🚀 Deploy Virtualmin on AlmaLinux VPS (5 Minute Quick-Start Guide)

This article provides a how-to guide to deploy Virtualmin on AlmaLinux VPS.

What is Virtualmin?

Virtualmin is a powerful open-source web hosting control panel built on top of Webmin.

It supports:

• Multi-domain virtual hosting
• Apache or Nginx
• PHP versions & FPM
• MariaDB/MySQL & PostgreSQL
• DNS, email, FTP
• Let’s Encrypt SSL
• Backups & automation
• Cloud-Init & CLI installs

On AlmaLinux, Virtualmin is fully compatible and extremely stable.

⭐ Prerequisites

How to Deploy Virtualmin on AlmaLinux VPS

To deploy Virtualmin on AlmaLinux VPS, follow the steps below:

1. Update the System

   sudo dnf update -y sudo dnf install epel-release nano firewalld -y

   Reboot to ensure kernel updates apply:

   sudo reboot

2. Set the Hostname

   Virtualmin requires a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN).

   sudo hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com

   Add it to /etc/hosts:

   sudo nano /etc/hosts

   Add:

   YOUR.SERVER.IP server.yourdomain.com server

3. Disable “Cloud Linux” or Third-Party Repos (If Present)

   Virtualmin requires stock repos.

   Check for nonstandard repos:

   dnf repolist

   Disable anything you don’t recognize:

   sudo dnf config-manager --set-disabled REPO-NAME

4. Install Required Utilities

   sudo dnf install wget curl vim git unzip -y

5. Download the Official Virtualmin Installer

   Virtualmin provides an auto-installer tailored for AlmaLinux.

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

6. Run the Virtualmin Installer

   🟦 This installs Webmin, Virtualmin, Postfix, Dovecot, MariaDB, BIND, PHP-FPM, Apache or Nginx, firewall rules, SSL, and more.

   Run the installer:

   sudo ./install.sh
   

   You will be asked:

   • Install Virtualmin GPL or Pro? (Default is GPL)
   • LAMP or LEMP? (Choose based on preference)
   • DNS configuration? (Recommended: Yes)

   Installer takes 10–25 minutes depending on server speed.

7. Open Required Firewall Ports

   If using firewalld:

   sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=10000/tcp sudo firewall-cmd --reload

8. Login to Virtualmin
   

   

   Open a browser:

   https://server.yourdomain.com:10000/
   

   Login as:

   • Username: root
   • Password: root password

9. Complete the Post-Installation Wizard

   Virtualmin will guide you through:

   Recommended Wizard Choices

   Option	Recommended Value
   Database size	Large system
   MariaDB optimization	Yes
   Run email server?	Yes (if needed)
   Run ClamAV/SpamAssassin?	Yes if RAM ≥ 4 GB
   Accept IPv6?	Yes
   Let’s Encrypt setup	Yes

10. Enable Let’s Encrypt SSL

    Virtualmin can issue LE certificates for:

    • Hostname
    • All hosted domains
    • FTP
    • Webmail
    • Admin panel

    For server hostname:

    Go to:

    Webmin → Webmin Configuration → SSL Encryption → Let's Encrypt
    

    Check:

    • Request certificate for hostname
    • DNS must already resolve!

    Click Request Certificate.

11. Create Your First Virtual Server (Website)

    Go to:

    Virtualmin → Create Virtual Server
    

    Fill in:

    • Domain name
    • Description
    • Admin password
    • Features (DNS, email, web, DB)

    Click Create Server.

    This automatically sets up:

    • Apache/Nginx vhost
    • PHP-FPM pool
    • DNS zone
    • Mailboxes
    • FTP user
    • LeSSL auto-renew
    • MariaDB database

12. Switch Between Apache and Nginx (Optional)

    Virtualmin defaults to Apache.

    To use Nginx instead:

    sudo dnf remove httpd -y sudo dnf install nginx -y sudo systemctl enable --now nginx

    Then re-run installer with LEMP flag:

    sudo ./install.sh --bundle LEMP

13. Install Multiple PHP Versions

    Virtualmin supports multiple versions cleanly.

    AlmaLinux 8:

    sudo dnf module reset php -y sudo dnf module enable php:remi-8.3 -y sudo dnf install php php-fpm php-cli php-mysqlnd php-opcache php-xml php-zip -y

    AlmaLinux 9:

    Use Remi repo:

    sudo dnf install https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-9.rpm -y sudo dnf module enable php:remi-8.3 -y sudo dnf install php php-fpm php-mysqlnd -y

    Virtualmin autoconfigures the pools.

14. Configure Automatic Backups

    Go to:

    Virtualmin → Backup and Restore
    

    Create:

    • Daily full backup
    • Weekly incremental
    • Offsite storage: S3, SSH, FTP

    Recommended schedule:

    Full: weekly
    Incremental: daily
    Retention: 14–30 days
    

15. Enable Fail2Ban (Recommended)

    sudo dnf install fail2ban -y sudo systemctl enable --now fail2ban

    Enable Webmin/Virtualmin protection:

    sudo nano /etc/fail2ban/jail.local

    Add:

    [webmin-auth] enabled = true port = 10000 filter = webmin-auth logpath = /var/log/secure maxretry = 5

    Restart:

    sudo systemctl restart fail2ban

16. Set Up Email DKIM, SPF, DMARC

    Virtualmin → Email Settings → DomainKeys Identified Mail

    Enable for all domains.

    Add the following DNS records:

    SPF

    v=spf1 mx ~all

    DMARC

    v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:postmaster@yourdomain.com

17. Setup Automatic Security Updates

    sudo dnf install dnf-automatic -y sudo systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timer

18. Useful Troubleshooting Commands

    Restart Webmin:

    sudo systemctl restart webmin

    Restart Virtualmin services:

    sudo virtualmin check-config

    View system logs:

    journalctl -xe

19. Optional: Harden the Server (Security Enhancements)

    Disable root login via SSH:

    sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

    Set:

    PermitRootLogin no

    Restart:

    sudo systemctl restart sshd

    Enable 2FA in Webmin:

    Webmin → Webmin Configuration → Two-Factor Authentication

    Use Google Authenticator or Authy.

🎉 Virtualmin Deployment Complete

Your AlmaLinux VPS is now running a full-featured hosting panel with:

• DNS
• Email
• Databases
• Multi-PHP
• SSL automation
• Backups
• Security hardening
• Web-based administration

Conclusion

You now know how to deploy Virtualmin on AlmaLinux VPS.