---
title: "DirectAdmin"
description: "DirectAdmin: a lightweight hosting control panel, its three access levels, the choice of web server and PHP, and what to watch for with WordPress."
language: "en"
locale: "en-US"
type: "definition"
canonical: "https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/directadmin/"
published: "2026-10-28T08:00:00+00:00"
modified: "2026-10-28T20:02:15+00:00"
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  en-US: "https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/directadmin/index.md"
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  es-ES: "https://www.wp-masquerade.com/es/glosario/directadmin/index.md"
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---

# DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin is a web hosting control panel for Linux servers, known for being lightweight, that organizes access into three levels: admin, reseller and user. It manages domains, email, databases and PHP versions, and lets you choose the web server: Apache by default, Nginx, LiteSpeed or OpenLiteSpeed.

DirectAdmin presents itself as a leaner alternative to [cPanel](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/cpanel/) and [Plesk](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/plesk/). You'll find it at shared hosting providers, at resellers and on VPSs that their owners manage themselves. Its web interface usually listens on port 2222, the one used in its documentation's examples.

## Three access levels

DirectAdmin has three levels, which its official site highlights:

- **Admin**: manages the whole server, resellers, packages and services.
- **Reseller**: creates and manages their own customers, within the limits set by the admin.
- **User**: manages their domains, email, databases and files.

A “log in as” feature lets the admin enter any account, and a reseller enter their customers' accounts, without knowing the password. Handy for support, it's also a reminder that a compromised admin account gives access to every site on the server.

## Choosing the web server and PHP

The CustomBuild tool installs and updates the software stack. Its documentation offers five web server options:

- **apache**: the default, with full .htaccess support;
- **nginx**: fast for static files, but with no .htaccess support;
- **nginx_apache**: Nginx serves static files, Apache handles dynamic content and .htaccess;
- **litespeed**: [LiteSpeed Web Server](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/litespeed/), a commercial drop-in replacement for Apache;
- **openlitespeed**: [the open-source edition of LiteSpeed](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/openlitespeed/), which only reads the rewrite rules in .htaccess.

For PHP, DirectAdmin offers [PHP-FPM](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/php-fpm/) in particular, with up to four active versions to choose from for each domain, and LSPHP, reserved for LiteSpeed servers (except on CloudLinux, where it also works with Apache). A selector lets users pick the PHP version for their domains.

## For WordPress

- **Know your web server**: with Apache, LiteSpeed or the Nginx plus Apache combination, WordPress's [.htaccess file](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/htaccess/) works. With Nginx alone, it is ignored; with OpenLiteSpeed, only the rewrite rules are read.
- **PHP settings**: on OpenLiteSpeed, PHP directives go in a .user.ini file rather than in .htaccess.
- **Caching**: the LiteSpeed Cache plugin only enables its page cache on a LiteSpeed or OpenLiteSpeed server; on Apache or Nginx, pick another plugin.
- **Account security**: DirectAdmin supports [two-factor authentication](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/two-factor-authentication/); turn it on, especially for admin and reseller accounts.

For file aliases, WP Masquerade Pro generates rules suited to the server in use; the [hosting and cache compatibility](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/features/hosting-and-cache-compatibility/) page covers the Apache, LiteSpeed and Nginx cases.

## Common mistakes

Switching a server from Apache to Nginx alone without translating the .htaccess rules of the hosted sites: permalinks and protections stop working. Another trap is forgetting to update components through CustomBuild, even though PHP and the web server regularly receive security fixes.

## Related terms

- [cPanel](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/cpanel/)
- [Plesk](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/plesk/)
- [OpenLiteSpeed](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/openlitespeed/)
- [LiteSpeed Web Server](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/litespeed/)
- [PHP-FPM](https://www.wp-masquerade.com/glossary/php-fpm/)


## Sources

- [DirectAdmin : Features list](https://directadmin.com/features_list.php)
- [DirectAdmin Docs : CustomBuild, Web Services](https://docs.directadmin.com/custombuild/web-services.html)
- [DirectAdmin : Supported Services](https://www.directadmin.com/technologies.php)
- [DirectAdmin Docs : API](https://docs.directadmin.com/developer/api/)