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ISPConfig is a powerful open-source hosting control panel that lets you manage multiple services (web, DNS, mail, FTP, databases) from a single interface. This guide covers a fresh installation of ISPConfig on a LifeinCloud VPS.
Before You Start
- Fresh OS: Debian 11/12 or Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 LTS (recommended).
- Resources: Minimum 1 vCPU / 1 GB RAM / 20 GB disk (2 GB+ recommended for production).
- Hostname (FQDN): e.g.
server.example.com. - Services: ISPConfig can manage Apache or Nginx, Postfix, Dovecot, MariaDB/MySQL, Bind/PowerDNS.
- License: ISPConfig is free and open source.
Step 1 — Connect & prepare the system
ssh root@YOUR.SERVER.IP
Update packages:
# Debian / Ubuntu
apt update && apt -y upgrade
Set hostname (FQDN):
hostnamectl set-hostname server.example.com
Reboot if the kernel was updated.
Step 2 — Install required stack
ISPConfig does not come with bundled services. Install the standard LAMP/LEMP stack:
# Example: Apache, MariaDB, PHP, mail services, DNS
apt -y install apache2 mariadb-server mariadb-client \
php php-cli php-mysql php-cgi php-fpm \
php-curl php-mbstring php-xml php-soap \
postfix dovecot-imapd dovecot-pop3d \
bind9 dnsutils quota \
pure-ftpd-common pure-ftpd-mysql \
fail2ban unzip wget git
Tip: You can choose Nginx instead of Apache, or PowerDNS instead of Bind9 depending on preference.
Step 3 — Download & run the ISPConfig installer
Clone the ISPConfig installer from GitHub:
cd /tmp
git clone https://git.ispconfig.org/ispconfig/ispconfig3.git
cd ispconfig3/install
php -q install.php
Follow the interactive prompts to configure services (web server, mail, database, DNS, FTP).
Note: The installer detects installed packages and integrates them automatically.
Step 4 — Access ISPConfig
- Default URL: https://YOUR.SERVER.IP:8080
- Login:
admin - Password: shown at the end of the installation
Once logged in, you can create clients, domains, DNS zones, databases, and mailboxes.
Step 5 — Post-install checklist
- Secure the panel: Change the default admin password immediately.
- SSL for hostname: Issue a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate for your FQDN (
server.example.com). - DNS configuration: Add A/MX records, set rDNS (PTR), configure SPF/DKIM/DMARC if running mail.
- Backups: Enable regular system and website backups.
- Firewall (optional): If you enable the LifeinCloud firewall, allow
8080(ISPConfig panel) and required service ports.
Troubleshooting
- Panel not loading: Use
https://IP:8080. If firewall is enabled, allow port8080. - Forgot admin password: Reset with:
php /usr/local/ispconfig/server/scripts/reset_admin_password.php NEWPASSWORD
- Logs: Check
/var/log/ispconfig/for errors. - Services failing: Ensure Apache/Nginx, Postfix, and Dovecot are running properly.
