DirectAdmin Hosting Features Overview

DirectAdmin hosting from {{COMPANY_NAME}} includes a comprehensive set of tools for managing websites, email, databases, and more. This guide covers the key features available on your DirectAdmin hosting account.

CustomBuild 2.0

DirectAdmin uses CustomBuild 2.0 to manage server software. This means your hosting environment always runs optimized, up-to-date versions of:

• Apache or Nginx (or both in reverse proxy mode)
• PHP — Multiple versions from 5.6 to 8.3 selectable per domain
• MariaDB/MySQL — Latest stable database server
• phpMyAdmin — Web-based database management

The benefit is that CustomBuild compiles software specifically for your server hardware, resulting in better performance than generic packages.

Email Management

DirectAdmin provides a complete email hosting solution:

• Email Accounts — Create professional email addresses on your domains
• Webmail — Access email from any browser via Roundcube
• Forwarders — Redirect incoming mail to another address
• Autoresponders — Automatic reply messages for vacations or acknowledgments
• Catch-All — Receive email sent to any address on your domain
• Spam Filtering — SpamAssassin with customizable thresholds
• DKIM/SPF/DMARC — Email authentication DNS records
• Mailing Lists — Group email distribution

To create an email account:

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Go to E-Mail Manager then E-Mail Accounts
3. Click Create Mail Account
4. Enter the desired username and password
5. Set quota limits if needed
6. Click Create

SSL/TLS Certificates

Every domain on your account gets a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate:

• Automatically issued when DNS points to the server
• Auto-renewed before expiration
• Supports both the main domain and www subdomain
• Custom certificates can also be installed for EV/OV validation

CloudLinux Integration

Your DirectAdmin hosting runs on CloudLinux OS, providing:

• Resource Isolation — Each account runs in its own Lightweight Virtual Environment (LVE)
• PHP Selector — Choose PHP version and extensions per domain
• Node.js Selector — Deploy and manage Node.js applications
• Python Selector — Run Python web applications
• Resource Usage Monitoring — Track CPU, RAM, I/O, and entry processes

Tip: Use the PHP Selector to run different PHP versions for different domains on the same account — great if you have both a legacy site and a modern application.

JetBackup

Automated daily backups protect your data:

• Full Account Restore — Restore everything in one click
• File-Level Restore — Recover individual files or folders
• Database Restore — Restore specific MySQL databases
• Email Restore — Recover deleted email accounts and messages
• Download Backups — Download backup archives to your local machine

Access JetBackup from the DirectAdmin dashboard under Extra Features.

File Manager

DirectAdmin includes a browser-based file manager for managing your website files:

• Upload and download files
• Edit files with the built-in text editor
• Set file and directory permissions
• Create and extract compressed archives (ZIP, tar.gz)
• Navigate your entire home directory structure

SSH Access

All DirectAdmin plans include SSH access:

• Connect using your DirectAdmin username and password
• Or set up SSH key authentication for passwordless login
• Run CLI tools: WP-CLI, Composer, npm, git, and more
• Default port is 22

Security Features

• ModSecurity — Web application firewall with OWASP Core Rule Set
• ClamAV — Virus scanning for email attachments
• IP Blocking — Block malicious IP addresses
• Two-Factor Authentication — Secure your DirectAdmin login
• Hotlink Protection — Prevent bandwidth theft
• Password Protected Directories — Restrict access to sensitive areas

DNS Management

Manage your domain's DNS records directly from DirectAdmin:

• A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, and CAA records
• Easy-to-use DNS editor
• Instant propagation on the server

Cron Jobs

Schedule automated tasks to run at specific intervals:

1. Go to Advanced Features then Cron Jobs
2. Set the schedule (minute, hour, day, month, weekday)
3. Enter the command to run
4. Save

Related Articles

• DirectAdmin Hosting Plans Comparison
• How to Activate Your New DirectAdmin Hosting
• DirectAdmin Dashboard Overview

Have questions about a specific feature? Contact {{SUPPORT_EMAIL}} for assistance.