🌐 How to Create a Website in a VPS Control Panel

After installing the control panel and connecting your domain, the next logical step is to launch your website. Control panels like ISPmanager, aaPanel, and HestiaCP make it easy to set up a site: add a domain, set the directory, enable SSL, and configure a database. In this article, we’ll cover a universal step-by-step guide that works across most control panels. 🚀

📝 Step 1: Add Your Domain

• 🔧 Go to the panel → "Websites" or "Domains" section;
• ➕ Click “Add” or “Create” a domain;
• 🌍 Enter your domain (e.g., example.com);
• 📁 Assign a root directory (commonly /var/www/example.com);
• 🔐 Enable SSL and Let's Encrypt — we recommend turning it on immediately.

📂 Step 2: Upload Your Website Files

Use the panel’s file manager (or FTP/SFTP client) to upload your website files to the root directory. Usually it’s public_html or htdocs.

• 🗂 Make sure your main file is index.html or index.php;
• ⚠️ If installing a CMS like WordPress, upload and extract the archive into the site directory;
• 🔒 Set correct permissions: files — 644, folders — 755.

💾 Step 3: Create a Database (if required)

• 💡 Go to the "Databases" section in the panel;
• ➕ Click “Create DB” — set the database name, username, and password;
• 🔌 Link the DB in config.php or during CMS setup;
• 🧪 Test the connection via phpMyAdmin (usually available in the panel).

🔒 Step 4: Enable an SSL Certificate

Without HTTPS, browsers will label your site as “not secure”. Most control panels let you install a free Let's Encrypt certificate:

• Go to domain settings and find the “SSL” section;
• Click “Install Let's Encrypt”;
• Ensure the domain’s DNS A record points to your VPS;
• Wait for confirmation and test your site via HTTPS.

🎯 Conclusion

Creating a website via a control panel is straightforward if you follow the steps. Even without deep Linux knowledge, you can launch a website, connect a database, enable SSL, and manage everything from a GUI. Whether it’s ISPmanager, aaPanel, Plesk, or HestiaCP — the process is very similar. If you run into trouble — we’re always here to help. 💬