Managing a web server can feel like a complex task, especially when you're working directly from the command line.

While direct server administration offers a lot of control, it isn't always the most efficient way to handle day-to-day tasks like setting up websites, managing email accounts, or configuring databases. This is where a control panel comes in, offering a graphical interface to simplify these processes.

That said, if you're looking for a solution that's lightweight, straightforward, and doesn't come with a licensing fee, then you should get to know Hestia Control Panel . It’s a popular open-source control panel that makes server management much more accessible, and lucky for you, (as you may have guessed by the headline), that's what this article is all about it. Let's dive in.

What is HestiaCP?

Hestia Control Panel, or HestiaCP, is an open-source control panel that helps you manage websites, mail, and other server services with ease. It's a fork of the once-popular VestaCP, but Hestia's now known for more active development, stability improvements, and additional features.

The goal of HestiaCP is to give server administrators a clean interface and a reliable set of tools without unnecessary clutter:

It bundles all the essential services you need to run a modern web server, including:

• Web servers: Nginx and Apache2, which can be used together as a reverse proxy for great performance.
• Multiple PHP versions: Easily switch between different PHP versions for your web applications.
• DNS Server: Manage your domain's DNS records using Bind.
• Mail services: A complete mail stack with anti-spam and antivirus, using Exim, Dovecot, SpamAssassin, and ClamAV.
• Database management: Support for both MariaDB (as a MySQL replacement) and PostgreSQL.
• FTP Server: For easy file transfers.
• Automatic backups: Configure regular backups to keep your data safe.
• Firewall: A built-in firewall with fail2ban helps protect your server from brute-force attacks.

And because it's designed to be efficient, HestiaCP can run well even on servers with modest resources, making it a great fit for all kinds of projects.

Prerequisites for installation

Before you jump into the installation, there are a few things you'll need to have ready. HestiaCP works best on a clean system, so starting with a fresh server is highly recommended to avoid any software conflicts.

Here’s what you need:

• A server running a fresh installation of a supported operating system. As of now, this includes Debian 11/12 or Ubuntu 20.04/22.04/24.04 LTS. A scalable KVM VPS from V.PS will work well, and it's quite affordable!
• A user account with root or sudo privileges.
• A Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), like panel.yourdomain.com, that points to your server's IP address. This is for accessing the panel itself.

How to install HestiaCP

The installation process is handled by a script that makes the setup quite simple. Here’s how you do it, step by step.

Step 1: Connect to your server and update packages

First, you'll need to connect to your server using SSH. If you're on a Mac or Linux, you can use the terminal. On Windows, you can use a client like PuTTY or the built-in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

ssh [email protected]

Once you're logged in, it's always a good idea to update your system's package list and upgrade any existing software to the latest versions.

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Download the installation script

Next, download the official HestiaCP installation script from their GitHub repository using wget. If you don't have wget or ca-certificates installed, you can add them with apt install wget ca-certificates -y.

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

Step 3: Run the installer

Now, execute the script you just downloaded using bash.

bash hst-install.sh

The script will run an interactive installer. It will first ask you to confirm that you want to proceed and may ask to remove conflicting software like an existing Apache server.

It will then ask for a few details:

• Your administrator email address.
• Your FQDN hostname for the panel.

The installer will then proceed to install and configure all the necessary components. This process can take around 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 4: Complete the setup

Once the installation is finished, the script will display your admin login URL, username (which is admin), and a randomly generated password.

Make sure to save this password in a secure place.

The script will then ask you to press any key to reboot the server to finalize the setup.

Step 5: Accessing the HestiaCP dashboard

Congrats! After your server reboots, you can access the HestiaCP login page by navigating to the URL provided, which is typically https://your.server.ip:8083 or https://your.fqdn:8083.

Your browser will likely show a privacy warning because the panel is initially using a self-signed SSL certificate. This is normal. You can safely bypass this warning to proceed to the login page. Once you log in with the credentials from the previous step, you'll be greeted by the HestiaCP dashboard, ready to manage your server.

Note: Interested in learning more about free web hosting panels? Check out our comparison article where we break down the 5 best web hosting control panels currently available here!

Conclusion

For anyone who wants to manage their own server without getting lost in the command line, HestiaCP is a fantastic tool. It strikes a great balance between features and simplicity, making it a solid choice for developers, small businesses, and hobbyists alike. Its straightforward installation and clean interface mean you can get your projects up and running in no time.

Thanks for reading! If you're looking for reliable infrastructure, xTom provides enterprise-grade dedicated servers and colocation services, while V.PS offers scalable, production-ready NVMe-powered VPS hosting perfect for any workload. We also offer shared hosting, IP transit, and other general IT services.

Ready to discuss your infrastructure needs? Contact our team to explore the right solution for your projects.

Frequently asked questions about HestiaCP

What is HestiaCP used for?

HestiaCP is used to manage web servers through an easy-to-use graphical interface. It simplifies tasks like creating websites, managing email accounts, setting up DNS records, and handling databases.

Is HestiaCP really free?

Yes, HestiaCP is completely free and open-source software licensed under the GPLv3 license.

What operating systems does HestiaCP support?

HestiaCP officially supports recent versions of Debian and Ubuntu LTS releases, including Debian 11/12 and Ubuntu 20.04/22.04/24.04 LTS. It's important to use a supported, long-term support version for stability.

HestiaCP vs. VestaCP: what's the difference?

HestiaCP is a fork of VestaCP. It was created to provide more active development, better security, and more frequent updates. Many users consider HestiaCP to be more stable and to have a cleaner interface and more features out of the box.

Can I run HestiaCP on a low-resource server?

Yes, HestiaCP is designed to be lightweight. It can run on a server with as little as 1 core and 1 GB of RAM, though the recommended resources are higher for a production environment, especially if you plan to run services like email scanning.