~3 min read • Updated Mar 1, 2026
1. DirectAdmin Configuration Overview
General DirectAdmin configuration is managed from:
Admin Level → Server Management → Admin Settings
All changes made in this interface are stored in the main configuration Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
/usr/local/directadmin/conf/directadmin.conf
Any modification to this file requires restarting the DirectAdmin service.
---2. Viewing and Managing directadmin.conf
DirectAdmin uses internal defaults in addition to values stored in directadmin.conf. To view all active configuration options:
/usr/local/directadmin/directadmin config
Short version:
da c
To search for a specific setting:
/usr/local/directadmin/directadmin config | grep letsencrypt
2.1 Using da config-set (Recommended)
Instead of editing directadmin.conf manually, use:
da config-set NAME VALUE
To apply the change and restart DirectAdmin automatically:
da config-set dns_ttl 1 --restart
If successful, the command exits with code 0.
---3. Changing the Server Hostname
The hostname must be a valid FQDN and must resolve to your server’s IP. Correct format:
server.domain.com
Never use the root domain (e.g., domain.com) as the hostname, as it conflicts with system email routing.
3.1 Hostnames to Avoid
- mail.domain.com
- webmail.domain.com
- ftp.domain.com
- smtp.domain.com
- pop.domain.com
3.2 Changing the Hostname
Go to:
Admin Level → Admin Settings → Server's Hostname
Save the new hostname and allow one minute for DirectAdmin to restart.
---4. Changing the Return Path for diradmin Emails
By default, DirectAdmin uses:
diradmin@hostname
To override this value:
da config-set diradmin_envelope [email protected]
systemctl restart directadmin
This is useful when you want diradmin notifications to come from a specific email address.
---5. Suspending Users Based on Disk Usage
DirectAdmin does not suspend users automatically for exceeding disk usage because:
- System quotas already enforce hard limits
- Suspended users cannot log in to delete files
However, DirectAdmin provides an optional feature to suspend users who exceed their disk limit.
Note: DirectAdmin counts more than just system quota usage. It includes:
- MySQL databases
- Webmail data
- Email accounts
Therefore, usage may exceed 100% even when system quotas do not.
---6. Selecting the Correct Quota Partition
DirectAdmin relies on system quotas to calculate disk usage. Choosing the correct quota_partition is essential for accurate reporting.
6.1 Common Scenarios
A) /home is a directory inside /
If there is no separate /home partition:
quota_partition=/
B) /home is a symlink to /usr/home
Check with:
ls -la /home
If you see:
/home -> /usr/home
Then:
quota_partition=/usr
C) /home is a dedicated partition
Use:
quota_partition=/home
6.2 Listing All Partitions
df -hT
If you need to track quotas across multiple partitions, refer to:
Written & researched by Dr. Shahin Siami