A control panel is a web-based interface used to manage and configure various server and hosting services. For website administrators, control panels make tasks like managing databases, email accounts, security settings, and website files easier by providing a user-friendly interface. Without a control panel, you’d need to rely on command-line commands and manual configurations, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. System administrators may also utilize control panel systems for management of server operations without having to manually interact with the system.
Some of the most popular web hosting control panels include cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin. There are also many open-source options available.
Open-source control panels allow users to access, modify, and distribute the software freely, which makes them a popular choice for those seeking cost-effective alternatives.
One of those options is CyberPanel. CyberPanel is a powerful, open-source web hosting control panel designed for managing web servers, websites, and applications. It offers an intuitive user interface, robust functionality, and is optimized for LiteSpeed Web Server. It’s a great choice for those starting with smaller projects or looking for a free alternative to paid control panels, with features like SSL, DNS management, and seamless application installations.
The panel is optimized for speed, security, and simplicity, making it ideal for web hosting environments, developers, and system administrators.
It’s key features include:
- LiteSpeed Web Server: Performance-oriented with built-in caching and HTTP/3 support.
- One-click SSL: Easily install and manage SSL certificates for secure websites.
- Manual or Automatic Backups: Run or schedule backups to keep your data safe.
- DNS Management: Manage domain DNS settings directly from the control panel.
- Open-source and Free: No licensing fees, making it a cost-effective solution for personal or business use.
In this guide, we’ll go over installing and set up CyberPanel on your server.
How to Install CyberPanel
Pre-requisites
Before starting the installation, you’ll need:
- A clean server: This could be a VPS or dedicated server with a fresh install of a supported Linux distribution (Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04 & 22.04, AlmaLinux 8 & 9, or CloudLinux 8).
- At least 1024MB of RAM
- At least 10GB of free disk space
- You’ll need root (administrator) or sudo access
- While CyberPanel includes a firewall manageable from the dashboard, you’ll need to enable ports at your system or cloud firewall for access:
Web Server: 80 (TCP) and 443 (UDP and TCP)
CyberPanel Dashboard: 8090 (TCP)
Additional services if you choose to enable upon install such as:
FTP ports: 40110-40210 (TCP)
Mail ports: 25, 465, 587, 110, 143, 993, 995 (TCP)
DNS ports: 53 (UDP and TCP)
Step 1: Update Server
First, log into your server via SSH with “ssh root@your-server-ip” and make sure your system is up to date. If running on Ubuntu, use:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yFor AlmaLinux/CloudLinux, use “yum update -y”
Step 2: Install CyberPanel
Once your server is ready, run the following command to download and start the CyberPanel installation script:
sudo su - -c "sh <(curl https://cyberpanel.net/install.sh || wget -O - https://cyberpanel.net/install.sh)"This will start the installation process. During the setup, you will be prompted to choose:
LiteSpeed or OpenLiteSpeed: Choose OpenLiteSpeed for the free version. If you have a license for the premium version LiteSpeed then choose this option instead.
Admin email and password: Set an email address for the admin account, and choose a strong password for access to the control panel. You’ll be able to manage and change from the panel in the future.
Additional features: Choose to install optional features like DNS server, Email server, and PHP options based on your needs.
Installation may take time as it obtains all needed software and dependencies. Once it completes, it will provie you with access details like the CyberPanel admin URL, username, and password. Copy this information (if in a terminal, you may have to right-click or use keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + C” to copy from clipboard)
Step 3: Accessing CyberPanel
Once installed, you can access the CyberPanel dashboard via your browser. Open the following URL:
https://your-server-ip:8090
You can also access with https://yourdomain.com8090 (if your domain is properly pointing to your server IP)
Log in using the admin credentials you set during the installation process. The first time you log in, you’ll see a clean and user-friendly interface, where you can manage everything from creating websites, setting up email accounts, to configuring security settings.
Step 4: Set Up Basic Configurations
Secure Your Panel:
CyberPanel provides Let’s Encrypt SSL integration out of the box. If you haven’t already set up SSL during installation, you can enable it easily from the settings menu. You can do this from the left menu >> SSL >> Hostname SSL.
Create a Website:
From the CyberPanel dashboard, click Websites >> Create Website.
Enter the domain name, select the PHP version, and set up any additional configurations (e.g., SSL).
Set Up DNS:
If you chose to install the DNS server, you can manage your domain’s DNS records directly from CyberPanel. You’ll need to point your domain with nameservers that resolve to your server IP. Otherwise you can create DNS records at your domain registrar such as:
An A record with “@” for name and server IP for value and then either another A record with “www” and server IP or a CNAME record pointing to yourdomain.com.
For email, an A record with name such as “mail” and server IP, then an MX record with the previously created, mail.yourdomain.com.
Create Email Accounts:
If you chose to set up email at installation, you can set up email services for your domains via Email >> Create Email.
Create Backups:
Under the Backup menu, you can set up regular backups of your websites to ensure you never lose data.
Step 5: Next Steps
Once CyberPanel is up and running, you’re ready to start managing websites, databases, emails, and more! Depending on your needs, you can dive deeper into CyberPanel’s advanced features like:
Database Management: Create and manage MySQL and MariaDB databases for your websites.
Files & Application Installation: Use the built-in tools such as File Manager to upload your website files and apps.
Security Enhancements: Enable mod_security, firewall rules, CSF (ConfigServer Security and Firewall) and other security features from the menu >> Security settings page.
You’ve successfully installed CyberPanel and are now ready to start managing your server. If you need further assistance, CyberPanel has extensive documentation and an active community to help with advanced configurations and troubleshooting.
CyberPanel is a powerful and efficient control panel that combines ease of use with robust features. Whether you’re running a small personal blog or managing a business hosting environment, CyberPanel provides the tools you need to get the job done effectively.
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