Installation

• System Requirements
• Before You Begin
• Download and Install
• Initial Configuration
  • Access the Wizard
  • Configuration Process
• Next Steps
• Common Problems

This article will walk you through the steps necessary to install PanelAlpha on your server. We will guide you carefully through the whole installation process.

System Requirements

To install and use PanelAlpha, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

1. Server for PanelAlpha installation that meets the following conditions:

   • Operating system:
     • Debian 12 "bookworm" or
     • Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)
   • Memory:
     • We recommend a machine with 4GB of RAM.
   • Open inbound ports:
     • 80 and 443 (web traffic)
     • 8443 (PanelAlpha admin area)

2. Connection to a hosting server - choose one solution from the below:

   • cPanel, DirectAdmin or Plesk server - for Shared Hosting control panel (root access account required)
   • Dedicated server/VPS - to be used with PanelAlpha Engine

   Note: In this case you need a separate server, as the engine cannot be installed on the same server as PanelAlpha.

Before You Begin

1. IMPORTANT - Ensure that your server meets all the system requirements listed above.
2. IMPORTANT - Make sure you have root access to your server via SSH.
3. Have your PanelAlpha license key ready. It can be found in your client area under Licenses (opens new window), in the product details.
4. Ensure your server has internet connectivity to download the installation files.
5. Confirm your firewall allows inbound traffic on 80/443/8443 before running the installer.

Download and Install

The installation of PanelAlpha is quick and completely trouble-free as most processes are performed automatically. You can move forward with the installation process as soon as you purchase the PanelAlpha license.

1. Log in to your server via SSH as root:

   ssh root@your-server-ip
   

2. Download the installer using the command:

   wget -N -P /opt/panelalpha https://license.panelalpha.com/installer.sh
   

3. Run the installation script with your license key:

   bash /opt/panelalpha/installer.sh --key 'YOUR_LICENSE_KEY'
   

   Important: Replace YOUR_LICENSE_KEY with your actual license key from the client area.

Initial Configuration

Once the installation is completed, you can now proceed with the initial system configuration using our Setup Wizard.

Access the Wizard

The Setup Wizard can be accessed at:

https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8443

Replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with your actual server IP address.

Configuration Process

The Setup Wizard is designed for non-technical users and walks you through a few short screens. Typical flow:

• General details – Set your company/application name and create the first admin user (email + strong password).
• Branding – Optionally upload a logo and set colors.
• Plans – Define at least one plan so you can provision instances.
• First server – Add your hosting server (cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, or PanelAlpha Engine). You will need root/administrator credentials.
• First service/instance – Create the first service to confirm the connection works.

You can reopen the wizard later at https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8443/wizard after logging in as an admin if you want to revisit any step.

Next Steps

After completing the installation and initial configuration:

1. Configure hosting servers - Connect your cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, or Docker-based servers
2. Set up billing integration - Configure your preferred billing system integration
3. Review security settings - Ensure proper SSL configuration and security measures
4. Test the installation - Verify that all components are working correctly

Common Problems

If you encounter any issues during installation, please refer to our Troubleshooting Center for common problems and solutions.