Install DirectAdmin Control Panel on Debian 12 Bookworm: Best Control Panel

In this guide from Orcacore, you will learn to Install DirectAdmin Control Panel on Debian 12 Bookworm with a trial license key by registering an account on the official site.

DirectAdmin is an amazing web hosting control panel that has many features you can use to perform your administrative tasks. It is also an easy-to-use and fast control panel. Install DirectAdmin Control Panel on Debian 12 Bookworm to experience a streamlined server management solution.

Before you start your DirectAdmin installation on Debian 12 Bookworm, you need some requirements.

Requirements for DirectAdmin Installation

You must have access to your server as a root user. Also, you must set up a basic UFW firewall. To do this, you can follow this guide on Initial Server Setup with Debian 12 Bookworm.

Step 1 – Register a Client Account For DirectAdmin

At this point, you need to visit the DirectAdmin official site, register a client account, purchase a license key or get a free trial license key.

From the official site click on the account button and click Register.

Then, you need to enter your account information and click Submit.

You will get the login username and password of the registered email address. Please note them.

In this guide, we will use the trial license. Now, log in to your DirectAdmin account page and create a Trail license and add your Server IP address where you want to install this hosting control panel.

Then, proceed to the following steps.

Step 2 – Download and Install DirectAdmin on Debian 12

Now you need to update your local package index with the following command:

apt update

Then, you can use the following wget command to download the DirectAdmin installer script:

bash <(curl -Ss https://www.directadmin.com/setup.sh || wget -O - https://www.directadmin.com/setup.sh) auto

When your installation is completed, in your output you will see your Admin username and password.

Step 3 – Allow Firewall Rules for DirectAdmin on Debian 12

At this point, we assumed that you have enabled UFW from the requirements. Now run the command below to open the DirectAdmin port through the Debian 12 Bookworm firewall:

ufw allow 2222/tcp

Then, reload the firewall to apply the new rules:

ufw reload

Step 4 – How To Access DirectAdmin Control Panel dashboard?

At this point, you can access the DirectAdmin login screen by typing your server’s IP address in your web browser followed by 2222:

http://<mark>your-server-ip</mark>:2222

You will see the following page, enter your Admin user and password that you have seen in your output from the installation, and click on the sign-in button.

Install DirectAdmin Control Panel on Debian 12 Bookworm

Now you will see your DirectAdmin dashboard.

From here you can Create and manage email addresses, Manage DNS, View statistics, Upload and manage files using a file manager, etc.

Step 5 – Work With the DirectAdmin Control Panel on Debian 12

As you saw from your DirectAdmin dashboard you can do a lot of tasks. Now we want to show you how to use the DirectAdmin panel. For this reason, we provide you with articles that show you how to use DirectAdmin. To do this, you just can visit the DirectAdmin Tutorials.

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to create a new account on DirectAdmin and activate a trial license. After that, you install DirectAdmin by using an installer script on your Debian 12 server and configure the firewall for it. Finally, you accessed your DirectAdmin dashboard, and as we mentioned you can use the DirectAdmin tutorials to start working with it. Install DirectAdmin Control Panel on Debian 12 Bookworm for a robust and user-friendly hosting solution.

Hope you enjoy using it. Stay in touch for more guides and articles.

Alternative Solutions for Installing a Control Panel on Debian 12 Bookworm

While DirectAdmin is a solid choice, there are other control panels and methods to manage your Debian 12 server. Here are two alternative approaches:

1. Using cPanel/WHM

cPanel/WHM is a widely used and feature-rich control panel suite. While it’s a commercial option (like DirectAdmin), it offers a comprehensive set of tools for managing websites, email, databases, and more. It’s known for its user-friendly interface and extensive documentation.

Explanation:

cPanel/WHM consists of two primary interfaces:

cPanel: The user interface for individual website owners to manage their domains, files, email accounts, databases, and other aspects of their website.
WHM (Web Host Manager): The administrator interface used by server administrators to manage multiple cPanel accounts, configure server settings, and perform system-level tasks.

Steps to Install cPanel/WHM:

Ensure a Fresh Installation: cPanel/WHM requires a clean operating system installation. It’s best to install it on a newly provisioned Debian 12 server.
Set the Hostname: Ensure your server has a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) as its hostname. You can set it using the hostnamectl command:
```
hostnamectl set-hostname yourserver.example.com
```
Download and Run the Installer: cPanel provides an installation script that automates the process. Download the script using wget and then execute it:
```
cd /home
wget https://securedownload.cpanel.net/latest
sh latest
```
This process will take a significant amount of time as it downloads and installs all the necessary components.
Access WHM: Once the installation is complete, you can access WHM through your web browser using the following URL:
```
https://yourserver.example.com:2087
```
Use the root username and password to log in.
Configure cPanel/WHM: WHM will guide you through the initial configuration process, including setting up your server’s IP address, nameservers, and other essential settings.

Advantages of cPanel/WHM:

Extensive Features: cPanel/WHM offers a vast array of features for both website owners and administrators.
User-Friendly Interface: The interface is generally considered intuitive and easy to navigate.
Large Community and Support: cPanel/WHM has a large user base and a wealth of online resources and support options.

Disadvantages of cPanel/WHM:

Commercial License: cPanel/WHM requires a paid license, which can be more expensive than DirectAdmin, depending on the number of accounts and features needed.
Resource Intensive: cPanel/WHM can be more resource-intensive than some other control panels, especially on smaller servers.
Limited Customization: While customizable to some extent, cPanel/WHM is less flexible than some other options in terms of deep customization.

2. Using a Minimalist Approach with Command Line Tools and Configuration Files

For users comfortable with the command line, it’s possible to manage a Debian 12 server without a traditional control panel. This approach offers maximum control and minimal resource usage, but requires a deeper understanding of server administration.

Explanation:

This method involves manually configuring the services required for web hosting, such as:

Web Server (e.g., Apache or Nginx): Handles HTTP requests and serves website content.
Database Server (e.g., MySQL/MariaDB): Stores website data.
PHP: A scripting language often used for dynamic website content.
FTP Server (e.g., vsftpd): Allows users to upload and download files.
Email Server (e.g., Postfix, Dovecot): Handles sending and receiving email.

Steps for Manual Configuration:

Install the Necessary Packages: Use apt to install the required software. For example, to install Apache, MariaDB, and PHP:
```
apt update
apt install apache2 mariadb-server php php-mysql libapache2-mod-php
```
Configure the Web Server: Configure Apache or Nginx to host your websites. This involves creating virtual host configuration files for each domain. For Apache, these files are typically located in /etc/apache2/sites-available/. Here’s an example virtual host configuration:
```
<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin webmaster@example.com
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com
    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>
```
Remember to enable the site and restart Apache:
```
a2ensite example.com
systemctl restart apache2
```
Secure the Database Server: Secure your MariaDB installation by running the mysql_secure_installation script:
```
mysql_secure_installation
```
Follow the prompts to set a root password, remove anonymous users, disallow remote root login, and remove the test database.

Manage Websites and Users: Create system users for each website owner. Use the command line to manage files, databases, and other resources. For example, to create a new MariaDB database:

mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE example_db;
CREATE USER 'example_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON example_db.* TO 'example_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Configure Email (Optional): Installing and configuring an email server like Postfix and Dovecot is a more complex task. Numerous tutorials are available online.

Advantages of Manual Configuration:

Maximum Control: You have complete control over every aspect of your server’s configuration.
Minimal Resource Usage: Without a control panel, the server uses fewer resources.
Enhanced Security: By carefully configuring each service, you can improve your server’s security.
Cost-Effective: No licensing fees are involved.

Disadvantages of Manual Configuration:

Steep Learning Curve: Requires a strong understanding of Linux server administration.
Time-Consuming: Configuration and maintenance can be time-consuming.
Lack of a GUI: Everything is done through the command line, which may not be suitable for all users.
Increased Responsibility: You are responsible for all aspects of server management, including security updates and troubleshooting.

In conclusion, while DirectAdmin offers a user-friendly way to Install DirectAdmin Control Panel on Debian 12 Bookworm and manage your server, cPanel/WHM and manual configuration provide viable alternatives depending on your specific needs and technical expertise. Consider your requirements and comfort level before choosing the best approach for you.