Best Guide To Install Plesk on Windows Server 2022

This guide intends to teach you to Install Plesk on Windows Server 2022. Plesk is a great web hosting control panel that lets you manage your web hosting account through a web-based interface. With this amazing software, you can do a lot of stuff such as:

• Managing websites, domains, and subdomains.
• Creating and managing email accounts.
• Installing and configuring web applications (WordPress, Joomla, etc.).
• Managing databases.
• Configuring DNS settings.
• Setting up security features (SSL certificates, firewalls).
• Managing file storage.
• Scheduling tasks and backups.
• Monitoring server resources.

Now you can follow this guide on the Orcacore website to start your Plesk installation on Windows Server 2022.

To set up Plesk, you must have access to your Windows Server as an administrator user with RDP and follow the steps below.

Step 1 – Plesk Download for Windows

First, you must visit the Plesk Official site and click on Plesk Installer from your Windows server.

When your download is completed, click on your downloaded file and proceed to the next step.

Step 2 – Install Plesk with Plesk Installer on Windows Server 2022

Once you open your file, you will see the Plesk installer screen on your Windows Server. Enter your Admin password and click on log in.

Next, you should click on Install or Upgrade Product.

Then, check the box next to the Plesk and choose your install version and click on continue. Here we choose Plesk obsidian stable.

Now you need to choose your Plesk installation type on your Windows server. Whether you want the Recommended version, the Full version, or if you want to make a Custom version. Then, click on continue.

At this point, you need to set up your Plesk Admin password and click on Continue to start your installation.

This will take some time to complete the installation. When it is completed click on Ok.

Step 3 – Access and Log in to Plesk on Windows Server 2022

When your Plesk installation is completed, you can log in to Plesk for the first time by typing your SERVER HOSTNAME OR IP ADDRESS in your web browser:

https://<SERVER_HOSTNAME_OR_IP_ADDRESS>

Then, you will see your Plesk login screen. Enter Administrator as the username and your server administrator password as the password.

Next, you must provide an Admin user and password, an email address, and select paid or trial version. Here we use the trial license and click Enter Plesk.

Finally, you will see your Plesk Panel on Windows Server 2022.

From there you can easily manage your web hosting accounts.

If you want to use the full feature of Plesk, you can buy a license for it and enjoy using it.

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to Install Plesk Web Hosting Control Panel on Windows Server 2022 and Access and Log in to Plesk from the Web Interface. Installing Plesk on Windows Server 2022 can streamline your web hosting management.

Hope you enjoy it. You may also interested in these articles:

Install Grafana on Windows Server 2022

How To Install XPS Viewer on Windows 10

Alternative Solutions for Web Hosting Management on Windows Server 2022

While Plesk offers a comprehensive solution for web hosting management on Windows Server 2022, other alternatives exist that might be better suited for specific needs or preferences. Here are two alternative approaches, along with explanations and code examples where applicable:

1. Using Docker Containers with Windows Server 2022

Docker allows you to containerize your web applications and their dependencies, creating isolated environments that are easy to deploy and manage. This approach offers several advantages, including portability, scalability, and resource efficiency.

Explanation:

Instead of installing Plesk directly on the server, you can use Docker to run web servers like Apache or Nginx, database servers like MySQL or PostgreSQL, and your web applications within separate containers. Windows Server 2022 has excellent support for Docker containers. This allows for greater control over the environment and simplifies the process of deploying and updating applications.

Steps:

1. Install Docker Desktop on Windows Server 2022: Follow the official Docker documentation for installing Docker Desktop on Windows Server 2022. Ensure Hyper-V is enabled.
2. Create Docker Images: Use Dockerfiles to define the environment for each container. For example, a Dockerfile for a simple PHP application might look like this:

FROM php:7.4-apache

COPY . /var/www/html

EXPOSE 80

<p># Optionally install extensions
RUN docker-php-ext-install mysqli pdo pdo_mysql</p>

3. Build and Run Containers: Use Docker Compose to define and manage multiple containers as a single application. A docker-compose.yml file might look like this:

version: "3.8"
services:
  web:
    build: ./web
    ports:
      - "80:80"
    volumes:
      - ./web:/var/www/html
    depends_on:
      - db
  db:
    image: mysql:5.7
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: your_root_password
      MYSQL_DATABASE: your_database
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/mysql
volumes:
  db_data:

4. Access Applications: Once the containers are running, you can access your web applications through the server’s IP address or domain name.

Advantages:

• Isolation: Containers provide isolated environments, preventing conflicts between applications.
• Portability: Containers can be easily moved between different environments.
• Scalability: Docker makes it easy to scale applications by adding more containers.
• Resource Efficiency: Containers share the host operating system kernel, reducing resource overhead.

Disadvantages:

• Complexity: Setting up and managing Docker containers can be more complex than using a control panel like Plesk.
• Learning Curve: Requires familiarity with Docker concepts and commands.

2. Manual Configuration with IIS and PowerShell

For users comfortable with command-line administration and the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager, manual configuration provides maximum control over the web hosting environment on Windows Server 2022.

Explanation:

Instead of relying on a control panel, you can manually configure IIS using the IIS Manager GUI or PowerShell scripts. This approach requires a deeper understanding of web server configuration but allows for granular control and customization.

Steps:

1. Install IIS: Use Server Manager to install the Web Server (IIS) role and required features, such as ASP.NET and CGI.
2. Configure Websites: Create websites in IIS Manager, specifying the physical path to the website files, binding to IP addresses and hostnames, and configuring application pools.
3. Manage Databases: Install and configure database servers like SQL Server or MySQL. Create databases and users manually.
4. Install PHP (Optional): If you need to run PHP applications, download and install PHP, then configure IIS to handle PHP requests using FastCGI.
5. Configure Security: Set up SSL certificates, configure firewall rules, and implement other security measures manually.

PowerShell Example (Creating a new website):

Import-Module WebAdministration

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "C:inetpubwwwrootmywebsite"

New-Website -Name "MyWebsite" -PhysicalPath "C:inetpubwwwrootmywebsite" -BindingInfo "*:80:mywebsite.com"

Advantages:

• Maximum Control: Full control over every aspect of the web hosting environment.
• Customization: Ability to customize the configuration to meet specific requirements.
• Resource Efficiency: Avoids the overhead of a control panel.

Disadvantages:

• Complexity: Requires a deep understanding of web server configuration and Windows Server administration.
• Time-Consuming: Manual configuration can be time-consuming and error-prone.
• Maintenance Overhead: Responsibility for all maintenance and security updates.

By understanding these alternative solutions, you can choose the approach that best suits your technical expertise, budget, and specific web hosting needs on Windows Server 2022. These options also allow you to Install Plesk on Windows Server 2022 later, if your needs change.