How easy and convenient is it to carry out Linux administration without a control panel like ispmanager, especially when you are not an expert? You will find Linux administration more enjoyable when you use a control panel with flexible features that hide the complexities and many processing steps inherent in Linux administration.
A control panel also provides a convenient way to access a wide range of configuration options in Linux all in one place. Thus, if you have installed a smart tool to manage your servers and websites, you have made a good decision. In this article, you will discover everything you need to know about starting your control panel. You don’t want to miss out on this information, do you?
Installing a Linux control panel
Installing a control panel is the first step to starting a control panel. However, you can skip this section if you already have your choice of control panel installed on your server. It will help if you check the control panel installation guide you want to install and ensure that your machine or system meets its installation requirements. That being said, you will find a general installation guide for control panels on Linux OS.
- Log in with your credentials to the Linux server via SSH as the root user.
- Set a proper hostname if you still need one, as most control panels require a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) before the installation file can run.
- Execute the control panel’s installation command to start running the installation.
- Proceed with the installation by following the steps or instructions of the installation wizard. Note that the installation will proceed automatically and may take 30 – 60 minutes to complete, depending on the control panel.
- To complete the control panel installation, you may need to restart your server.
- After restarting your server, log into the control panel to configure the server’s default settings.
Accessing and starting the control panel
Starting the control is the next thing that comes to mind after installation, which begs the question: how do I start the control panel? You can access and activate the control panel in two ways: client area and direct login URL. The two methods are great but using the client area seems better. However, there are instances when you should use the direct login URL method, such as giving an external person access to your server or website.
- Client Area
As soon as you become a client of a control panel provider, you get access to a Client Area. This Client Area is where you can manage your ownership details, contact, and products, such as hosting accounts, servers, domain names, and servers. If you also want to contact your control panel provider’s support or technical team, you can do it through the Client Area. Follow the steps below to activate your control panel through the Client Area method.
- Log in to your “Client Area”
- Go to “Services” and click on “My Services”
- You will see your products/services listed out under “My Services”
- If you have multiple services from your control panel provider, click the server “Details” to ensure you choose the right service or that of your server
- Click on the control panel’s link to login
- If a warning message about an unsigned SSL certificate appears, you can ignore the error or add an exception to continue to the login page.
- Refer to the email received after activating your server for the control panel login detail.
- Direct login URL
This method requires you to know your server’s hostname, IP address, or domain name. Do note that you should have received your server’s hostname, IP address, and welcome email from the control panel’s provider. To use this method, follow the steps below.
- Go to the address bar of your web browser.
- If you use ispmanager, type either of the following into the web address bar to access the control panel
- https://<server IP address>:1500/ispmgr
- https://<server hostname>:1500/ispmgr
- https://<server domain name>:1500/ispmgr
However, if you use a separate control panel apart from ispmanager, do well to research the login address of the control panel. Further, once you log into the control panel, you must configure the server’s default settings. You can use the guide below for the configuration.
Control panel settings
Make as many changes to the settings as they meet your requirements. However, ensure that you do not mess around with parts you do not understand. It would help if you asked for help or looked up the necessary information on the internet. Every setting you make here will be saved for each control panel you install on your server, provided you have more than one control panel installed.
Further, it is best to check the box for setting strong passwords because of security concerns. Checking this box will help you to prevent setting weak passwords that external threats can easily breach. This will also allow the control panel to show you a corresponding error message whenever you attempt to set a weak password.
Server settings
There are several options to make changes here, some of which are briefly discussed below.
- Server name: Enter a hostname for the server because some applications require it.
- Time zone: Change your server’s time zone to the time in your locale.
- Region: Select your region.
- Location: Select the geographic location of your server.
Conclusion
Installing and activating your control panel becomes straightforward with the guidelines provided in this article. If you still find it challenging to access and start your control panel after following this guide, ensure you seek help.
