Hestia Control Panel (HestiaCP) is a powerful yet lightweight web hosting control panel for managing VPS hosting. It simplifies tasks like managing websites, emails, and databases while offering a user-friendly interface. This guide will walk you through installing HestiaCP on a VPS using supported Linux distributions like Debian and Ubuntu.

System Requirements

Before proceeding, ensure your VPS meets the following prerequisites:

  • Operating System:
    • Debian 10, 11, or 12.
    • Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 LTS.
  • Processor: 64-bit (AMD64/x86_64 or ARM64/aarch64).
  • Memory:
    • Minimum: 1 GB RAM (without SpamAssassin and ClamAV).
    • Recommended: 4 GB RAM.
  • Storage:
    • Minimum: 10 GB HDD.
    • Recommended: 40 GB SSD.
  • Network: Stable internet connection.
  • Access: Root user privileges.

Note: HestiaCP requires a clean operating system installation for optimal performance. If an existing admin account is present, delete it or use the --force option during installation.

Step 1: Prepare Your VPS

Update System Packages

To ensure your VPS is up-to-date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Set the Hostname

Configure your Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN):

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname yourdomain.com

Replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name.

Step 2: Download the HestiaCP Installer

HestiaCP provides an automated installation script. Download it using the commands below:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hestiacp/hestiacp/release/install/hst-install.sh

Step 3: Run the Installer

The installation process requires root privileges. Start the installation with the following command:

sudo bash hst-install.sh

Optional Installation Flags

HestiaCP allows customization during installation. Below is an example of a command with optional flags:

sudo bash hst-install.sh --apache yes --nginx yes --phpfpm yes --mysql yes --exim yes --dovecot yes --clamav yes --spamassassin yes --iptables yes --fail2ban yes
  • NGINX and Apache: Web server options.
  • PHP-FPM: PHP processing.
  • Exim/Dovecot: Mail servers.
  • SpamAssassin/ClamAV: Email filtering and virus scanning (requires higher system resources).
  • Fail2Ban: Intrusion prevention system.

Step 4: Confirm Installation Details

The installer will prompt you to:

  1. Select services to install.
  2. Enter your FQDN.
  3. Provide a valid email address for administrative notifications.

Once you confirm, the installation will proceed and may take up to 20 minutes.

Step 5: Access HestiaCP

After the installation, the installer will provide:

  1. The URL for accessing the control panel (e.g., https://yourdomain.com:8083).
  2. The admin username and a temporary password.

Open the URL in your browser and log in using the provided credentials.

Step 6: Post-Installation Configuration

Secure Your Installation

  • Change the Admin Password:
    Log into HestiaCP and navigate to User > Admin > Edit > Password to set a new password.
  • Install SSL for the Control Panel:
    Use Let’s Encrypt within HestiaCP to secure your login portal with an SSL certificate.

Add Your First Domain

To host a website, add your domain in the Web > Add Domain section.

Step 7: Start Managing Your VPS

With HestiaCP installed, you can:

  • Host websites and configure DNS records.
  • Create and manage email accounts.
  • Set up databases and monitor server performance.
  • Use advanced tools like backups, firewalls, and monitoring features.

Troubleshooting Tips

  1. Installer Issues: Ensure your server is freshly installed and updated.
  2. Access Issues: If the control panel is inaccessible, ensure port 8083 is open: sudo ufw allow 8083/tcp
  3. Missing Features: Re-run the installer with additional flags to include missing services.