How to Manage Multiple Websites with DirectAdmin

Categories: DirectAdmin

A well-liked hosting control panel, DirectAdmin is renowned for its effectiveness and ease of use. Having the ability to manage many websites in one location might be revolutionary for website owners who have several domains or projects. This tutorial will show you how to add, maintain, and arrange several websites in DirectAdmin, simplifying and streamlining multi-site administration.

1. Understanding DirectAdmin’s Multi-Site Capabilities

DirectAdmin is designed to support multiple domains within a single user account, which is particularly useful if you have various websites or projects. By adding each domain to your account, you can manage files, databases, email accounts, and other resources independently for each website. This setup is ideal for businesses, freelancers, or anyone looking to centralize website management.

2. Adding a New Domain in DirectAdmin

The first step in managing multiple websites is to add each domain to DirectAdmin. Here’s how to do it:

• Go to Account Manager > Domain Setup in your DirectAdmin dashboard.
• Click on Add Another Domain.
• Enter the new domain name, and make sure to select the correct options for Bandwidth, Disk Space, and SSL Support if needed.
• Click Create to finalize the setup.

This process adds a new domain to your account, giving you a separate directory to manage its files, databases, and other resources.

3. Setting Up Files and Folders for Each Domain

Each domain you add in DirectAdmin will have its own directory within the File Manager, making it easy to organize files. Here’s how to locate and organize files for each website:

• In File Manager, go to the domains directory.
• You’ll see folders named after each of your domains (e.g., yourdomain.com, anotherdomain.com).
• Upload website files for each domain to its respective folder. For instance, files for yourdomain.com go into the /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html directory.

This structure allows you to keep each website’s files separate and organized.

4. Creating Databases for Each Website

If your websites use databases (e.g., WordPress or other CMS platforms), you’ll want to create a unique database for each one. Here’s how:

• Navigate to Account Manager > MySQL Management.
• Click on Create New Database.
• Name the database and assign a user with a strong password. Using a unique database for each website ensures data separation and simplifies troubleshooting.

Make a note of each database’s credentials, as you’ll need these when setting up the CMS or connecting the website to the database.

5. Managing Email Accounts Separately for Each Domain

DirectAdmin lets you create and manage email accounts for each domain individually. This is useful for branding and communication purposes. To set up email accounts:

• Go to Email Manager > Email Accounts.
• Select the domain you want to create an email account for from the dropdown menu.
• Click Create Account and specify the username, password, and other options.

Each domain can have multiple email accounts, managed independently. This setup is especially useful for managing different brands or projects from a single DirectAdmin account.

6. Configuring DNS Settings for Each Domain

DirectAdmin allows you to manage DNS settings for each domain separately, enabling you to control where each domain points and how it handles email and other services. To edit DNS settings:

• Go to Account Manager > DNS Management.
• Select the domain you want to edit.
• Add or modify records as needed, such as A records, CNAMEs, and MX records.

Proper DNS management is essential for ensuring each website points correctly and that services like email function without issues.

7. Setting Up SSL Certificates for Each Domain

To keep your websites secure, it’s essential to install SSL certificates for each domain. DirectAdmin supports SSL installation for multiple domains, allowing each to have its certificate. Here’s how:

• Go to Account Manager > SSL Certificates.
• Select the domain for which you want to set up SSL.
• Choose Free & Auto-Install Let’s Encrypt Certificate for a quick, no-cost SSL setup.

An SSL certificate for each domain keeps them secure and provides HTTPS access, essential for SEO and visitor trust.

8. Using Subdomains to Organize Content for Each Website

If you want to organize specific content areas (e.g., blog.yourdomain.com or shop.yourdomain.com), you can set up subdomains for each website. DirectAdmin makes this easy:

• Go to Account Manager > Subdomain Management.
• Choose the domain, then add the desired subdomain name (e.g., “blog” or “shop”).
• Each subdomain will have its own folder in the File Manager, where you can upload unique content for that subdomain.

Subdomains allow for additional content organization within each domain, enhancing site structure and functionality.

9. Managing Resource Limits for Each Domain

With multiple websites, it’s important to monitor each site’s resource usage. DirectAdmin allows you to set quotas for disk space and bandwidth per domain. To check and set these limits:

• Go to Account Manager > Domain Setup.
• Select the domain and adjust the disk space and bandwidth limits as needed.

This feature ensures that one website doesn’t monopolize resources, keeping each domain running smoothly.

10. Automating Backups for Each Website

DirectAdmin allows you to set up automated backups for individual domains, which is invaluable when managing multiple sites. To configure backups:

• Go to System Info & Files > Create/Restore Backups.
• Choose the domains you want to back up and set the schedule.
• Specify where backups will be stored and ensure they run regularly.

Having separate backups for each domain means you can restore any website independently if needed, adding an extra layer of security and peace of mind.

Managing multiple websites in DirectAdmin is straightforward once you get familiar with its multi-domain features. From setting up individual domains and databases to configuring SSL certificates and backups, DirectAdmin provides all the tools you need to keep each website organized and secure. By following these steps, you can maximize your efficiency and streamline multi-site management, making DirectAdmin an invaluable tool for website owners with more than one online project. Dive in, and make the most of your DirectAdmin control panel!