How to Easily Install Plesk on Your Windows or Linux Server

Website and server management is not easy, especially before Plesk came along. Plesk is a tool for creating and managing your website or web applications. It is very easy to use, and users can operate Plesk without any coding knowledge. Not only that, but Plesk also allows you to manage email accounts, FTP servers, DNS management tools, and more than 100 extensions to improve your server's performance. Plesk is different from cPanel because it is platform-independent; it can run smoothly on Windows and Linux.

In this article, we are happy to provide information about how to install Plesk on Windows or Linux servers.

These are the topics we are going to cover in this article:

1. What exactly are web hosting control panels?
2. Requirements for Plesk
3. System requirements
4. Installation methods
   • Install Plesk in One Click
   • Install Plesk Using Browser
   • Install Plesk via CLI
   • Install Plesk Using ISO Images
   • Install Plesk via Web Installer
5. Plesk vs cPanel: A comparative overview

What Exactly Are Web Hosting Control Panels?

Before you install Plesk, it's important to understand a little bit about web hosting control panels. Control panels make it easy to manage your server and hosted sites or applications. They allow users to operate without much coding or technical knowledge. These control panels have primary features like file management, domain management, database management, and security options.

Let me explain this with a scenario.

For example, imagine you own a small online store to sell your products. You definitely need a web hosting control panel to manage your website's files. You also need to send and receive emails from your customers, which means you have to set up email accounts for sales, announcements, and newsletters. Plus, you need to manage your products in a database. Without a control panel, all these tasks would be very difficult and would require a lot of coding knowledge and server technical skills. But when you use a control panel, you can perform these functions with just a single click. Control panels make all your hosting and server management tasks much easier and more efficient.

System requirements for Plesk

Before install plesk on your server, you should check or know about the plesk installation requirements.

• A clean Linux or windows server with internet access.
• Removal of existing instances of Apache, MySQL, Cyrus, SELinux, and PHP, if previously installed.
• To install and run Plesk on Linux, you need at least 1 GB of RAM and 1 GB of swap space. For Windows, you need 2 GB of RAM.You also need enough free disk space. For Linux, it should be at least 20 GB, and for Windows, it should be at least 32 GB.

Installation methods

Install Plesk in One Click

To install the basic version of Plesk, you just need to run this command:

The installation process will start automatically, and it usually takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete. This command will download and install the latest stable version of Plesk.

Install Plesk Using Browser

If your server's host or IP address can be resolved and port 8447 is open, you can install Plesk directly through your browser. Here's how:

Run the command:

Make the installer executable by using:

Launch the installer with:

Open your browser and go to:

or

Use the “root” user and the corresponding password.

In the web interface, click “Install or upgrade product.”

Select the latest stable version of Plesk and press “Continue.”

Select the latest stable version of Plesk and press “Continue". You can either select an installation type or manually pick the components you want by enabling “Preview components selection.”

The installation's progress will be displayed in the web interface console. Wait until the process completes.

Install Plesk via Command Line

Use the following command to download Plesk:

Make sure the installer can run by adding the necessary permissions:

Start the installation process by typing:

When prompted, select “Go forward” to confirm, and if using --all-versions, choose the Plesk version you wish to install.

The installer will now run, and you can follow the on-screen instructions. Wait for the process to finish.

Install Plesk Using ISO Images

For Ubuntu and CentOS, Plesk provides special ISO images that simplify the installation process. Here's how it works:

Start by configuring your virtual server and launching the installation from the Plesk ISO image.

Follow the usual steps for installing the operating system.

Once the OS is fully installed, the server will automatically reboot.

After the reboot, Plesk will install in the background, completing the setup.

Install Plesk via Web Installer

To install Plesk through the web installer, follow these simple steps:

Go to the following URL in your browser:

Provide your server's IP address or hostname, and either input your root password or upload a private key.

Accept the End-User License Agreement by checking the box, then click the "Install" button.

The installation will now begin. Sit back and wait for it to complete.

Once the installation finishes, click the Login link. If you encounter any “secure connection warnings,” just make an exception and proceed.

Plesk Post-Installation Configuration on Linux

1. Access Plesk:

Open your browser and go to either:

https://your-host:8443
https://your-ip:8443
2. Log in:

Use the root username and your password to access the system.

3. Update Admin Information:

Provide the administrator's contact details (name and email) and update the default password. After this, you'll log in with the username admin and your new password.

4. Choose License:

Select either a trial or paid license. If you have an activation code for a paid license, enter it here. Otherwise, you can purchase a license or use the trial option.

5. Accept Terms:

Agree to the end-user agreement, and you're ready to start using Plesk!

Install Plesk on Windows

One-Click Plesk Installation Guide for Windows

1. Log into the Server:

First, connect to your server using Remote Desktop (RDP).

2. Download the Installer:

Next, download the Plesk installer and save it to your server.

3. Run the Installation:

Open the command prompt, navigate to the directory where the installer is located, and execute the following command:

plesk-installer.exe --select-product-id=panel --select-release-latest --installation-type=recommended

The installation will begin, and the latest version of Plesk, including its essential features, will be installed. This process typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Once the installation is done, it will automatically apply any security patches and updates. You can always add more features later if needed. For a more customized setup, you can use either the web interface or the command line.

Plesk Installation on Windows Using the Console

To set up Plesk with your desired components, follow these steps using the interactive console:

1. Connect to Your Server:

Begin by logging into your server through Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

2. Download the Plesk Installer:

Obtain the Plesk installer file and save it to your server.

3. Open the Command Prompt:

Launch the Windows command prompt. Navigate to the directory where you saved the installer file. Then, execute the following command:

plesk-installer.exe --console

This will initiate the console interface within your command prompt window.

4. Install an Older Version:

If you need to install a previous version of Plesk, use this command:

plesk-installer.exe --console --all-versions

Take a moment to read through the instructions. If everything appears correct, press F and then Enter to proceed. You will then be prompted to select which version of Plesk you wish to install. If you selected the --all-versions option, you will be presented with a list of all available Plesk versions.

5. Configure Advanced Options:

To access advanced configuration settings, type S. Here, you can choose to:

• Set the Download Directory: Specify where the installer will store any downloaded files.
• Determine the Source for Installation Files: The default setting will download files from Plesk's servers. However, you can also direct it to a local directory or mirror where you may have pre-downloaded the files.
• Enter Proxy Details: If your server is behind an HTTP proxy, provide the necessary proxy server address, along with any required authentication credentials.

You can make these configurations using either command-line arguments or a configuration file. Once you've finished setting up, exit the installer and restart it with the new parameters.

6. Choose Your Installation Type:

Next, select one of the following installation types to continue:

• Recommended: This option installs everything you need for web hosting, including a web server, mail server, and database server. If you're uncertain about which option to select, go for the Recommended choice; it typically covers all the essential features.
• Full: This type installs all available Plesk components, which will require more disk space.
• Custom: This option allows you to handpick the components you want. It provides flexibility for experienced Plesk users who want a tailored installation.

If you find that the initial installation doesn't meet your needs, Plesk allows you to modify your setup later, letting you add or remove features as required.

7. Final Setup Steps :

After selecting your installation type, you may be asked to configure additional settings. This includes the installation directory, the location for Plesk to store website content, and the password for the admin account (which you will use to log in to Plesk).

You will have a final opportunity to review the selected components and features. If you're satisfied with your choices, press F followed by Enter to commence the installation process.

Conclusion: