Install and Configure Softaculous in DirectAdmin

This checklist installs Softaculous and applies initial server‑level configuration. This prepares a DirectAdmin VPS for application installation workflows without installing any applications.

Prerequisites

• Platform Readiness is complete
• The Account Domain has been added and verified
• PHP extension php_ioncube is enabled

Install Softaculous

1. Log out of the DirectAdmin control panel.
2. Open a terminal session as the root user.
3. Run the below script which will download and install Softaculous.

wget -N http://files.softaculous.com/install.sh
chmod 755 install.sh
/install.sh

• Wait for the installer to complete (approximately 1–2 minutes).
• Reboot the server after installation completes.

Allow approximately 2 minutes for the VPS to fully restart before proceeding.

Apply Softaculous settings

1. Log in to the DirectAdmin control panel as admin.
2. Navigate to Extra Features → Softaculous Auto Installer.
3. From the left panel, select Home.
4. Confirm the license type shown.
5. If needed, refresh the license.

Choose one configuration option below.

Option 1: Import saved Softaculous settings

• Use this option only if previously saved Softaculous settings already existed for re-importing onto this server.
• In Softaculous, navigate to Settings → Import/Export.
• Select the saved settings file located on the local machine.
• Click Import Settings.
• Wait approximately 1–2 minutes for the import to complete.

If no saved settings exist, skip this option and proceed to manual configuration.

Option 2: Manually apply Softaculous settings

1. Navigate to Settings → Select Top Scripts.
   • Select check-box Enable Softaculous Top Apps.
   • From the left panel, click to select WordPress.
   • Then, click the “>>” icon to add WordPress onto the right panel of Your Selected Scripts list.
2. Click Save Scripts.
3. Navigate to Settings → General.
   • Scroll to the General Settings section.
   • Update the following fields:
     • Admin Email Address
     • From Email Address
4. Click Edit Settings to save this section only.

Finalize configuration

• Close the Softaculous session.
• Do not install any applications at this stage.
• Theme and plugin sets are created later during application‑level setup.

Next step: Create a VPS system backup to capture the fully prepared, application‑ready infrastructure state.