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DirectAdmin FAQ – Complete and Practical Answers for Administrators

This comprehensive FAQ covers the most important questions administrators ask about DirectAdmin, including interface customization, installation tools, supported technologies, security features, clustering, PHP versions, email handling, templates, and advanced configuration. Each answer is written clearly and practically to help both beginners and professionals manage DirectAdmin efficiently.

DirectAdmin FAQDirectAdmin featureshosting control panel

~3 min read • Updated Feb 26, 2026

1. Appearance & Interface


1.1 What layouts and skins come with DirectAdmin?


The default modern skin is Evolution, built with Vue.js and optimized for speed. Each request loads only lightweight JSON data.


You can switch layouts live from: Hello, user → Skin Options → Sidebar Layout. Resellers can set a global default via Customize Evolution Skin.


1.2 Is there documentation for the interface?


Yes, the official Evolution skin guide is available at:


https://site-helper.com/evo/sitehelper.php

1.3 Can I enable a demo mode for customers?


No, demo mode existed in older versions but is no longer supported.


2. Installation & Updates


2.1 Is there an alternative to EasyApache?


Yes, DirectAdmin uses CustomBuild for building and managing services.


2.2 Is there a graphical interface for package management?


Yes, the CustomBuild plugin includes a full GUI and is enabled by default in new installations.


3. Supported Products & Technologies


3.1 Does DirectAdmin support CloudLinux?


Yes, full integration with LVE Manager, CageFS, PHP Selector, NodeJS Selector, and Python Selector.


3.2 What third‑party products are supported?


  • Billing: WHMCS, Blesta, ClientExec
  • Backup: R1Soft, JetBackup, ClusterLogics
  • Firewall: CSF/LFD with full GUI
  • Auto‑installers: Softaculous, Installatron
  • Security: ImunifyAV / Imunify360

3.3 Which web servers and PHP modes are supported?


  • Web servers: Apache, Nginx, Nginx+Apache, LiteSpeed, OpenLiteSpeed
  • PHP modes: php-fpm, fastcgi, lsphp

3.4 Is there a DNS‑only license?


Not yet. For DNS clustering, a standard license is required. A free alternative is DirectSlave.


3.5 Does DirectAdmin support multiple PHP versions?


Yes, up to 9 versions (5.6 to 8.4) can be enabled and selected per domain.


3.6 Does DirectAdmin support clustering?


  • DNS clustering: fully supported
  • Remote MySQL: supported
  • Mail cluster: proxying supported
  • Filesystem cluster: not native, but possible with GlusterFS/CEPH

3.7 Does DirectAdmin provide spam protection?


Yes, including:


  • Incoming: Rspamd, EasySpamFighter, BlockCracking, RBL
  • Outgoing: rate limits, BlockCracking

3.8 Is there a ModSecurity management interface?


Yes, with free Comodo and OWASP rule sets.


3.9 Is there a migration guide from cPanel?


Yes, available in the official forum.


3.10 Does DirectAdmin have an API?


Yes, a full JSON‑based API is available for all pages.


3.11 Are there plugin development resources?


Yes, including real plugin examples and support for Vue widgets and iframe widgets.


3.12 Are translations available?


Yes, managed at translate.directadmin.com. Languages above 80% completion are included in releases.


4. Advanced Configuration & Customization


4.1 Can users send email from their dedicated IP?


Yes, supported since version 1.47.


4.2 How to deploy a server with predefined settings?


Use predefined installation options:


https://www.directadmin.com/predefined_install_options.php

4.3 What is the alternative to AutoSSL?


Automatic Let's Encrypt with wildcard support and DNS providers like Cloudflare.


4.4 How to configure a custom php.ini?


Best method: place a file in php.conf.d (e.g., 90-custom.ini).


4.5 Where does DirectAdmin store email data?


  • Emails: /home/user/imap/domain.com/email/Maildir/
  • Email configs: /etc/virtual/domain.com

4.6 Where are website files stored?


/home/user/domains/domain.com/public_html


4.7 How to enable webmail.domain.com?


Requires template customization.


4.8 Does DirectAdmin support templating for web servers?


Yes, templates exist for Apache, Nginx, and OpenLiteSpeed.


4.9 How to customize Exim/Dovecot?


Use the custom/ directory instead of editing config files directly.


4.10 How to migrate Evolution skin customizations?


Copy:


/usr/local/directadmin/data/users/admin/skin_customizations/evolution

4.11 How to allow users to select skins?


Set in directadmin.conf:


user_can_select_skin=1

4.12 How to disable “Change domain name”?


never_commands=CMD_CHANGE_DOMAIN

4.13 How to switch all users from Enhanced to Evolution via CLI?


perl -pi -e 's|skin=enhanced|skin=evolution|g' /usr/local/directadmin/data/users/*/user.conf
perl -pi -e 's|docsroot=./data/skins/enhanced|docsroot=./data/skins/evolution|g' /usr/local/directadmin/data/users/*/user.conf

4.14 How to forbid layout changes?


In Customize Evolution Skin → Layout, enable: Forbid users to change their layout.


Written & researched by Dr. Shahin Siami

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