Is it possible to use a VPS without hosting control panel?

Maxoq · May 20, 2016

What requires me to use a VPS without a hosting control panel? I would like to have PHP, apache, mysql and email server to run php sites and sending emails to clients when needed.

As I read on this forum, for installing a hosting control we need at least 1 or 2 GB of RAM, if i don't install a hosting panel, it will save RAM for my VPS? All your advice are greatly appreciated.

HostWinds · May 24, 2016

Maxoq said:
What requires me to use a VPS without a hosting control panel? I would like to have PHP, apache, mysql and email server to run php sites and sending emails to clients when needed.

As I read on this forum, for installing a hosting control we need at least 1 or 2 GB of RAM, if i don't install a hosting panel, it will save RAM for my VPS? All your advice are greatly appreciated.

Good question. Take a look at cPanel for example. They require at least 2 GB of RAM to run. However after installing, cPanel will not always use the full resource of 2 GB. They say this to give the software room to run around. But if you decide not to use a control panel at all then yes you can run a VPS without a control panel. You will just have to do everything through SSH and a FTP client. Depending on your server configuration if you are using linux, you can install LAMP (linux, apache, mysql, php). You can find a tutorial here on how to install lamp. And yes if you have linux already installed on your server than you can just skip the linux install part.

VirtuBox · May 24, 2016

Hi ! Yes you will have better performance without a control panel but you will have to setup the server components you need, LAMP (apache, mysql, php) or LEMP (nginx, mysql, php).
But it's not really hard and if you need tutorials -> howtoforge.com

There is two cases to not use a control panel :
- If you need or want a custom setup (Varnish Cache, load-balancing, replication etc..)
- If you have a small VPS (less than 2GB RAM)

But if you take the time to make small bash script with your config, it will be easiest for the next time.

VirtuBox · May 27, 2016

You will have to use SSH to connect to your VPS and follow the tutorial, but there is nothing really hard.
A control panel is only an UI to configure web services, but they are based on components you can install yourself, and easily setup.

To start I will recommend you to try with a LAMP stack using debian 8 :

-> https://www.howtoforge.com/tutorial/install-apache-with-php-and-mysql-lamp-on-debian-jessie/
-> https://www.digitalocean.com/commun...l-linux-apache-mysql-php-lamp-stack-on-debian
->https://www.linode.com/docs/websites/lamp/lamp-on-debian-8-jessie

Don't be afraid by using command line, you will learn it quickly.

A control panel is always easier to use, but for a same VPS, your website will be really faster without it.
I only use a control panel on my dedicated server because I have too many websites to edit configuration each time I want to add or delete a website.

EDIT :

There are also stack building tools to help you :

- Centminmod : A powerfull stack in command line for centos
- Easy-Engine : Powerfull stack with one command Wordpress install
- ServerPilot : A online control panel. So it will not decrease your website performance

kevinhng86 · Jan 12, 2017

Hi Maxoq,

Yes it is possible to use a VPS without a hosting control panel, however it does requires a lot of technical knowledge and technical step to configure all option involving and surrounding managing your VPS server.

If you want solution that are opensource and are free to use you can look to these control panel on the web. Each have their own characteristic:
1. Virtualmin combo with Webmin. This is a really powerful solution, just some modification you can actually operate a network of server. Not only for VPS but also for dedicate. I personally use this one.
2. CentOs Web Panel - This is a really good control panel. They will install everything needed to run a hosting server. MySQL, Apache, PHP, etc.. This panel will also install multi version of PHP that you can use base on per directory or per site configuration. They also provide a software installer script for easy installing apps into your website. Nevertheless the draw back of this one is, this panel only compatible with Redhat base Linux, and you must install in on a fresh server without any other panel pre-install. This panel also does not provide a multi server feature.
3. ISPconfig - This one is pretty good too, however I don't find this one that attractive but a lot of people also use this for their panel.

Opensource solution can be pretty good when you startup and low on fund. In my suggestion is, if you do not make money out of your operation than yeah no worry about anything. However if you do profit on your operation give them some donation to support their project. Many donation will help them have the time to innovate their platform. Which as an user you do also gain an advantage.

cybexhosting · Jan 12, 2017

VPS without control panel is better based on performance, security and save costs. Choosing a bare or control panel server is really depends on what you are doing. Note that using a server without control panel require more knowledge of whatever you are using. You can try on configuring a LAMP server referring the tutorials available in google. Also if you are choosing control panels like cPanel, plesk or direct admin then it will be more convenient for you to manage everything on server but it is limited to whatever it is designed for.

WPCycle · Jan 13, 2017

Maxoq said:
What requires me to use a VPS without a hosting control panel? I would like to have PHP, apache, mysql and email server to run php sites and sending emails to clients when needed.

As I read on this forum, for installing a hosting control we need at least 1 or 2 GB of RAM, if i don't install a hosting panel, it will save RAM for my VPS? All your advice are greatly appreciated.

Depends on your needs.

Usually a control panel makes things easier...but with easier comes with a reduction in overall RAM, and a possible cost.

cPanel is one option. It's paid, covers all your needs, but uses just under 1G of RAM.

Virtualmin/Webmin is a free option...can be used on any OS so you're not limited to Centos...and doesn't break if you want to customize it. The more you use it, the more you will have an understanding of command lines.

Then there's just command lines. Less RAM usage. Less issues to resolve. No extra services installed that are not needed.

manoaratefy · Jan 13, 2017

Good morning,

Setting up a web hosting on a VPS without control panel need more skill than using an user-friendly control panel. But yes, we can host websites on a VPS without control panel. I used to do it when VPS have low memory. It will be light, but each time you want something to edit, you should use SSH and everyone know that SSH is not for normal users.

If your problem is just the cPanel license, I recommend you to check ISPConfig which is a great and free alternative.

VictorVictories · Feb 21, 2017

It totally depends on one's requirement. If one has the expertise to operate the server using SSH or RDP then there is not need to purchase a control panel, however, if one is not sure about operating the server using SSH or RDP then a control panel can will be useful since it easier to function as compared to the command line.

gigsgigs · Feb 23, 2017

Of cause you can do it. You need to have a little more knowledge in Linux. It is not difficult. Some coommand line only.

vpsrus · Feb 25, 2017

Maxoq said:
What requires me to use a VPS without a hosting control panel? I would like to have PHP, apache, mysql and email server to run php sites and sending emails to clients when needed.

As I read on this forum, for installing a hosting control we need at least 1 or 2 GB of RAM, if i don't install a hosting panel, it will save RAM for my VPS? All your advice are greatly appreciated.

In this case, I would use Centmin Mod it is developed to be used in SSH it executes a lot of scripts that you need or want, works with Nginx ease to use and configure install all necessary scripts for you (LEMP) and it is easy to setup webhosting, also memory footprint is very small.

Check at http://centminmod.com/

Padjajaranhost · Feb 25, 2017

You already know how to control (install / uninstall). You can use without a control panel.

Because the control panel, enables you to control only website with a GUI. the control panel only aggravate resource

StackArcVPS · Apr 5, 2017

good knowledge of SSH and commands will be enough for you to manage your VPS but it is recommended to use a control panel of course!

HostaPolis · Apr 8, 2017

CentminMod gets another recommendation from me. It's so easy to use and has great out-of-the-box defaults!
Check out more info here: https://centminmod.com/faq.html - it's awesome!

Dewlance · Apr 9, 2017

Is not Webmin use very less resource?

Try Webmin because of this is free and also does not use resource like cPanel. With LAMP you will be need to monitor security alert and upgrade or apply patch on time while control panel automatically do this for you and you will be not need to monitor it to frequently.

BlueLeaf · Apr 15, 2017

Absolutely! I've been using my VPS-es without any hosting control panel for years. I have been installing and configuring all kinds of software on my servers, hosting dozens of websites, and all that without a hosting panel. I did all that via SSH using the command line. Of course, you have to be an advanced SSH user to be able to do all that. But, as you can see, the answer to your question is - yes, that is definitely possible.

It is only a few months ago when I installed ISP config on a customer's VPS so as they were not technical enough to be able to use SSH. So ISP Config allowed them to add more sites, setup emails, etc.

iserveradmin11 · Apr 20, 2017

Hello ,
Yes for sure you can use VPS without using any control panel .
There would not be any issue and you can have basic LAMP setup and other customization according to yourself.
But yes if you have upto 2GB RAM I will suggest you to use cpanel.
You can manage several sites and with great feature easily through panel.
Although its an option to have panel not compulsion.

Payas
brandvps.com

rankmyhub · Apr 20, 2017

You can use vps without any control panel. But be ready to learn to use different stuff, config things, maintain your vps yourself most of the time, and lots of other technical hassles.

I would like to have PHP, apache, mysql and email server to run php sites and sending emails to clients when needed.

You can try server pilot, only thing is it does not come with email server and its good to have not emails server on the vps that is using low end configuration.

For emails you have to use zoho which allows custom domains email accounts 20 accounts free for each domains and each user account comes with 5 gb space more than sufficient.

Serverpilot is best solution for low resource vps that does not need control panel. As server pilot is online control panel or SaaS, so you are not actually hosting control panel on your vps. You will get access to sftp and ssh as well. So you can use it to upload your files related to website.

They support wordpress ,magento and laravel projects to be hosted as apps through their control panel. This should be a good stack for most users, so try it and see if it work for you. Other way around is to use free CPanel alternatives, but they do come with their own pros and cons and I think for you serverpilot will be good.

Hope this helps you, Thanks

SvenHost · Apr 25, 2017

Definitely VPS can be used without control panel to save RAM if you have sound knowledge to manage LAMP stack on your own.

You can go with below webserver (nginx works smoothly with low RAM vps)
-apache
-nginx

Collabora · Apr 25, 2017

Maxoq said:
What requires me to use a VPS without a hosting control panel? I would like to have PHP, apache, mysql and email server to run php sites and sending emails to clients when needed.

As I read on this forum, for installing a hosting control we need at least 1 or 2 GB of RAM, if i don't install a hosting panel, it will save RAM for my VPS? All your advice are greatly appreciated.

Your choice really comes down to a cost-benefit analysis. Will the time (and frustration) you save have more value than the price of an extra gig or two of ram? Its up to you! Remember, you can always add the ram after installing the control panel -- if you need to.

Is it possible to use a VPS without hosting control panel?

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