How to Install DirectAdmin on Linux: Ubuntu, CentOS 7 & AlmaLinux (2026)

Managing a server doesn’t have to be hard. You just need the right tools. DirectAdmin stands out as one of the best control panels for Linux because it is fast, lightweight, and efficient. It works perfectly on Ubuntu and AlmaLinux, giving you a graphical interface to handle complex tasks.

Installing the control panel manually gives you granular control over your server’s configuration. You get to decide exactly which services to run and how security is handled, rather than relying on default settings. This guide walks you through the complete setup process to ensure your environment is built exactly the way you need it.

System Requirements for DirectAdmin

Meeting DirectAdmin’s system requirements provides a smooth installation and the best performance.

CRITICAL: Start with a Clean Server. Do not install services like Apache, PHP, MySQL, or Sendmail before installing DirectAdmin. The installer compiles and configures these services specifically for the control panel. Existing installations will cause conflicts and failure.

Hardware Requirements

DirectAdmin’s lightweight design means modest hardware can run the control panel effectively. According to the DirectAdmin system requirements, the official specifications include specific hardware benchmarks.

DirectAdmin Hardware Requirements for Linux Servers:

DirectAdmin requires a minimum of 4 GB of RAM with at least 4 GB of swap memory. For servers hosting multiple websites, allocate additional memory and processing power.

Both Intel and AMD processors work well.

Key hardware note: SSD storage is highly recommended over traditional hard drives for the best DirectAdmin performance.

Operating System Compatibility

DirectAdmin supports several Linux distributions. Start with a clean OS installation.

At Cloudzy, our Linux VPS provides a solid foundation with 99.99% uptime and data centers in 16+ global locations. We use AMD Ryzen 9 processors and NVMe storage, so your DirectAdmin panel runs fast.

Supported Distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, AlmaLinux (recommended for RHEL compatibility), Rocky Linux, CentOS Stream, CloudLinux, Debian, Ubuntu (20.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS).

Note: CentOS 7 reached EOL in June 2024. For RHEL-based systems, use AlmaLinux 9 or Rocky Linux 9 instead.

For Ubuntu installations, DirectAdmin works best on Long Term Support releases. Learn more about the differences in our CentOS vs Ubuntu comparison guide.

License and Domain Requirements

You need a valid DirectAdmin license key to start the installation. The web installer asks for this key directly. IP locking is available as an optional safety feature, but the key is the main requirement. You also need a fully qualified domain name for your server’s hostname.

This hostname should resolve via DNS.

Required Access

Root access to your server is mandatory for DirectAdmin installation. The installation process modifies system configurations and installs various services that require root privileges.

With the requirements covered, you’re ready to begin the installation process. The following sections provide detailed instructions for both Ubuntu and CentOS 7.

If you want to skip the setup hassle, get Cloudzy’s DirectAdmin VPS hosting. It comes pre-configured for peak performance. You can start managing your websites immediately without touching the command line. This lets you focus on your content instead of server configuration.

How to Install DirectAdmin on Ubuntu

Installing DirectAdmin on Ubuntu is straightforward when you follow these steps carefully. For the best stability and performance, we recommend using a Cloudzy Ubuntu VPS running versions 20.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS, or 24.04 LTS.

# Update package lists and upgrade all packages
apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 1: Update Your System

Switch to the root user before you do anything else. Run sudo -i to open a root shell. All commands in this Ubuntu section run from that root shell, so you won’t need to prefix them with sudo.

# Update package lists and upgrade all packages
apt update && apt upgrade -y

After the update completes, reboot your server to apply kernel updates:

# Reboot the server
reboot

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

The installer pulls its own dependencies during setup. You only need curl installed beforehand to run the script:

apt install curl -y

Troubleshooting — missing packages: If setup.sh flags a missing package mid-installation, install only that package by name, then re-run the script.

Two packages no longer in Ubuntu 24.04 repos are libaio1 (replaced by libaio1t64) and libperl4-corelibs-perl (removed entirely). Do not install a full pre-dependency list from external guides. Let setup.sh resolve what it needs.

Step 3: Run the DirectAdmin Installation Script

Make sure you are still in your root shell from Step 1. If you exited, run sudo -i again before proceeding. Then run the installation script:

# Run DirectAdmin installation script
sh <(curl -fsSL https://download.directadmin.com/setup.sh)

Do not run this as sudo sh <(curl …). Run it directly from inside the root shell. Using sudo in a non-root shell can cause the script to fail mid-installation.

The script performs initial system checks and provides a URL to continue installation through your web browser.

The URL will look similar to http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:35222/?key=UNIQUE_INSTALLATION_KEY. Open this URL in your browser to complete the installation through DirectAdmin’s web-based installer.

During setup, the web installer asks for your license key, server hostname, administrator username and password, network adapter selection, and software stack preferences.

The installation process typically takes 30-60 minutes, depending on your server’s performance and internet connection speed.

Step 4: Configure Firewall Settings

If you’re running a firewall, set it up to allow DirectAdmin’s default ports. DirectAdmin uses port 2222 for the control panel interface.

Run these commands for UFW to configure firewall access properly.

# Allow DirectAdmin control panel access
ufw allow 2222/tcp
# Allow HTTP web traffic
ufw allow 80/tcp
# Allow HTTPS-encrypted web traffic
ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw allow 35222/tcp
# Apply firewall changes
ufw reload

Port 2222 gives access to the DirectAdmin control panel, while ports 80 and 443 handle HTTP and HTTPS web traffic for your hosted websites.

Step 5: Access DirectAdmin

Once installation completes, access DirectAdmin by opening your web browser and navigating to:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:2222

Log in using the administrator credentials you created during installation.

How to Install DirectAdmin on CentOS 7 (Legacy Only)

Important: Do not use this for new servers.

CentOS 7 reached End of Life in 2024. DirectAdmin also dropped support for RHEL 7 systems. You should only use these steps if you are trying to recover legacy CentOS VPS hosting environments.


For any new setup in 2026, you must use AlmaLinux 9. If you proceed with CentOS 7, you will face security risks and broken update scripts.

Step 1: Prepare the System

Switch to a root shell before you begin. Run sudo -i to open one. Do not use sudo in front of individual commands. Run them directly from inside the root shell.

sudo -i

First, disable SELinux temporarily for the installation process. SELinux can interfere with DirectAdmin’s installation scripts:

# Temporarily disable SELinux
setenforce 0
# Permanently disable SELinux on reboot
sed -i 's/enforcing/disabled/g' /etc/selinux/config

Update your system packages:

# Update all system packages
yum update -y

Reboot the server after updates complete:

# Reboot to apply updates
reboot

Step 2: Run the DirectAdmin Installation Script

You are already in a root shell from Step 1. Run the installation script directly:

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

Do not use sudo sh <(curl …). Run it from inside the root shell only. The installation wizard will guide you through the setup process. You’ll need your DirectAdmin license information and will configure basic server settings.

Step 3: Configure Firewall Rules

CentOS 7 uses firewalld for firewall management. Open the necessary ports:

# Allow DirectAdmin control panel (port 2222)

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=2222/tcp

# Allow HTTP traffic (port 80)

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=80/tcp

# Allow HTTPS traffic (port 443)

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=443/tcp
# Allow Installation Port
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=35222/tcp

# Reload firewall to apply changes

firewall-cmd --reload

These commands allow DirectAdmin’s control panel and web services to accept incoming connections.

Step 4: Complete Installation

The installation process will install and configure all required services, including your chosen web server, PHP, and database system. Monitor the installation output for any errors or warnings.

After installation completes, access DirectAdmin at:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:2222

Log in with your administrator credentials to begin configuring your hosting environment.

How to Install DirectAdmin on AlmaLinux 9 (Recommended Alternative)

AlmaLinux 9 is the recommended replacement for CentOS 7, offering full RHEL compatibility with active long-term support. DirectAdmin officially supports AlmaLinux, making it the best choice for new 2026 deployments.

The installation process is nearly identical to CentOS 7, with modern package management. Here’s the streamlined approach:

Quick Installation Steps

Switch to a root shell first, then update your system:

sudo -i

# Update system packages
dnf update -y

Run the installation script directly from that root shell. Do not prefix it with sudo sh <(curl …):

# Run DirectAdmin installation script
sh <(curl -fsSL https://download.directadmin.com/setup.sh)

Run the script directly from the root shell. Do not prefix it with sudo.

Configure the firewall using firewalld:

# Allow necessary ports

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=2222/tcp

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=80/tcp

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=443/tcp

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=35222/tcp

firewall-cmd --reload

Access your DirectAdmin panel at http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:2222 after installation completes. AlmaLinux 9 provides better security, active updates, and official DirectAdmin support through 2032.

Post-Installation Configuration

After successfully installing DirectAdmin, complete these important configuration steps to secure and improve your installation.

Security Configuration

Update your admin password right after you log in. The installer generates random credentials, so you should set a custom password immediately. Navigate to Account Manager in the DirectAdmin interface and update your credentials.

Enable SSL/TLS certificates for the DirectAdmin control panel itself. DirectAdmin supports Let’s Encrypt for free SSL certificates, which you can configure through the SSL Certificates section.

DNS Configuration

Set up your nameservers in DirectAdmin’s DNS Management section. Proper DNS configuration means your domains resolve correctly and email delivery works properly.

User Account Setup

DirectAdmin operates on three access levels:

• Admins have full server control
• Resellers can create and manage user accounts
• Users can manage their own websites and email accounts

Software Installation

Use DirectAdmin’s CustomBuild feature to install or update software packages like web servers, PHP versions, and database systems.

DirectAdmin Advantages and Limitations

You should weigh DirectAdmin’s strengths against its weaknesses before you install it. The biggest draw is the price. The Standard license costs just $29 per month. This is much lower than cPanel. It saves you money if you manage multiple servers.

Performance is another big plus. The panel is lightweight. It runs well on minimal hardware, even on 500 MHz CPUs. This leaves more RAM and processing power for your actual websites. It stays stable because of automatic crash recovery features.

But there are trade-offs. You get fewer built-in features compared to cPanel. The plugin ecosystem is much smaller, too. You might miss the wide range of third-party tools that other panels offer. This can make specific customizations harder to find without help.

DirectAdmin works on Linux systems only. Windows users cannot use it. The user community is smaller, so finding answers to rare errors takes longer. Yet if you want speed and low costs rather than a massive marketplace, this panel is a solid choice.

DirectAdmin vs cPanel: A Brief Comparison

Knowing how DirectAdmin compares to cPanel helps you make an informed choice.

Pricing: DirectAdmin’s Standard package costs $29 per month, while cPanel’s pricing is significantly higher for comparable features. DirectAdmin delivers substantial cost savings, especially for hosting providers managing multiple servers.

Resource Usage: DirectAdmin consumes fewer system resources than cPanel, making it more suitable for VPS and shared hosting environments.

Features: cPanel offers more built-in features and a larger ecosystem of plugins and integrations. DirectAdmin provides essential hosting management tools, but with a more streamlined feature set.

If you’re considering alternatives, check out our guide on “how to install cPanel on Ubuntu”.

Learning Curve: Both panels are beginner-friendly, though cPanel’s extensive documentation and larger user community provide more learning resources.

Conclusion

Learning how to install DirectAdmin on Linux gives you a reliable, cost-effective solution for server management. Its lightweight design, intuitive interface, and affordable pricing make it an excellent choice for hosting providers.

The installation process to install DirectAdmin on Ubuntu, CentOS 7, and AlmaLinux 9 is easy when you follow the proper steps. Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements of 4 GB RAM and 4 GB swap memory, obtain a valid license, and set up your firewall to allow DirectAdmin’s default port 2222.

While DirectAdmin may not offer as many features as cPanel, its focus on core hosting functionality, stability, and resource efficiency serves many use cases exceptionally well.

FAQ