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Plesk is a powerful commercial hosting control panel that supports Linux and Windows servers. This guide explains how to install Plesk Obsidian on a clean LifeinCloud VPS, complete the first login, and configure essential settings.
Firewall note: On LifeinCloud, the Cloud Firewall is disabled by default (all ports open). If you enable it later, allow 8880 (HTTP access), 8443 (HTTPS access), plus web, mail, and SSH ports.
Before You Start
- Fresh OS (no panel installed): Plesk requires a clean system.
- Supported OS: AlmaLinux 8/9, Rocky Linux 8/9, CentOS 7, Debian 11/12, Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 LTS.
- Resources: Minimum 1 vCPU / 1.5 GB RAM / 20 GB disk. Recommended: 2+ vCPU, 4 GB+ RAM.
- Static public IPv4 (NAT requires extra configuration).
- Hostname (FQDN): e.g.
server.example.comwith DNS A record pointing to your VPS IP. - License: You can install with a free trial license or apply a commercial license key after setup.
Step 1 — Connect to your VPS and update the system
ssh root@YOUR.SERVER.IP
Update packages:
# AlmaLinux / Rocky
dnf -y update
# Debian / Ubuntu
apt update && apt -y upgrade
Set hostname (FQDN):
hostnamectl set-hostname server.example.com
Step 2 — Download and run the Plesk installer
Run the official Plesk installer script:
bash <(curl -sSL https://autoinstall.plesk.com/one-click-installer)
The installer will:
- Fetch and install the latest stable Plesk Obsidian release
- Download required dependencies
- Configure base services (web server, database, mail, etc.)
Note: The installation can take 20–40 minutes depending on your server and network speed.
Step 3 — First login
- Access Plesk: https://YOUR.SERVER.IP:8443
- Default login:
- Username:
root(Linux) orAdministrator(Windows) - Password: your server root password
- Username:
The first-time setup wizard will ask you to create an admin user and enter a license key (or request a trial license directly in the panel).
Step 4 — Post-install configuration
- Secure the panel: Set a strong admin password, enable two-factor authentication.
- Install updates: Use Plesk’s built-in updater to apply latest patches.
- SSL for hostname: Issue a Let’s Encrypt certificate for
server.example.comin the panel. - Configure services: Add domains, create mailboxes, configure PHP versions, and set resource limits.
- Backups: Schedule automatic backups (local or remote).
- Firewall (optional): If you enable the LifeinCloud firewall later, open port
8443for HTTPS access,8880for HTTP access, and standard web/mail/SSH ports.
Troubleshooting
- Panel not loading: Use
https://IP:8443. If firewall rules are active, ensure port8443is open. - Forgot password: Reset via SSH as root:
plesk bin admin --get-login-link
- Logs: Check
/var/log/plesk/for installation or service errors. - License issues: Apply or update your license key in Tools & Settings → License Management.
