How To Use Plesk on VPS Hosting

Plesk is a powerful control panel designed to make managing your website a breeze. With its comprehensive suite of tools and intuitive interface, Plesk simplifies everything from domain and email management to website development and server administration.

This guide will walk you through the essential features and functionalities of Plesk, empowering you to effectively manage your website, regardless of your technical expertise.

1. Getting Started with Plesk

Plesk is a licensed control panel. To use it, you'll need to purchase a Plesk license. Many web hosting providers, such as Hostinger, offer Plesk as an option for their VPS hosting packages.

To access Plesk, you'll need to connect to your VPS server using your preferred SSH client. Once connected, you can access Plesk by navigating to the following address in your web browser:

      https://<your_server_IP_address>:8443
    

Replace <your_server_IP_address> with the actual IP address of your server. You'll be prompted to enter your username and password for the server, which you'll have set during the initial VPS setup process.

2. Navigating the Plesk Interface

Plesk presents you with a user-friendly interface that's designed to guide you through its various features. The dashboard is divided into several key areas:

• Sidebar: The sidebar serves as your navigation menu, providing quick access to all the essential Plesk features, such as websites and domains, email accounts, server settings, and more.

• Main Menu: Once you select an item from the sidebar, the main menu will display the relevant settings and options for that particular feature. This provides a clear and organized approach to managing different aspects of your website.

• Top Bar: The top bar houses the search bar for quickly finding specific items, the user's username, notifications, and access to helpful resources, such as the Plesk Help Center.

3. Managing Domains and Email Accounts

Plesk makes it incredibly easy to manage your domains and email accounts.

Adding a Domain

1. From the sidebar, select "Websites & Domains."

2. Click on the "Add Domain" button, and choose the "Blank website" option.

3. Fill in the required information, including the domain name, web space allocation, and other settings.

4. Click "Add Domain" to confirm.

Managing Email Accounts

1. Navigate to the "Mail" section in the sidebar.

2. Click on "Mail Accounts."

3. Click "Create Email Address" to create a new email account.

4. Input the desired username, set a strong password, and click "OK" to complete the process.

4. Developing and Managing Websites

Plesk offers robust support for website development, providing you with a range of tools and features to create and maintain your online presence.

Website Development Options

• Manual Coding: You can directly upload your website files using the built-in File Manager or an FTP client.

• Plesk Web Editor: This built-in editor allows you to create and edit website content without needing to work with external tools.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Plesk supports popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. You can easily install these platforms using the "Install Application" feature within Plesk.

WordPress Integration

Plesk simplifies WordPress setup and management by providing a dedicated toolkit that automates the process.

1. From the "Websites & Domains" section, select the domain where you want to install WordPress.

2. Click on "Install Application" and choose "WordPress."

3. Enter the necessary information and click "Install."

4. After the installation is complete, you'll be redirected to a configuration page. Click "Log in" to access your WordPress admin panel.

5. Server Management and Security

Plesk empowers you to efficiently manage your server settings and ensure its security.

Restricted Mode Settings

The Restricted Mode Settings allow you to control the permissions for administrators on your server, preventing unauthorized changes.

1. Navigate to "Tools & Settings" from the sidebar.

2. Under the "Plesk" category, choose "Restricted Mode Settings."

3. Select the features you want to allow administrators to access, and then click "Enable Restricted Mode."

Backup Manager

Plesk's Backup Manager makes it easy to create backups of your server settings and user data.

1. Go to "Tools & Settings" from the sidebar.

2. Select "Tools & Resources" and then "Backup Manager."

3. Click "Back Up" to create a new backup.

4. Choose the data to back up, the destination directory, and the backup type.

5. Click "OK" to start the backup process.

Monitoring Performance

Plesk offers built-in monitoring tools to keep an eye on your server's performance.

1. Navigate to "Monitoring" in the sidebar.

2. Click "Use Built-In Monitoring" at the bottom of the screen.

3. You can then view your server's disk usage, running services, memory consumption, and network load.

6. Enhancing Plesk with Extensions

The Plesk Extension Catalog provides a wealth of add-ons that extend Plesk's functionality. You can find extensions for various purposes, including web development, security enhancements, server tools, and website editing.

1. Go to "Extensions" from the sidebar.

2. Search for the extension you need.

3. Click "Get it Free" to install it.

7. Optimizing Plesk for Efficiency

Keeping Plesk Updated

Plesk regularly releases updates with bug fixes, security patches, and new features. Make sure to keep your Plesk installation updated to benefit from these improvements.

Leveraging Automation

Plesk provides automation features that allow you to schedule tasks to manage your server without constant manual intervention.

• Cron Jobs: Schedule recurring tasks, such as running scripts, executing commands, or fetching URLs.

• Automated Updates: Enable automatic updates for your server software, including WordPress plugins and themes.

Customizing the Dashboard

Plesk's dashboard can be customized to suit your preferences and workflow.

1. Go to "Tools & Settings" from the sidebar.

2. Select "Plesk Appearance."

3. Customize the interface by changing the default language, adding custom buttons, and modifying the logo and title.

8. Resources for Support and Learning

Plesk Community Forums

The Plesk community forums offer a valuable platform for asking questions, seeking guidance, and sharing knowledge.

Official Documentation

Plesk provides comprehensive official documentation that explains how to use its features and troubleshoot issues.

Conclusion

Plesk is a powerful control panel that simplifies website management. Its intuitive interface, extensive features, and strong support system make it a valuable tool for webmasters of all levels. By taking advantage of its capabilities and resources, you can effectively manage your website and build a successful online presence.