How to Install Ajenti Control Panel to Manage Linux Servers

Managing a Linux server can be a challenging task, especially for novice users. To make things easier, many users opt for a control panel to manage their servers. Ajenti is a popular open-source web-based control panel that allows users to manage their servers easily. In this article, we will guide you on how to install Ajenti control panel on your Linux server.

Before we get started, it's important to note that Ajenti supports various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, and RHEL. For this tutorial, we will be using Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Step 1: Update System

Before installing Ajenti, it is recommended to update your system to ensure all necessary packages are up-to-date. You can do this by running following command −

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Ajenti Dependencies

Ajenti requires a few dependencies to be installed on your system. These dependencies include Python, Pip, and Ajenti plugin development kit. Run following command to install these dependencies −

sudo apt install python python-pip python-setuptools python-dev build-essential
sudo pip install ajenti-panel ajenti.plugin.dashboard ajenti.plugin.settings ajenti.plugin.plugins

Step 3: Install Ajenti Control Panel

Once you have installed dependencies, you can proceed to install Ajenti control panel. Run following command to install Ajenti −

sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 0xA948F9BD
echo "deb http://repo.ajenti.org/ng/debian main main ubuntu" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ajenti.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ajenti

Step 4: Start Ajenti Control Panel

After installing Ajenti, you can start control panel using following command −

sudo service ajenti restart

Once control panel is started, you can access it by navigating to http://SERVER_IP:8000 in your web browser. You should see Ajenti login page where you can enter your username and password.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Ajenti control panel on your Linux server. You can now use it to manage your server easily. Ajenti provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to manage your server's system configuration, services, files, and more.

Customizing Ajenti Control Panel

Ajenti provides a lot of customization options that allow you to tailor control panel to your specific needs. For example, you can customize dashboard to display system metrics that are most important to you, or you can install additional plugins to extend functionality of control panel.

To customize dashboard, click on "Dashboard" tab in Ajenti control panel, then click "Customize" button. From here, you can drag and drop widgets onto dashboard and configure their settings to display information you want.

To install additional plugins, click on "Plugins" tab in control panel, then click "Install" button. You can then browse through available plugins and install any that you need.

Securing Ajenti Control Panel

While Ajenti provides a user-friendly interface for managing your server, it also represents a potential security risk if not properly secured. Here are a few steps you can take to enhance security of your Ajenti installation −

• Change default username and password − When you first log in to Ajenti, you will be prompted to create a new user account. Be sure to choose a strong password and avoid using default "root" username.

• Enable HTTPS − By default, Ajenti uses HTTP to communicate with your web browser. However, you can enable HTTPS to encrypt communication between your browser and control panel. To do this, you will need to generate an SSL certificate and configure Ajenti to use it.

• Restrict access to control panel − By default, Ajenti listens on all network interfaces, which means that anyone with access to your server's IP address can potentially access control panel. To restrict access to control panel, you can configure your firewall to only allow connections from trusted IP addresses.

In addition to customizing and securing your Ajenti installation, there are a few other tips you can follow to get most out of control panel and make managing your server even easier.

• Create user accounts for other users − If you have other users who need to manage your server, you can create additional user accounts for them within Ajenti. This allows you to grant each user access to only parts of control panel they need, while keeping your own account secure.

• Use file manager − Ajenti includes a built-in file manager that allows you to easily browse and edit files on your server. This is especially useful for making quick changes to configuration files or updating website content.

• Monitor system performance − Ajenti provides real-time system performance metrics that allow you to monitor health of your server. This includes information on CPU usage, memory usage, disk space, and more. By keeping an eye on these metrics, you can identify potential issues before they become major problems.

• Use backups − Finally, it's always a good idea to create regular backups of your server's data. Ajenti includes a backup plugin that allows you to easily create and manage backups of your files, databases, and more. Be sure to store your backups in a secure location, such as an offsite backup server or a cloud storage provider.

In addition to tips provided earlier, here are a few more ways to enhance your experience with Ajenti −

• Install and configure Ajenti V − Ajenti V is a web-based control panel that extends Ajenti's functionality to include web hosting management. With Ajenti V, you can easily create and manage websites, databases, and email accounts. To install Ajenti V, simply install "ajenti-v" package via apt and restart Ajenti.

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication − To further enhance security of your Ajenti installation, you can enable two-factor authentication. This requires users to enter a code generated by a mobile app or hardware token in addition to their password. To enable two-factor authentication in Ajenti, install "ajenti-auth-totp" plugin via apt and configure it in "Users" section of control panel.

• Create custom plugins − If you have a specific need that is not met by Ajenti's built-in plugins, you can create your own custom plugins using Python. Ajenti's plugin development kit provides a framework for creating plugins that integrate seamlessly with control panel. To get started, see official Ajenti documentation.

• Use terminal − Ajenti includes a built-in terminal emulator that allows you to execute commands on your server without leaving control panel. This can be especially useful for executing commands that require root privileges or for troubleshooting issues with your server.

Here are a few more tips to help you get most out of Ajenti −

• Use Ajenti's REST API − Ajenti provides a REST API that allows you to programmatically manage your server. This can be useful if you need to automate tasks or integrate Ajenti with other software. To use REST API, see official Ajenti documentation.

• Monitor website logs − If you are hosting websites on your server, you can use Ajenti's log viewer to monitor website access and error logs. This can help you identify issues with your websites and troubleshoot problems quickly.

• Use Ajenti's package manager − Ajenti includes a package manager that allows you to install and manage software packages on your server. This can be useful if you need to install additional software or update existing packages. To use package manager, navigate to "Software" section of control panel.

• Customize Ajenti theme − Ajenti's default theme may not be to everyone's taste. Fortunately, Ajenti allows you to customize theme by editing CSS files. To do this, navigate to "Customize" section of control panel, click "Advanced" tab, and enter your custom CSS.

By following these additional tips, you can make your Ajenti installation even more powerful and useful. Remember to always keep your server secure, monitor its performance, and backup your data regularly to protect against data loss.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ajenti control panel is a useful tool for managing Linux servers, especially for those who are new to Linux administration. By following steps outlined in this tutorial, you should be able to install Ajenti on your server and start managing it with ease.