❓ Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Q: What is ISPConfig?
A: ISPConfig is an open-source hosting control panel for Linux that allows you to manage websites, email accounts, FTP accounts, DNS records, databases, and more through a web-based interface.
Q: Which operating systems does ISPConfig support?
A: ISPConfig supports various Linux distributions including:
- Debian (9, 10, 11)
- Ubuntu (18.04, 20.04, 22.04)
- CentOS (7, 8)
- openSUSE
- Fedora
Q: Is ISPConfig free?
A: Yes, ISPConfig is completely free and open-source, released under BSD license. However, professional support and migration tools are available for purchase.
Q: Can I manage multiple servers with ISPConfig?
A: Yes, ISPConfig supports multi-server setups where you can manage multiple servers from a single control panel interface.
Technical Questions
Q: Which web servers does ISPConfig support?
A: ISPConfig supports:
- Apache 2.4
- Nginx
- Both Apache and Nginx (Nginx as reverse proxy)
Q: Can I use different PHP versions for different websites?
A: Yes, ISPConfig supports multiple PHP versions simultaneously. You can select different PHP versions for each website.
Q: What databases are supported?
A: ISPConfig supports:
- MySQL 5.5+
- MariaDB 10.x
- PostgreSQL (with additional configuration)
Q: Does ISPConfig support Docker containers?
A: While ISPConfig doesn't have built-in Docker support, you can run Docker alongside ISPConfig on the same server.
Website Management
Q: How many websites can I host?
A: There's no built-in limit. The number depends on your server resources and the limits set for each client account.
Q: Can I use .htaccess files?
A: Yes, .htaccess files are fully supported when using Apache. For Nginx, you need to convert rules to Nginx format.
Q: Does ISPConfig support Node.js applications?
A: ISPConfig doesn't have built-in Node.js support, but you can manually configure Node.js apps with reverse proxy.
Q: Can I install WordPress?
A: Yes, you can install WordPress manually or use the APS installer if configured. ISPConfig fully supports WordPress hosting.
Email Questions
Q: What mail servers does ISPConfig use?
A: ISPConfig uses:
- Postfix for SMTP
- Dovecot for IMAP/POP3
- Amavis for content filtering
- SpamAssassin for spam filtering
- ClamAV for virus scanning
Q: Can I create catch-all email addresses?
A: Yes, you can create catch-all addresses that receive all emails sent to non-existent addresses at your domain.
Q: Is webmail included?
A: Webmail (usually Roundcube) can be installed during ISPConfig setup. It's accessible at yourdomain.com/webmail.
Security Questions
Q: Is ISPConfig secure?
A: ISPConfig is secure when properly configured. It includes:
- SSL/TLS support
- Firewall integration
- Fail2ban support
- User permission system
- Regular security updates
Q: Does ISPConfig support Let's Encrypt?
A: Yes, ISPConfig has built-in Let's Encrypt support for free SSL certificates with automatic renewal.
Q: Can I enable two-factor authentication?
A: Yes, two-factor authentication can be enabled for ISPConfig login using Google Authenticator or similar apps.
Troubleshooting
Q: Where are ISPConfig log files located?
A: Main log files are in:
- /var/log/ispconfig/ - ISPConfig logs
- /var/www/clients/client*/web*/log/ - Website logs
- /var/log/mail.log - Mail server logs
- /var/log/apache2/ or /var/log/nginx/ - Web server logs
Q: How do I reset the admin password?
A: Connect to MySQL and run:
UPDATE dbispconfig.sys_user SET passwort = MD5('newpassword')
WHERE username = 'admin';Q: Why is my website showing 500 error?
A: Common causes:
- .htaccess syntax errors
- PHP errors (check error logs)
- Permission problems
- Memory limit exceeded
Billing and Client Management
Q: Does ISPConfig include billing features?
A: ISPConfig doesn't include billing. You can integrate it with billing systems like:
- WHMCS
- Blesta
- HostBill
- BillManager
Q: Can clients manage their own accounts?
A: Yes, ISPConfig has a client interface where users can manage their websites, emails, databases, etc., within their assigned limits.
Q: How do I set client limits?
A: When creating a client, you can set limits for:
- Number of websites
- Disk space
- Traffic
- Email accounts
- Databases
- FTP accounts
Backup and Migration
Q: Does ISPConfig have built-in backup?
A: Yes, ISPConfig includes a backup feature that can automatically backup websites and databases on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule.
Q: Can I migrate from cPanel to ISPConfig?
A: Yes, but it requires manual migration or third-party tools. There's no direct automated migration tool.
Q: Where are backups stored?
A: By default, backups are stored in /var/backup/ but you can configure a custom location.
