Install Plesk on Rocky Linux 9 | Secure Web Hosting Panel

In this guide on Orcacore, we will delve into the process of how to Install Plesk on Rocky Linux 9. Plesk is a leading web hosting platform, designed to empower hosting providers with the tools to efficiently manage numerous virtual hosts on a single server. It offers a user-friendly interface, allowing customers to easily access and manage their desired products and services.

Plesk is known for its scalability, robust security features, and extensibility through various plugins available as bundles or individual modules. The platform abstracts away the complexities of server management, requiring no coding skills from its users, and provides a secure environment for both business owners and their end-users. A secure web hosting panel like Plesk is critical for managing your web presence.

Advantages of Plesk:

While the original article doesn’t provide a list of advantages, here are some common benefits of using Plesk:

User-Friendly Interface: Simplified server management tasks.
Automation: Automates routine tasks, saving time and resources.
Security: Enhanced security features to protect websites and data.
Scalability: Easily scalable to accommodate growing hosting needs.
Extensibility: Supports numerous plugins and extensions.
Multi-Tenancy: Efficiently manage multiple clients on a single server.

Steps To Install and Configure Plesk on Rocky Linux 9

Before proceeding, ensure you have a Rocky Linux 9 server with a non-root user with sudo privileges and a basic firewall configured. You can refer to the Orcacore guide on Initial Server Setup with Rocky Linux 9 for assistance.

1. Install Plesk on Rocky Linux 9

Plesk offers various installation methods. This guide focuses on installing Plesk on your Rocky Linux 9 system using the installer console.

Download Plesk Installer Console

First, update the local package index:

sudo dnf update -y

Then, download the Plesk installer console using the wget command:

sudo wget https://autoinstall.plesk.com/plesk-installer

Next, grant execute permissions to the downloaded file:

sudo chmod +x plesk-installer

Run Plesk Installer

Now, execute the installer script to begin the Install Plesk on Rocky Linux 9 process:

sudo ./plesk-installer

The installer will prompt you with several questions. Accept the terms of service by pressing F. Choose whether to send information about upgrading and installation issues by entering Y or N.

Select the type of Plesk installation. Enter F for the recommended installation.

Then, enter F to upgrade software packages. Upon completion, you will see output similar to the following:

**Output**
Installation is finished

                                   Congratulations!

        The installation has been finished. Plesk is now running on your server.

        To complete the configuration process, browse either of URLs:
          ***** https://hungry-edison.<mark>server-ip-address</mark>.plesk.page/login?secret=ijoQ64BQucjqKsnRJWl6gNvEJ23jDVU4-k65Ib8ufysrFSGM
          ***** https://<mark>server-ip-address</mark>/login?secret=ijoQ64BQucjqKsnRJWl6gNvEJ23jDVU4-k65Ib8ufysrFSGM

        Use the username 'admin' to log in. To log in as 'admin', use the 'plesk login' command.
        You can also log in as 'root' using your 'root' password.

        Use the 'plesk' command to manage the server. Run 'plesk help' for more info.

        Use the following commands to start and stop the Plesk web interface:
        'systemctl start psa.service' and 'systemctl stop psa.service' respectively.

        If you would like to migrate your subscriptions from other hosting panel
        or older Plesk version to this server, please check out our assistance
        options: https://www.plesk.com/professional-services/

The changes were applied successfully.

Note: The provided URL is used to access the Plesk web interface for the first time on Rocky Linux 9.

2. Configure Plesk on Rocky Linux 9

Now, configure the PSA systemd service file to prevent PSA problems during startup.

Open the file using a text editor (e.g., vi):

sudo vi /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/psa.service

Under the [Service] section, change the Type directive to simple:

...
[Service]
Type=**simple**
RemainAfterExit=yes
ExecStart=/bin/true

Save the changes and close the file.

Reload the system daemon to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Start and enable the Plesk service:

# sudo systemctl start psa.service
# sudo systemctl enable psa.service

Verify that the Plesk service is active and running:

sudo systemctl status psa.service

**Output**
● psa.service - Plesk Panel
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/psa.service; enabled; vendor prese>
     Active: **active** (**exited**) since Sun 2022-11-27 04:05:40 EST; 26min ago
   Main PID: 99025 (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
        CPU: 1ms
...

Configure Firewall

Assuming firewalld is enabled, allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic through the firewall:

# sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
# sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https

Reload the firewall to apply the new rules:

sudo firewall-cmd --reload

3. Access Plesk Dashboard

Use the URL provided during installation to access the Plesk dashboard on Rocky Linux 9. For example:

https://hungry-edison.<mark>server-ip-address</mark>.plesk.page/login?secret=ijoQ64BQucjqKsnRJWl6gNvEJ23jDVU4-k65Ib8ufysrFSGM

Set your contact details and create a password for the admin user.

Provide the license key or continue with the free (trial) version. Then, click "Enter Plesk."

[Image of Plesk login screen would be here]

[Image of Plesk Dashboard would be here]

You can now add your domains and begin using Plesk. The process to Install Plesk on Rocky Linux 9 is now complete.

Conclusion

You have successfully learned to Install Plesk on Rocky Linux 9. Plesk streamlines web hosting and server management by providing a user-friendly control panel for managing websites, domains, databases, email accounts, and security settings. This makes it an ideal solution for hosting providers and businesses.

Please subscribe to Orcacore on Facebook, YouTube, and X.

Alternative Solutions for Web Hosting on Rocky Linux 9

While Plesk is a great option, here are a couple of alternative solutions for web hosting on Rocky Linux 9:

1. Using cPanel/WHM

cPanel/WHM is another widely used web hosting control panel. Similar to Plesk, it provides a graphical interface for managing websites, domains, email accounts, databases, and other server-related tasks. WHM (Web Host Manager) is the administrative interface, while cPanel is the end-user interface for managing individual hosting accounts.

Explanation: cPanel offers a comprehensive suite of features, including website builders, email management tools, security features, and integration with various third-party services. It’s known for its ease of use and extensive documentation. WHM provides tools for managing multiple cPanel accounts, setting up hosting packages, and monitoring server performance. The initial setup involves downloading the installation script from the cPanel website, making it executable, and then running it. Like Plesk, you will need a license to use cPanel after a trial period.
Code Example (Simplified – Actual installation requires more steps):

This isn’t a single command, but rather an overview of the installation process.
1. Download the cPanel installer:
```
wget -N https://httpupdate.cpanel.net/latest
```
1. Make the installer executable:
```
chmod +x latest
```
1. Run the installer:
```
sudo ./latest
```
Note: The installation process is lengthy and interactive. Follow the on-screen prompts. You need a valid license to complete the installation and use cPanel/WHM. This installation will automatically configure the necessary services (Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, etc.).

2. Setting up a LAMP Stack and Using Virtualmin/Webmin

This approach involves manually installing the necessary components for a web server (Linux, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP – LAMP) and then using a control panel like Virtualmin/Webmin to manage the server.

Explanation: This method offers more control and customization compared to using a pre-built control panel like Plesk or cPanel. You have full control over the configuration of each component. Virtualmin is a powerful and flexible open-source web hosting control panel built on top of Webmin. It simplifies the management of virtual hosts, domains, email accounts, and databases.

Code Example:

Install the LAMP stack:

sudo dnf install httpd mariadb-server php php-mysqlnd php-fpm
sudo systemctl enable httpd mariadb
sudo systemctl start httpd mariadb

Install Webmin:

Add the Webmin repository:

sudo nano /etc/yum.repos.d/webmin.repo

Add the following content to the file:

[Webmin]
name=Webmin Distribution Neutral
#baseurl=http://download.webmin.com/download/yum
mirrorlist=http://download.webmin.com/download/yum/mirrorlist
enabled=1

Import the Webmin GPG key:

sudo rpm --import http://www.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc

Install Webmin:

sudo dnf install webmin

Install Virtualmin:
- Download the Virtualmin install script:
```
wget https://software.virtualmin.com/gpl/scripts/install.sh
```
- Make the script executable:
```
sudo chmod +x install.sh
```
- Run the install script:
```
sudo ./install.sh
```

Note: The Virtualmin installation process is also lengthy and requires answering some questions. It configures Apache, BIND (DNS), Postfix (mail server), and other services.

These alternative methods provide different levels of control and complexity. cPanel/WHM offers a similar experience to Plesk, while the LAMP stack with Virtualmin/Webmin provides more customization options but requires more technical expertise. Choosing the right solution depends on your specific needs and technical skills.