Are you looking to set up a powerful, free web hosting control panel on your Ubuntu server? You’ve come to the right place! Installing CyberPanel on Ubuntu is one of the smartest decisions you can make for managing your websites, domains, and hosting services efficiently.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every step of the CyberPanel installation process, from preparation to post-setup configuration. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced system administrator, this tutorial will help you get CyberPanel up and running smoothly.

What is CyberPanel and Why Choose It?

CyberPanel is a free, open-source web hosting control panel that runs on top of OpenLiteSpeed Web Server. Unlike traditional control panels like cPanel or Plesk that come with hefty licensing fees, CyberPanel offers enterprise-level features at absolutely no cost.

Key Features and Benefits

What makes CyberPanel stand out from the crowd? Here’s what you get:

• Lightning-fast performance with OpenLiteSpeed web server
• One-click SSL certificate installation with Let’s Encrypt integration
• Built-in email server with spam protection
• DNS management with PowerDNS integration
• File manager with drag-and-drop functionality
• Database management through phpMyAdmin
• Backup and restore capabilities
• Multi-PHP version support
• Docker container management

CyberPanel vs Traditional Control Panels

While cPanel might cost you $15-45 per month per server, CyberPanel delivers similar functionality for free. The performance difference is remarkable too – OpenLiteSpeed can handle up to 3x more concurrent connections than Apache, making your websites significantly faster.

System Requirements and Prerequisites

Before diving into the installation, let’s make sure your system meets the necessary requirements.

Minimum Hardware Requirements

Your Ubuntu server should have:

• RAM: At least 1GB (2GB+ recommended for production)
• Storage: Minimum 10GB free space (20GB+ recommended)
• CPU: 1 core minimum (2+ cores for better performance)
• Network: Stable internet connection

Supported Ubuntu Versions

CyberPanel supports several Ubuntu versions:

• Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
• Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Pro tip: I always recommend using LTS (Long Term Support) versions for production servers as they receive security updates for 5 years.

Network Requirements

Make sure these ports are accessible:

• Port 8090: CyberPanel dashboard
• Port 7080: OpenLiteSpeed admin panel
• Port 80: HTTP traffic
• Port 443: HTTPS traffic
• Port 22: SSH access

Pre-Installation Preparation

Proper preparation is crucial for a smooth installation. Let’s get your system ready!

Setting Up SSH Connection

First, you’ll need to connect to your Ubuntu server via SSH. The process varies depending on your operating system:

For Windows users:
Download and install PuTTY or use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Enter your server’s IP address and connect using your root credentials.

For Mac/Linux users:
Open Terminal and use this command:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Replace your_server_ip with your actual server IP address.

Updating Ubuntu System Packages

This step is absolutely critical! Outdated packages can cause compatibility issues during installation. Run these commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This command does two things:

• apt update refreshes your package lists
• apt upgrade -y installs all available updates automatically

The process typically takes 2-5 minutes depending on your server’s specifications and the number of pending updates.

Setting Proper Hostname

While not mandatory, setting a proper hostname helps with server identification:

hostnamectl set-hostname your-desired-hostname

Installing CyberPanel on Ubuntu

Now comes the exciting part – actually installing CyberPanel! The installation process is surprisingly straightforward thanks to the automated installation script.

Downloading and Running Installation Script

CyberPanel provides an official installation script that handles everything automatically. Here’s the command you need:

sh <(curl https://cyberpanel.net/install.sh || wget -O - https://cyberpanel.net/install.sh)

This command downloads and executes the installation script in one go. If curl fails for any reason, it automatically falls back to wget.

Alternative method: If you prefer to download first, then execute:

curl -o cyberpanel_installer.sh https://cyberpanel.net/install.sh
chmod +x cyberpanel_installer.sh
./cyberpanel_installer.sh

Installation Configuration Options

Once the script starts, you’ll be presented with several configuration choices. Let me guide you through each one:

Choosing Web Server Type

The first question asks about your web server preference:

CyberPanel Installer v2.3.5
1. Install CyberPanel
2. Exit
Please enter the number[1-2]: 1

Type 1 and press Enter to proceed.

Next, you’ll choose between:

• OpenLiteSpeed (Free) – Perfect for most users
• LiteSpeed Enterprise – Requires a paid license

For most users, I recommend choosing option 1 for OpenLiteSpeed. It’s free, fast, and handles most workloads beautifully.

Full Service vs Minimal Installation

You’ll be asked whether to install full services:

Full installation includes PowerDNS, Postfix, Pure-FTPd
Install full services? [Y/n]:

Always choose ‘Y’ for full installation. Here’s why:

• PowerDNS: Manages your DNS records
• Postfix: Handles email delivery
• Pure-FTPd: Provides FTP access for file management

Skipping these services often leads to functionality issues later.

Database Configuration Options

When asked about remote MySQL setup:

Do you want to setup remote MySQL? [y/N]:

Type N and press Enter. Unless you have a specific need for remote database hosting, local MySQL installation is simpler and more secure.

Password Setup Methods

CyberPanel offers three password configuration options:

1. Random password generation (default)
2. Manual password entry
3. Use default password

I recommend choosing option 2 (S) to set your own password. This way, you’ll have a password you can remember easily.

Optional Services Configuration

You’ll be prompted to install additional services:

Memcached:

Do you wish to install Memcached? [Y/n]:

Choose Y – Memcached significantly improves website performance by caching database queries.

Redis:

Do you wish to install Redis? [Y/n]:

Choose Y – Redis provides excellent caching and session storage capabilities.

WatchDog:

Install WatchDog (Beta)? [y/N]:

Choose N for production servers. WatchDog is still in beta and might cause unexpected system reboots.

Post-Installation Setup

Congratulations! If you’ve followed the steps correctly, CyberPanel should now be installed. But we’re not done yet – let’s secure and configure your installation.

Accessing CyberPanel Dashboard

After installation completes, you’ll see important information displayed:

Successfully Installed CyberPanel
Visit: https://your_server_ip:8090
Username: admin
Password: your_generated_password

Important: Copy this information immediately and store it securely!

To access your CyberPanel dashboard:

1. Open your web browser
2. Navigate to https://your_server_ip:8090
3. Accept the security warning (it’s normal for self-signed certificates)
4. Login with username admin and your password

Initial Security Configuration

Security should be your top priority. Here’s what to do immediately after first login:

Change default admin password:

1. Navigate to Users → Admin
2. Click on the admin user
3. Set a strong, unique password
4. Save changes

Enable two-factor authentication:

1. Go to Users → Admin
2. Enable 2FA for additional security
3. Use Google Authenticator or similar apps

Firewall and Port Management

If you’re using UFW (Ubuntu Firewall), make sure required ports are open:

sudo ufw allow 8090/tcp
sudo ufw allow 7080/tcp
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw enable

For production servers, consider restricting port 8090 access to specific IP addresses.

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Even with careful preparation, you might encounter some issues. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:

Permission Problems

If you see permission errors, ensure you’re running the installation as root:

sudo su - -c "sh <(curl https://cyberpanel.net/install.sh || wget -O - https://cyberpanel.net/install.sh)"

This command switches to root user before running the installation script.

Network Connectivity Issues

If the installation script fails to download:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Verify DNS resolution: nslookup cyberpanel.net
3. Try using a different DNS server temporarily

Memory and Resource Limitations

If installation fails due to insufficient resources:

1. Check available RAM: free -h
2. Monitor disk space: df -h
3. Close unnecessary processes: htop

For servers with less than 1GB RAM, consider creating a swap file:

sudo fallocate -l 1G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile

CyberPanel Features Overview

Now that you have CyberPanel installed, let’s explore what you can do with it:

Website Management:

• Create and manage multiple websites
• Install popular applications like WordPress with one click
• Configure SSL certificates automatically
• Set up staging environments

Email Services:

• Create email accounts for your domains
• Configure spam filtering
• Set up email forwarding and autoresponders
• Access webmail through Rainloop

File Management:

• Upload and manage files through the web interface
• Extract archives directly on the server
• Set file permissions easily
• Edit files with syntax highlighting

Database Administration:

• Create and manage MySQL databases
• Access phpMyAdmin for advanced operations
• Import/export database backups
• Monitor database performance

DNS Management:

• Configure A, CNAME, MX, and other DNS records
• Manage subdomains effortlessly
• Set up DNS clustering for high availability
• Monitor DNS propagation

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does CyberPanel cost to install and use?

CyberPanel is completely free to install and use. Unlike cPanel which costs $15-45 per month per server, CyberPanel is open-source and doesn’t require any licensing fees. You only pay for your server hosting costs.

2. Can I install CyberPanel on a server that already has other control panels?

It’s not recommended to install CyberPanel on a server with existing control panels like cPanel, Plesk, or Webmin. CyberPanel requires a fresh Ubuntu installation to avoid conflicts with existing services. If you need to migrate, backup your data first and install CyberPanel on a clean server.

3. What’s the difference between OpenLiteSpeed and LiteSpeed Enterprise in CyberPanel?

OpenLiteSpeed is the free version that handles most websites perfectly fine, while LiteSpeed Enterprise is a paid version with additional features like better caching, more worker processes, and enterprise support. For most users, OpenLiteSpeed provides excellent performance without any cost.

4. How do I backup and restore my CyberPanel installation?

CyberPanel includes built-in backup functionality. Go to Backup → Create Backup in your dashboard to backup websites, databases, and email accounts. You can schedule automatic backups to remote storage like AWS S3 or Google Drive. For full system backups, use your VPS provider’s snapshot feature.

5. Can I use CyberPanel for hosting multiple domains and websites?

Absolutely! CyberPanel excels at hosting multiple domains and websites on a single server. You can create unlimited websites (limited only by your server resources), each with their own databases, email accounts, and SSL certificates. The resource usage monitoring helps you track performance across all hosted sites.