FlashPanel

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Getting started ​

Overview ​

This page is for people who are new to FlashPanel. It takes you from an empty server to a running website with your own domain and HTTPS. Each step below only summarizes what to do and links to the detailed guide.

The path is:

  1. Prepare a server and a domain.
  2. Connect the server to FlashPanel.
  3. Wait for the installation to finish.
  4. Create a website.
  5. Point the domain to the server.
  6. Install source code or deploy from Git.
  7. Install an SSL certificate.
  8. Set up backups, security and team members.

How to use ​

Step 1: Prepare ​

Before you start, you need:

  • A fresh Ubuntu server (20.04, 22.04, 24.04, 26.04 LTS 64bit) with no other software installed. FlashPanel will not work on an existing production server.
  • SSH access as the root user (password or SSH private key). You can skip this if you create the server through a provider's API.
  • A domain name whose DNS records you can edit. If you only want to try things out, you can use a free domain in Step 4.

TIP

If the server was created a while ago, run apt update && apt upgrade -y and reboot it before connecting so the installation runs smoothly with fewer errors.

Step 2: Connect the server ​

Open the Connect New Server page, then choose one of two ways:

  • Existing server: select Custom Server, enter the Server Name, Server IP or domain, SSH Port and the root login details, then click Add Server. See Connect a server.
  • New server through a provider (Vultr, DigitalOcean, Linode, Hetzner...): first add the provider's API key as described in Connect a server provider, then select the provider, region and plan, and click Connect New Server.

In the Choose pre-installed apps section, Nginx, PHP and MySQL are selected by default. You can deselect them or add other apps as needed.

Step 3: Wait for the installation to finish ​

After you submit the form, you are taken back to the server list. Click the new server to open the Install Status screen. It shows:

  • A log window that streams the commands running on the server.
  • The list of installation steps, with the status and run time of each step.

When the installation is complete, the server's overview page replaces this screen and the items in the server menu become available. You can review the whole process again on the Events page.

WARNING

If the installation takes more than 15 minutes, contact support.

Step 4: Create a website ​

  1. In the server menu, select Sites, then click New Site.
  2. Enter your domain in the Domain Name field. If you do not have a domain yet, check Use Free Domain to get a free subdomain for testing.
  3. (Optional) Adjust other settings such as Root Document, the PHP version, Website Isolation or Create Database.
  4. Click Create Site.

See every option explained in Create and manage websites.

Step 5: Point the domain to the server ​

The domain must point to the server's IP before the website can be reached and before an SSL certificate can be issued. There are two ways:

  • Automatically: connect a DNS provider (Cloudflare, Name.com) before creating the website. When the website's domain is in the list of managed domains, FlashPanel creates an A record (or AAAA for servers using IPv6) pointing to the server.
  • Manually: in your domain registrar's DNS management page, create an A record for the domain (and for www if needed) pointing to the server's IP.

Skip this step if you use a free domain, because its DNS record is created automatically.

TIP

New DNS records can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to take effect, depending on your domain provider.

Step 6: Install source code or deploy from Git ​

Open the new website, select Install Source Code in the website menu, and choose an installation method:

  • WordPress, n8n, Uptime Kuma, phpMyAdmin...: install a ready-made app in a few clicks.
  • GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket: connect your Git account first, then pick the repository and branch.
  • Git: install from any Git repository over SSH.
  • Self Upload: use this when you have already uploaded your code to the server via SFTP/SSH.

See the details in Source Code Installation. For websites installed from Git, you can enable automatic deployment every time you push to the selected branch, see Deployment.

Step 7: Install an SSL certificate ​

  1. Open SSL in the website menu.
  2. Select the Let's Encrypt (Free) card.
  3. Check that each domain has a green check mark, meaning it points to the server correctly.
  4. Click Install Let's Encrypt.

Let's Encrypt certificates are renewed automatically. See the other certificate types in SSL.

Step 8: What to do next ​

Your website is live. To run it safely over the long term, you should:

  • Set up scheduled backups to Google Drive, OneDrive, S3, SFTP...: see Backup and Restore.
  • Enable automatic system updates: see Security.
  • Review the firewall and only open the ports you really need: see Firewall Rules.
  • Invite team members to manage the server with you: see Teams.

Notes & warnings ​

  • Note: The root login details are only used for the first installation and are not stored.
  • Note: Free domains are for testing only; their DNS records are deleted automatically after 14 days. Switch to your own domain before going live.
  • Warning: Do not connect a server that already runs production services or has other software installed. Use a fresh server, then move your data over.

Need help? ​

If you get stuck at any step, see the support channels and video tutorials in What is FlashPanel?.