# Update system apt update && apt -y upgrade && apt -y install curl wget sudo  # Set proper hostname (important for email configuration) hostnamectl set-hostname your-server-name.yourdomain.com
 # Update hosts file echo "YOUR_SERVER_IP your-server-name.yourdomain.com your-server-name" >> /etc/hosts

Step 4: Install CloudPanel with the latest instructions

Use the official installation command:

curl -sS https://installer.cloudpanel.io/ce/v2/install.sh -o install.sh
echo "a3ba69a8102345127b4ae0e28cfe89daca675cbc63cd39225133cdd2fa02ad36 install.sh" | sha256sum -c && sudo bash install.sh

Step 5: Immediately access the web interface

As soon as installation completes, open your browser and go to:

https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8443

Important: Do this step immediately after installation completes to prevent bots from creating the admin user. The documentation specifically mentions there's a small window where this can happen.

Troubleshooting Tips

If issues persist:

1. Check the installation logs:

   
   

   bash

   cat /var/log/cloudpanel-install.log

2. Verify system requirements:
   
   • Minimum 1 CPU core
   • Minimum 2GB RAM
   • Minimum 10GB disk space
3. Check firewall settings: Ensure ports 22, 80, 443, and 8443 are open.
4. Review kernel settings: Some VPS providers have custom kernels that might cause issues.

Would you like me to help further troubleshoot any specific errors you're encountering during installation?

Fresh CloudPanel Installation on Debian 12

Here's a complete step-by-step guide to install CloudPanel on a fresh Debian 12 system:

Preparation

Step 1: Install Debian 12

Start with a fresh installation of Debian 12 Bookworm. Use the minimal or standard installation option without any desktop environment.

Step 2: Update the System

Once logged in as root, update the system:

apt update && apt -y upgrade
apt -y install curl wget sudo gnupg2 ca-certificates lsb-release

Step 3: Set Proper Hostname

It's important to set a proper hostname for your server:

# Replace "your-server.yourdomain.com" with your actual hostname hostnamectl set-hostname your-server.yourdomain.com
 # Update /etc/hosts file echo "$(hostname -I | awk '{print $1}') $(hostname) $(hostname -s)" >> /etc/hosts

Step 4: Create a Non-Root User (Optional but Recommended)

It's good practice to create a non-root user with sudo privileges:

# Create a new user adduser yourusername
 # Add user to sudo group usermod -aG sudo yourusername
 # Verify sudo access works su - yourusername
sudo whoami  # Should return "root" exit

CloudPanel Installation

Step 5: Install CloudPanel

Install CloudPanel with your preferred database engine:

# For MySQL 8.0 (default) curl -sS https://installer.cloudpanel.io/ce/v2/install.sh -o install.sh
echo "a3ba69a8102345127b4ae0e28cfe89daca675cbc63cd39225133cdd2fa02ad36 install.sh" | sha256sum -c && sudo bash install.sh
 # OR for MariaDB 11.4 # curl -sS https://installer.cloudpanel.io/ce/v2/install.sh -o install.sh # echo "a3ba69a8102345127b4ae0e28cfe89daca675cbc63cd39225133cdd2fa02ad36 install.sh" | sha256sum -c && sudo DB_ENGINE=MARIADB_11.4 bash install.sh

The installation will take approximately 15-20 minutes. Be patient and let it complete.

Step 6: Create Admin User (CRITICAL)

Immediately after installation completes:

1. Open your web browser and navigate to: https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8443
2. You'll see a security warning about the self-signed certificate. Click "Advanced" and then "Proceed to site"
3. You'll be presented with a user creation form
4. Fill in the details to create your admin user:
   
   • Full Name
   • Email Address
   • Username
   • Password (use a strong password)
   • Set Time Zone
   • Accept Terms & Privacy Policy
5. Click "Create User"

This step is critical and must be done quickly after installation to prevent bots from creating the admin user first.

Post-Installation Security

Step 7: Secure CloudPanel Access

Restrict access to CloudPanel's admin interface (8443 port):

# Install UFW if not already installed apt -y install ufw
 # Allow SSH (port 22) ufw allow 22/tcp
 # Allow HTTP and HTTPS (ports 80 and 443) ufw allow 80/tcp
ufw allow 443/tcp
 # Allow CloudPanel admin access only from your IP # Replace YOUR_IP with your public IP address ufw allow from YOUR_IP to any port 8443  # Enable UFW ufw enable

Step 8: Enable Two-Factor Authentication

1. Log in to CloudPanel
2. Go to your profile (click your username at top-right)
3. Go to "Security"
4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
5. Scan the QR code with an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator)
6. Enter the verification code to complete setup

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues during installation:

1. Check system requirements:
   
   • Minimum 1 CPU core
   • Minimum 2 GB RAM
   • Minimum 10 GB disk space

2. Review installation logs:

   
   

   bash

   cat /var/log/cloudpanel-install.log

3. If installation fails or your user loses sudo access:

   
   

   bash

   # Restore sudo access usermod -aG sudo yourusername

4. If port 8443 is blocked: Check your VPS provider's firewall settings in addition to UFW.

5. If the CloudPanel interface doesn't load:

   
   

   bash

   # Check CloudPanel services systemctl status clpd
   systemctl status nginx

By following these steps, you should have a clean, working installation of CloudPanel on your Debian 12 system. Let me know if you encounter any specific issues!