Plesk Linux Installation: Step-by-Step Guide (Ubuntu / AlmaLinux)

Plesk is the fastest way to manage sites, mail, DNS, and databases on your VDS through a web panel. Even without command-line experience, you can install WordPress in minutes. This guide walks through installing Plesk Obsidian on a clean Linux VDS.

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 or AlmaLinux 8/9
• At least 2 vCPU + 4 GB RAM (Plesk recommendation)
• 20 GB+ disk
• Root access
• A domain pointing to your VDS (DNS A record set to VDS IP)

1. Update the system

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# AlmaLinux/RHEL
sudo dnf update -y

2. Run the Plesk auto-installer

Single-line official installer:

sh <(curl https://autoinstall.plesk.com/one-click-installer || \
    wget -O - https://autoinstall.plesk.com/one-click-installer)

Installation takes 15–25 minutes. It automatically installs Apache, Nginx, MariaDB/MySQL, PHP, Postfix, and the Plesk panel.

3. Log in to the panel

When installation completes, the terminal prints the URL and a temporary username/password:

https://VDS-IP:8443
Login: root / AUTO_GENERATED_PASSWORD

Open in browser. You’ll see an SSL warning (no Let’s Encrypt yet) — trust it temporarily and proceed.

4. License activation

Plesk gives a 30-day free trial. For production you need a license:

• Enter the license key in the setup wizard, or
• Request a leased Plesk license from KavesNET (monthly)

5. Add your first domain

Plesk panel → Websites & Domains → Add Domain →

• Domain: yoursite.com
• Hosting type: Website hosting
• Username: ftp_user (for FTP/SSH)
• Password: a strong one

Plesk auto-creates the Apache + Nginx vhost, MySQL user, and FTP account.

6. Install Let’s Encrypt SSL

In the domain settings → SSL/TLS Certificates → Get it free from Let’s Encrypt:

• Enter your email
• Check “Include www”
• Issue → SSL active in 30 seconds

For a detailed SSL guide, see our Let’s Encrypt post.

7. Install WordPress (1 click)

Plesk panel → Websites & Domains → site → WordPress → Install:

• Version: latest
• Set admin username/password
• Database is created automatically

WordPress is up in 5 minutes. For deeper WordPress tuning, our WordPress hosting guide covers it.

Plesk firewall settings

Plesk manages its own firewall (Tools & Settings → Firewall). Open ports:

• 80, 443 (HTTP/HTTPS)
• 22 (SSH)
• 8443 (Plesk panel)
• 21, 990 (FTP/FTPS)
• 25, 465, 587, 993, 995 (Mail)

If you’re also using UFW, beware — it can conflict with Plesk’s firewall. See our UFW post.

Important security steps

After installation, always do:

1. Change the root password — replace the auto-installer’s
2. Enable 2FA — My Profile → Two-Factor Authentication
3. Move Plesk off port 8443 — reduces bot scans
4. Enable fail2ban — Tools & Settings → IP Address Banning
5. Auto-updates — Tools & Settings → Update Settings

Common errors

• “Address already in use” port 80: Apache is already running → sudo systemctl stop apache2 then installer
• Memory error: 4 GB RAM is required; stalls at 2 GB
• DNS warning: Domain hasn’t pointed to the VDS IP yet — propagation takes up to 24h
• MariaDB won’t start: Disk may be full → check df -h

Backup configuration

Use Plesk’s built-in backup:

Tools & Settings → Backup Manager → Schedule:

• Daily at 03:00
• Add remote storage (FTP/S3) — local disk alone isn’t enough

For the 3-2-1 strategy, see our backup post.

Conclusion

Plesk’s biggest win is multi-site management from one panel with one click. Without a software/hosting team, the Plesk investment pays for itself many times over.

For VDS plans with Plesk license, contact us — we’ll configure for your needs.

Related: Plesk-to-Plesk Site Migration · WordPress Hosting Guide