL, Debian or Ubuntu, with nothing else installed (no web, mail or database server). Check DirectAdmin's system requirements page for the exact versions.
• A valid license: in your DirectAdmin client account, the license must show as Active and Verified.
• A host name such as server.example.com that resolves to the server's IP address, and root access over SSH.
• DirectAdmin suggests a simple disk layout: /boot of 500 MB, swap of up to twice the RAM (at most 16 GB), and the rest for /.

2. Run the installer

Log in as root (not with sudo; use sudo -s first if you only have a normal user). Either start the web-based installer:

sh <(curl -fsSL https://download.directadmin.com/setup.sh)

It prepares the system and prints a URL such as http://203.0.113.10:35222/?key=.... Open it in your browser and follow the steps there.

Or install from the command line with your license key and default options:

sh <(curl -fsSL https://download.directadmin.com/setup.sh) 'YOUR-LICENSE-KEY'

The installation takes a while, because it builds and configures the web server, PHP, mail and database services.

3. Log in

Open http://SERVER-IP:2222. The installer shows the administrator user name and password at the end, and also saves them in /usr/local/directadmin/conf/setup.txt. Change the password after the first login, then:

• Set up an SSL certificate for the panel's host name.
• Open only the ports you need in the firewall (2222 for the panel, 80 and 443, the mail ports, 21 if you use FTP).
• Configure backups before you host customer sites.

If you would rather have us install and manage a control panel for you, you can hire an expert.

Official documentation: DirectAdmin installation guide and installation overview.