DirectAdmin is a hosting control panel system designed for ease of use and convenience. For a long time, cPanel dominated the hosting control panel market, and its reign was well-known. Until the management of cPanel changed, everything was calm and stable. However, after the management shift, things completely changed! When cPanel’s management was altered, product prices increased, causing hosting providers to experience drastic cost hikes, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of percent.
While cPanel offers many advantages, it has become cost-prohibitive, creating a demand for a more affordable alternative. This is when DirectAdmin emerged and became available to users.
If you’re interested in learning what DirectAdmin is and what features and benefits it offers, continue reading this guide with us!
What is DirectAdmin?
What exactly is DirectAdmin, and what is its purpose? DirectAdmin was released in 2003 under the exclusive license of JBMC Software. Since then, it has been actively operating and has become one of the most popular control panels among users. This versatile control panel is designed to make daily tasks easier for website administrators, particularly those with limited experience in this area.
You can run the DirectAdmin control panel, just like cPanel, on Linux operating systems and all of its major distributions (such as CentOS, Debian, CloudLinux, Ubuntu, Red Hat, etc.). Note that DirectAdmin is not supported or executable on Windows-based operating systems (such as Windows 7, Windows 8, Vista, Windows 10, etc.).
If, for any reason, you cannot access a Windows or Linux system, you can opt for a Linux VPS to install Linux/Unix-based operating systems and run your programs on it.
In addition to being cost-effective, DirectAdmin requires fewer hardware resources compared to cPanel. The hardware requirements for this control panel are summarized as follows:
- Processor: 500 MHz
- RAM: Minimum 1GB
- Disk Space: 2GB
What is DirectAdmin Hosting?
DirectAdmin hosting refers to a Linux-based hosting service that utilizes the DirectAdmin control panel. After installation, the hosting is managed using the DirectAdmin (DA) control panel.
If you’re currently using a Windows operating system, you can easily install the DA control panel by purchasing an affordable Linux VPS and leveraging its features.
Benefits of DirectAdmin
Now that we’ve learned about DirectAdmin, it’s time to explore its various benefits.
DirectAdmin hosting has several noteworthy features that may not seem unique at first glance, but with each new version, significant improvements are made in these areas. These features
include:
- Graphical User Interface (GUI): If you prefer simplicity, DirectAdmin’s control panel is the right choice for you. Instead of getting lost in numerous sections and options, you can easily manage everything with just three main sections: Account Manager, Email Manager, and Additional Features. How simpler can it get?!
- Affordable Shared Plans: As mentioned earlier, the low pricing of DirectAdmin tools is a key factor that sets it apart from its competitors. DirectAdmin offers a free trial account and three premium (paid) plans, starting at just $2 per month. Users seeking more dedicated resources can purchase an affordable VPS and install DA to leverage an excellent platform fully.
- Integrated Support: In addition to receiving support from your hosting provider’s support team, you can also get direct assistance from DirectAdmin engineers. If you’ve opted for one of the Lite or Standard plans, you’ll have an integrated support system within the control panel that allows you to get direct help from the source in case of issues with the control panel.
- Automatic Recovery: Another amazing feature of DirectAdmin is its ability to resolve issues automatically. If something unexpectedly goes wrong, DA will restart the system to determine if the problem has been resolved. If not, DA will send an emergency alert to the website administrator, enabling them to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Main Sections of DirectAdمmin
To maintain the simplicity and integration of DirectAdmin, its developers have kept the range of features as minimal as possible. However, DA offers all the essential options needed by developers, web admins, and resellers to manage a dedicated server or VPS effectively. Some of the main sections of DirectAdmin include:
Account Manager
This section is one of the most important parts of your hosting. Using the Account Manager, you can manage FTP accounts, SSL certificates, and MySQL databases. Your domain operations are also included in this section, with options for managing subdomains, DNS zones, and site redirects.
File Manager
The File Manager is a very simple, fast, and user-friendly file management method in DirectAdmin, making it a great alternative to FTP. In this section, you have the options to create and edit your website files.
Email Manager
In this section, users can create POP3 accounts and manage their inboxes, emails, mailing lists, and autoresponders. With the available filters, you can block emails based on domain name, size, or keywords.
FTP Management
In this section, you can create different FTP accounts and set permissions for each account, including folder access and controlling whether users or anonymous systems can log in.
Additional Features
Many of DirectAdmin’s additional features are more suited to advanced users; however, as a regular or beginner user, after learning what DirectAdmin is and understanding its benefits, it’s worth trying some of these features. For example, enabling two-factor authentication can greatly enhance your system’s security.
Difference Between DirectAdmin and cPanel
DirectAdmin and cPanel share several major similarities. For instance, both support Linux-based operating systems. They also offer server configuration frameworks and user-friendly graphical interfaces for their users. However, the differences between them cannot be overlooked. Some of the key differences between these two platforms are:
Functionality
In DirectAdmin, most tasks are performed through the command line. In contrast, cPanel provides all configurations and functionalities through a graphical user interface. Additionally, cPanel offers online tutorials, forums, and guides on how to use its tools, which are not available in DirectAdmin.
Scalability
Adding modules and plugins in cPanel is a free and straightforward process. On the other hand, DirectAdmin allows users to utilize a wide range of plugins; however, many additional features require a paid license.
User Interface
The options available in the DirectAdmin menu are fewer and appear simpler than those in cPanel. While it’s also simple to find things in cPanel, it may be challenging for beginners.
Cost
Price is one of the most important factors when choosing a hosting control panel. As mentioned earlier, cPanel is more expensive compared to DirectAdmin.
Conclusion
DirectAdmin has established itself as a reliable and affordable alternative to cPanel, offering a clean interface, low resource consumption, and practical features that make it easy for both beginners and experienced users to manage their hosting. While it may not have the same extensive ecosystem and tutorials as cPanel, its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and built-in support options make it an excellent choice for individuals and businesses looking for a stable Linux-based hosting control panel at an affordable price.
FAQs
Is DirectAdmin free?
DirectAdmin is not completely free, but it does offer a 60-day free trial with full access to its main features and updates. After the trial period, users can choose from different paid plans depending on their needs, starting with the affordable Personal license and going up to more advanced options like Lite and Standard.
Can DirectAdmin be installed on Windows VPS?
No. DirectAdmin is not supported on Windows-based operating systems, so it cannot be installed on a Windows VPS.
However, you can purchase Linux VPS, where you can install DirectAdmin and enjoy all its features.
