How to Install aaPanel on Linux (2025 Guide)

aaPanel is a powerful, user-friendly web hosting control panel for Linux, making server and website management simple even for beginners. This comprehensive guide—updated for 2025—walks you through the installation process step-by-step, including troubleshooting tips, common pitfalls, and essential security practices. Follow this tutorial to avoid errors, secure your setup, and get your server production-ready.

What is aaPanel?

aaPanel is a free, web-based hosting control panel for Linux servers. It allows you to manage websites, databases, FTP accounts, SSL certificates, and more—all from an intuitive browser interface. It’s popular for its:

• Easy deployment of LAMP/LEMP/Node.js stacks
• Automated SSL provisioning
• Backup management
• Extensive app marketplace

Why choose aaPanel over other panels?
aaPanel offers a good balance between simplicity and advanced options, with low resource usage and frequent updates.

Prerequisites for aaPanel Installation

• A fresh VPS or dedicated Linux server (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS/RHEL, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux)
• At least 512MB RAM (1GB+ recommended)
• Root or sudo access
• Outbound internet connection

Pro Tip: Installing on a fresh system is best—existing Apache/Nginx/MySQL setups can cause conflicts.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

1. Update your system

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

CentOS/RHEL/AlmaLinux:

sudo yum update -y

2. Download the aaPanel Installer Script

Use the official script for best reliability.

wget -O install.sh http://www.aapanel.com/script/install-ubuntu_6.0_en.sh    # Ubuntu/Debian
wget -O install.sh http://www.aapanel.com/script/install_6.0_en.sh           # CentOS/AlmaLinux

Or, universal installer (recommended for all distros):

curl -sSO http://www.aapanel.com/script/install_7.0_en.sh
bash install_7.0_en.sh

3. Run the Installer

Make script executable and start installation:

chmod +x install.sh
sudo bash install.sh

• Follow prompts to confirm installation directory and SSL.
• Installation typically takes 5–10 minutes.

4. Open Firewall Ports

Essential ports for aaPanel:

• 7800/tcp (default panel)
• 888, 80, 443, 20, 21/tcp (for web and FTP)

UFW (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo ufw allow 7800/tcp
sudo ufw allow 888,80,443,20,21/tcp
sudo ufw reload

firewalld (CentOS/AlmaLinux):

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=7800/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

First Login & Initial Configuration

• After installation, copy the URL, username, and password from the terminal output.
• Visit the panel address (e.g., http://your_server_ip:7800/xxxxxx) in your browser.
• Log in with your credentials.
• Optionally, set up a LAMP/LEMP stack or customize with apps from the marketplace.

Security Step: Immediately update your panel password and enable SSL (https) from the settings for secure remote access.

Common Errors and Troubleshooting

• Panel not accessible?
  – Verify firewall ports are open.
  – Check server’s public IP, not localhost.
• Dependencies missing?
  – Install required packages (curl, wget, sudo) using your package manager.
• SSL errors?
  – If enabling SSL, ensure you access with https:// and open firewall for port 443.
• If you get “installation failed,” rerun the script or check logs at /www/server/panel/install.log.

Securing Your aaPanel Installation

• Change default panel port from 7800 to a random port for added security.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) in the aaPanel security center.
• Regularly apply updates via the panel dashboard.
• Schedule automatic backups to remote storage (SFTP, cloud) for disaster recovery.
• Set up strong panel and server passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

By following this updated guide, you’ll install aaPanel on your Linux server quickly, securely, and with confidence.
Always monitor for updates and secure your panel for safe hosting.