ISPConfig is an open source control panel that allows users to manage multiple servers from a single interface. Designed for Linux-based systems, ISPConfig allows administrators to handle a variety of hosting services, including web, email, DNS and FTP, among others.
ISPConfig supports Apache and Nginx web servers and provides a user-friendly, web-based control panel for managing websites, user accounts, and databases. This tool is popular among web hosting providers and system administrators due to its flexibility, scalability, and ease of use. ISPConfig also provides a multilingual interface, making it accessible to a global audience.
This guide will show you the steps to install ISPConfig Hosting Control Panel on Ubuntu 24.04 using the automatic installation script provided by ISPConfig. This tutorial covers installing ISPConfig with the Apache web server.
Step 1: Update the server
Before installing any software, you should make sure your server is up to date. Run the following command to update the package list and upgrade all installed packages:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Set a suitable server name
The ISPConfig installer requires a valid server name to function correctly. Make sure your server has a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) set up. The server name must exist in DNS to receive a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate. You can check the current server name with:
hostnamectl
If you need to set or change the server name, use the following command:
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname yourserver.domain.com
Make sure to change yourserver.domain.com with the actual FQDN of the server.
Step 3: Install ISPConfig through the automatic installer
The ISPConfig auto-installer simplifies the installation process because it will configure everything for you. The installer will set up the Apache web server, MariaDB database server, Postfix, Dovecot, BIND, pure-ftpd and other services needed for hosting. You can run the installation script by executing the following command:
wget -O - https://get.ispconfig.org | sh -s -- --use-ftp-ports=40110-40210 --unattended-upgrades
Command explanation:
- wget -O – https://get.ispconfig.org: Download the ISPConfig installation script and pass it to the shell.
- sh -s —: Tells the shell to execute the downloaded script.
- –use-ftp-ports=40110-40210: Configure ISPConfig to use custom FTP ports in the range 40110-40210, used to avoid firewall issues.
- –unattended-upgrades: Enable automatic system updates for security and stability.
The script will automatically install and configure the following components:
- Apache: Web server to serve websites.
- MariaDB: Database server to manage the database.
- Postfix: Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) to send and receive emails.
- Dovecott: IMAP and POP3 server for sending emails.
- BIND: DNS server to resolve domain names (optional).
- PureFTPd: FTP server to upload and manage files.
During installation, the script may request certain configuration information such as:
- Password for admin user.
Please provide exact information or use default values if you are unsure. The script is designed to streamline this process, so most of the heavy lifting is done automatically.
Step 4: Complete installation
The installation process may take a few minutes, depending on your server resources and Internet connection. Once installation is complete, the ISPConfig interface will be accessible through a web browser.
The default URL to access the ISPConfig console is:
https://yourserver.domain.com:8080
Step 5: Log in to ISPConfig
Open a web browser and navigate to the ISPConfig control panel URL (as shown above). The automated installer has configured a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate to protect your credentials if your server is accessible from the Internet and has a valid server name.
Sign in with the following default credentials:
- Username: admin
- Password: The installer script automatically shows you the password at the end of the installation process or you enter a custom password during the installation process.
After logging in, you will see the ISPConfig dashboard, where you can start managing your web hosting services, including websites, mail servers, DNS, etc.

In case you have to reset the password for the admin user, use this command:
sudo ispc user set-password admin
Step 6: Steps after installation
After logging in to ISPConfig, you may want to change the default password. Navigate to: Tools > User User Settings. Change the password for the admin user.
Step 7: Configure options
Firewall configuration
You can enable and configure the UFW firewall using the ISPConfig GUI. Navigate to:
System > Firewall > Add Firewall record
Check if all required ports are listed there. If you use a custom SSH port, you must add it. Then click Save to apply the changes.

Backup ISPConfig configuration
It is important to back up your ISPConfig configuration and settings regularly. You can automate this process with cron tasks or manual backups through the console itself.
To manually backup ISPConfig, follow these steps:
- Login to the server and run the following commands to backup the folder /etc/ispconfig and your database:
sudo tar -czvf ispconfig_backup.tar.gz /etc/ispconfig
sudo mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > alldb_backup.sql
- Store these backups securely to prevent data loss.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed ISPConfig with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 using the automatic installer. ISPConfig provides a powerful open source control panel for web hosting, databases, email services and DNS management.
Be sure to explore ISPConfig's many features, including site management, user permissions, and server monitoring. With the automatic installer, managing your Ubuntu hosting environment becomes much easier.