How To Install Virtualmin on Ubuntu Server: Step-by-Step Guide

If you are managing multiple websites or web applications on your Ubuntu server, using a control panel can make your life much easier. Virtualmin is one of the best free and open-source web hosting control panels designed to simplify Linux server management. It allows you to manage domains, web apps, email, databases, and more—all from a user-friendly web interface. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to install Virtualmin on an Ubuntu server step-by-step. You may also like to read How to Install CyberPanel with OpenLiteSpeed on Ubuntu 20.04.

Prerequisites

Before installing Virtualmin, make sure:

• You have a clean Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 LTS server.
• You are logged in as the root user or a user with sudo privileges.
• Your server has a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) (e.g., server.yourdomain.com).
• A minimum of 1GB RAM (2GB or more recommended for better performance.

Here is a video step by step guide on how to install your virtualmin!

Step 1: Update Your System

Start by updating your system packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures all dependencies are up to date before installing Virtualmin.

Step 2: Set a Hostname (FQDN)

Set a proper hostname using the hostnamectl command: But before then, remember to point your domain name to the Ubuntu server, and this blog post, How to Set Up and Manage Your Website’s DNS Settings.

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com

Update /etc/hosts to include your FQDN:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

Add a line like this (replace with your server’s IP and FQDN):

127.0.1.1   server.yourdomain.com server

Save and exit the file (CTRL + O, then CTRL + X).

Step 3: Download the Virtualmin Installer

Download the official Virtualmin install script using wget:

wget https://software.virtualmin.com/gpl/scripts/install.sh

Make the script executable:

chmod +x install.sh

Step 4: Run the Installer

Now, execute the install script:

sudo ./install.sh

You’ll see a warning and confirmation message. Type y and press Enter to proceed.

The installation can take 10–20 minutes, depending on your server speed. Virtualmin will install Webmin, Apache, Postfix, MySQL/MariaDB, and other essential packages.

Step 5: Access Virtualmin Web Interface

Once the installation is complete, you can access Virtualmin via your browser.

Go to:

https://your-server-ip:10000

You’ll get a security warning. This is because Virtualmin uses a self-signed SSL certificate. Just proceed (you can later replace it with a Let’s Encrypt SSL).

Log in using your root user and password.

• Replace the default SSL with Let’s Encrypt in the Virtualmin panel.
• Disable root SSH login and create a sudo user for daily management.

How To Install Virtualmin Final Thoughts

Installing Virtualmin on Ubuntu gives you a powerful, free control panel to manage your web hosting environment with ease. It’s an excellent alternative to cPanel for developers, hosting resellers, and system admins who prefer an open-source solution.

Whether you’re running websites, mail servers, or databases, Virtualmin simplifies complex server tasks into a user-friendly web interface.

Next Steps

• Set up your first Virtual Server (domain).
• Configure email and DNS settings.
• Add SSL certificates and secure your applications.
• Regularly back up your server using Virtualmin tools.

All these are explained in detail in this video. And if you need help managing your Ubuntu server or installing Virtualmin? Reach out—we’re happy to help!