DirectAdmin Beginner's Guide — Manage Web Hosting on Your Own

When you sign up for hosting with AsiaGB, you get access to DirectAdmin — a powerful web hosting control panel that lets you manage everything through a browser interface without needing to know any Linux commands. This guide walks you from your very first login all the way through managing domains, email, databases, and more.

What Is DirectAdmin and What Can It Do?

DirectAdmin (DA) is a web hosting control panel that comes pre-installed with AsiaGB hosting. It serves as your hosting dashboard, giving you full control through a web interface — no command-line knowledge required.

Feature	What You Can Do
Domains & Subdomains	Add, remove, configure DNS records
Email Accounts	Create unlimited @yourdomain.com addresses
MySQL Database	Create/delete databases, manage via phpMyAdmin
File Manager	Upload, edit, delete files directly in browser
PHP Version	Switch between PHP 7.4 / 8.0 / 8.1 / 8.2 / 8.3
SSL Certificate	Install free Let's Encrypt SSL yourself
Softaculous	One-click install WordPress/Joomla/Drupal
Backup	Auto backup twice monthly (1st and 15th)

How to Log In for the First Time

After signing up for AsiaGB hosting, you will receive a welcome email containing:

• DirectAdmin URL: e.g. https://ns1.injan-network.com:2222
• Username: your account username
• Password: your initial password

Understanding the Dashboard

After logging in, you will see the main dashboard organized into these sections:

• Your Account — package info, disk usage, bandwidth stats
• Email Management — all email-related settings
• MySQL Management — database management
• File Management — File Manager and FTP
• Domain Management — domains and DNS
• Advanced Features — SSL, Cron Jobs, PHP Config, 2FA
• Extra Features — Softaculous, phpMyAdmin, and more

Managing Domains and Subdomains

DirectAdmin lets you add add-on domains and subdomains based on your hosting plan.

Adding a Subdomain

1. Go to Domain Management → Subdomain Management
2. Type the subdomain name, e.g. shop (creates shop.yourdomain.com)
3. Select the root domain
4. Click Create

Managing DNS Records

If your Nameservers point to AsiaGB, go to Domain Management → DNS Management to manage A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records.

Creating Business Email Accounts

Set up professional email addresses like [email protected] in just a few steps:

1. Go to Email Management → Create / Delete Accounts
2. Type the email name (the part before @)
3. Set a strong password
4. Set the mailbox quota
5. Click Create Account

Managing MySQL Databases

WordPress and most CMSs require a MySQL database. Here is how to create one:

1. Go to MySQL Management → Create new Database
2. Enter a database name (your username prefix is added automatically)
3. Create a database user and password
4. Assign the user to the database
5. Set privileges (All Privileges recommended for WordPress)

Once created, manage your data visually through phpMyAdmin found under Extra Features.

File Manager and Uploading Files

DirectAdmin includes a built-in browser-based File Manager:

• Go to File Management → File Manager
• Your website root folder is public_html/
• Click Upload Files to upload from your computer
• Create, edit, rename, and delete files and folders directly

Changing the PHP Version

Modern WordPress requires PHP 8.1 or higher. Switching PHP versions in DirectAdmin:

1. Go to Advanced Features → PHP Version Selector
2. Select the domain you want to update
3. Choose your desired PHP version
4. Click Save

Changes take effect immediately. Always test your website after switching PHP versions.

Installing WordPress with Softaculous

Softaculous is a one-click app installer supporting over 400 applications including WordPress:

1. Go to Extra Features → Softaculous Apps Installer
2. Click WordPress
3. Click Install Now
4. Configure: select domain, set admin username/password, and site name
5. Click Install — done in 1-2 minutes

Installing a Free SSL Certificate

SSL gives your website the https:// padlock icon, which is important for Google SEO and visitor trust:

1. Go to Advanced Features → SSL Certificates
2. Select Free & automatic certificate from Let's Encrypt
3. Check your domains (include www.yourdomain.com)
4. Click Save
5. Wait 1-2 minutes for the certificate to be issued automatically

Backup and Restore

AsiaGB performs automatic backups twice monthly on the 1st and 15th of each month. You can also create manual backups anytime:

Creating a Manual Backup

1. Go to Advanced Features → Create/Restore Backups
2. Select what to back up (domains, email, databases, etc.)
3. Click Create Backup
4. The backup file is saved in your backups/ folder

Restoring from Backup

Select the backup file you want to restore, then click Restore Selected Files. The system will restore all selected data automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DirectAdmin?

DirectAdmin is a web hosting control panel that allows you to manage domains, email, databases, and files through a browser. No server command-line knowledge is required.

How do I reset a forgotten DirectAdmin password?

Click Forgot Password on the login page, or contact AsiaGB support to reset your password. Support is available 24 hours a day.

How many email accounts can I create?

This depends on your hosting plan. Some plans include unlimited email accounts. Check your plan details under Your Account → Package Info in DirectAdmin.

My website broke after changing PHP version. What do I do?

Switch back to your previous PHP version in PHP Version Selector, then check the error log at Advanced Features → Error Logs to identify the cause before upgrading again.

How is DirectAdmin different from cPanel?

DirectAdmin uses fewer server resources and is more cost-effective than cPanel. AsiaGB uses DirectAdmin to deliver high-performance SSD hosting at better prices for customers.

How often does AsiaGB back up my data?

AsiaGB performs automatic backups twice monthly on the 1st and 15th of each month. You can also create manual backups at any time through DirectAdmin.

Summary

DirectAdmin is a comprehensive, beginner-friendly control panel that covers everything you need to manage your web hosting — from domains and email to databases, SSL, and WordPress installation with a single click. Start by logging in, exploring the dashboard, and creating your first email account. From there, the rest of the features are intuitive and easy to master.