A control panel makes a VPS manageable without the command line: websites, email, DNS and SSL from a web interface. Virtualizor can install some panels for you, or you can install one yourself on a fresh OS. This guide helps you choose and get started.
Before you start
- A VPS with enough resources: at least 2 GB RAM for most panels (4 GB+ recommended for cPanel with email and several sites); see VPS RAM requirements.
- A fresh, minimal OS supported by the panel. Installing on a server already in use often fails.
- A hostname with DNS and reverse DNS; see hostname and rDNS.
- A licence for commercial panels (cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin) unless a trial is included.
Choose a panel
| Panel | Strengths | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| cPanel/WHM | Most familiar to customers, rich ecosystem | Highest licence cost, heavier on RAM |
| Plesk | Modern UI, Docker, Git, WP Toolkit; Linux and Windows | Licence editions limit domains |
| DirectAdmin | Lightweight, fast, affordable | Smaller third-party ecosystem |
| Free panels (HestiaCP, CloudPanel, Webmin) | No licence cost | Fewer features and less support |
If you mainly need to host websites without running the server yourself, managed cPanel hosting or reseller hosting may be simpler than a VPS with a panel.
Option A: Virtualizor's control panel installer
- In Virtualizor, open the VPS and look for Control Panel (or Install Control Panel).
- Choose the panel from the list your provider offers.
- Confirm. The installer runs inside the VPS and may take 30–90 minutes.
Some providers instead offer OS templates with a panel preinstalled under Reinstall OS; see reinstall OS. Both methods erase or change the server, so use a fresh VPS.
Option B: install manually
- Reinstall the VPS with a supported OS (for example AlmaLinux or Ubuntu LTS).
- Set the hostname and update packages.
- Run the panel's official installer:
- Plesk: see install Plesk on a Linux VPS.
- DirectAdmin: see install DirectAdmin on AlmaLinux.
- cPanel: check cPanel VPS requirements first.
After installation
- Log in to the panel and complete its setup wizard.
- Issue SSL for the panel hostname.
- Configure the firewall to allow the panel's ports; see firewall rules.
- Set up backups to remote storage.
Troubleshooting
- Installer fails on dependencies: the OS is not supported or not minimal; reinstall a clean template.
- Panel unreachable: the firewall blocks its port (2087, 8443, 2222).
- Out of memory during install: add swap or choose a bigger plan.
Next steps
- First steps on a Linux VPS.
- VPS backups.
- Managed vs unmanaged VPS.