Install MODX CMS on DirectAdmin Hosting
A More Flexible WordPress Alternative

1. What is MODX CMS?

MODX is an open-source Content Management System (CMS) and Content Management Framework (CMF) written in PHP. First released in 2004, the current version is MODX Revolution 3.x — a major rewrite designed to give developers complete structural freedom over their websites.

Unlike WordPress, MODX does not impose a fixed "Post/Page/Category" hierarchy. Instead, it uses Resources — flexible content units where you control URL structure, template assignment, and all content fields independently. This makes MODX ideal for corporate websites, portfolios, custom web applications, and any project requiring a non-standard content architecture.

Core MODX Architecture

• Resource: The fundamental content unit (similar to a Page in WordPress but far more flexible)
• Template: Defines the page layout; pulls data from Resources via Placeholders
• Chunk: Reusable HTML snippets (similar to include files)
• Snippet: PHP code callable within Templates (comparable to WordPress Shortcodes)
• Extra: Extension packages from the MODX Package Manager (similar to WordPress Plugins)

2. MODX vs WordPress Comparison

Understanding the key differences between MODX and WordPress helps you choose the right tool for your project.

3. System Requirements

Before installing MODX on DirectAdmin Hosting, verify that your hosting plan meets these requirements.

Verify PHP Extensions in DirectAdmin

Go to DirectAdmin → Extra Features → PHP Configuration (or create a phpinfo.php file) and confirm that the following extensions are enabled: pdo_mysql, curl, gd, zlib, json, mbstring.

4. Download and Upload MODX Files

Since MODX is not in Softaculous, you need to manually download and upload the installation package.

4.1 Download MODX

1. Visit modx.com/download or the official GitHub releases page
2. Select the latest MODX Revolution release (3.x)
3. Download the file modx-3.x.x-pl.zip

4.2 Upload via DirectAdmin File Manager

1. Log in to DirectAdmin → Files → File Manager
2. Navigate to public_html/ (or your target directory)
3. Click Upload Files → select the downloaded .zip
4. After uploading, click Extract on the zip file within File Manager
5. Move all extracted files to the root of public_html/

5. Create a MySQL Database in DirectAdmin

MODX requires a MySQL database configured with utf8mb4 character set to properly support international characters and emoji.

5.1 Create the Database

1. Go to DirectAdmin → Extra Features → MySQL Management
2. Click Create New Database
3. Enter a database name, e.g., modx_db
4. Create a database user with a strong password
5. Grant the user All Privileges on the new database

5.2 Set Character Collation (Recommended)

Open phpMyAdmin → select the new database → Operations tab → change Collation to utf8mb4_unicode_ci → click Go.

6. Run the Web Installer

With files uploaded and the database ready, launch the Web Installer from your browser.

1. Open your browser and go to https://yourdomain.com/setup/
2. Choose your preferred language (English recommended for stability)
3. Select New Installation
4. Enter database credentials: Host (localhost), Database Name, Username, Password
5. Set a Table Prefix (default: modx_)
6. Create your Administrator account: Username, strong Password, Email
7. Click Install and wait 2–5 minutes
8. After success, immediately delete the setup/ folder

Access the MODX Manager

After installation, log in to the admin panel at https://yourdomain.com/manager/ using the credentials you created.

7. Post-Install Configuration

Several important settings should be configured immediately after installation for security and performance.

7.1 Change the Manager Path (Recommended)

The default manager path /manager/ is publicly known. Renaming it reduces brute-force attack risk.

1. System → System Settings → search manager_path
2. Set a new path, e.g., /admin2026/
3. Rename the manager/ folder in File Manager to match

7.2 Core Site Settings

• site_name: Your website name
• site_url: Your site's base URL including https://
• default_template: The default Template ID for new Resources
• error_page: Resource ID for the 404 error page
• cache_disabled: Set to Yes during development to see changes immediately

7.3 Configure Email (SMTP)

Go to System → System Settings and search for emailfrom and mail_smtp_host to configure SMTP for system email notifications.

8. Create Resources, Templates, and Chunks

MODX content management revolves around three core concepts: Resources (pages), Templates (layouts), and Chunks (reusable HTML). Understanding these is essential before adding content.

8.1 Create a Template

1. Elements → Templates → New Template
2. Name your template, e.g., "Main Layout"
3. Write your HTML layout and insert Placeholders for dynamic content
4. Save the template

8.2 Create a Resource (Content Page)

1. Resources → New Resource
2. Enter Resource Title, select your Template
3. Set the Alias (URL slug), e.g., about
4. Write content in the Content tab
5. Save — the Resource becomes accessible at its URL immediately

8.3 Create Chunks (Reusable HTML Fragments)

1. Elements → Chunks → New Chunk
2. Name it, e.g., "header", "footer", "sidebar"
3. Write the HTML for that section
4. Call it in Templates using [[$chunkName]]

9. MODX and SEO: Friendly URL Setup

MODX supports SEO-friendly URLs using Apache's mod_rewrite. Both the .htaccess file and System Settings must be configured.

9.1 Activate .htaccess

MODX ships with a file called ht.access (not yet active). Rename it to .htaccess in your File Manager and confirm mod_rewrite is enabled on your hosting.

9.2 Enable Friendly URLs in System Settings

1. System → System Settings → search friendly_urls → set to Yes
2. Search friendly_alias_urls → set to Yes
3. Search use_alias_path → set to Yes for hierarchical URLs like /parent/child/

9.3 SEO Best Practices in MODX

• Manage meta description and custom title per Resource using Template Variables (TVs)
• Use the SEO Pro or tagManager Extra for advanced meta tag management
• Set meaningful Resource Aliases that include target keywords
• Generate XML sitemaps using the GoogleSiteMap Extra
• Use the Minify Extra to compress JS and CSS for faster page loading

10. Summary and FAQ

MODX CMS is an excellent choice for developers who need complete control over website architecture without the constraints of WordPress's fixed content model. Installing it on DirectAdmin Hosting takes approximately 20–30 minutes and does not require an auto-installer.

Key steps recap:

1. Download MODX from modx.com and upload to public_html
2. Create a MySQL database via DirectAdmin's MySQL Management
3. Run the Web Installer at /setup/ and enter database credentials
4. Delete the setup/ folder immediately after installation
5. Configure Friendly URLs and start building Templates, Resources, and Chunks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MODX CMS?

MODX is an open-source PHP CMS/CMF that lets developers define URL structures, Templates, and content architecture completely from scratch — without the fixed Post/Page model of WordPress.

What PHP version does MODX require?

MODX Revolution 3.x requires PHP 7.4 minimum. PHP 8.1 or 8.2 is recommended for best performance and security. Required extensions include pdo_mysql, curl, gd, and zlib.

Can MODX be installed via Softaculous?

No. MODX must be downloaded from modx.com, uploaded manually via File Manager, and installed through the Web Installer at /setup/. The process takes roughly 15–20 minutes.

Does AsiaGB Hosting support MODX?

Yes. AsiaGB Hosting provides PHP 8.x, MySQL with InnoDB, Apache mod_rewrite, and DirectAdmin control panel — everything MODX needs. SSD storage, 99% Uptime SLA, and plans from 500 THB/month.

Does MODX support multilingual websites?

Yes. MODX uses a Context system where each language gets its own context, URL root, and settings. The Babel Extra adds cross-language content linking.

Are there free Extras for MODX?

Yes. The MODX Package Manager gives access to many free Extras including pdoTools, Wayfinder, FormIt, getPage, and GoogleSiteMap — covering navigation, forms, pagination, and sitemaps.

How secure is MODX compared to WordPress?

MODX has a smaller attack surface because it's less popular. Always delete the setup/ folder after installation, change the default manager path, keep MODX updated, and use strong admin passwords.