In this brief guide we explore the process of installing and using Softaculous in DirectAdmin web hosting setup. Softaculous is an installer tool for 380+ apps such as Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, Magento, and many others. It can integrate with many popular web hosting control panels like Directadmin, cPanel, Plesk, Interworx, ispmanager and more.
For WordPress users, Softaculous WordPress Manager feature enables you to manage WordPress Themes, Plugins, Posts, settings upgrade, wp-config settings and much more. Ensure you’re working on a fresh installation of DirectAdmin to avoid any setup related issues. If your DirectAdmin installation has an active firewall, ensure that you allow access to all packages from *.softaculous.com.
Install ionCube Loader
IonCube which is an encoding method is required to install Softaculous on DirectAdmin. IonCube is often used in securing PHP files though encryption. To be able to decode encrypted PHP files, ionCube loader is required on the server. We begin the setup be ensuring that ionCube Loader is installed.
Navigate to DirectAdmin custombuild directory. CustomBuild is a tool used to manage DirectAdmin-related services, such as WWW, E-mail, SQL, PHP, and others.
cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuildEnable ioncube in php_extensions.conf file
[root@admin custombuild]# ./build set_php ioncube yes
Changed ioncube option from no to yesYou can confirm the setting using cat command.
[root@admin custombuild]# cat php_extensions.conf
# PHP Extension Settings
bz2=no
gmp=no
htscanner=no
igbinary=no
imagick=no
imap=no
ioncube=yes
ldap=no
opcache=no
phalcon=no
readline=no
redis=no
snuffleupagus=no
suhosin=no
xmlrpc=no
zend=noBuild and install ionCube Loader
[root@admin custombuild]# ./build php_ioncube
download_cached: downloading 'https://files.directadmin.com/services/custombuild/ioncube_13.0.1/ioncube_loaders_lin_x86-64.tar.gz' to '/usr/local/directadmin/custombuild/cache/ioncube_loaders_lin_13.0.1_x86-64.tar.gz'
############################################################################################################################################################################################### 100.0%
PHP 8.1 extension 'ioncube' installed successfully
Restarting php-fpm81Restart web server and PHP FPM services.
systemctl restart httpd php-fpm*.serviceCheck status to ensure they started without errors.
[root@admin custombuild]# systemctl status httpd php-fpm*.service
● httpd.service - The Apache HTTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/httpd.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Sat 2024-02-03 00:41:40 EAT; 6s ago
Process: 2717219 ExecStop=/bin/kill -WINCH ${MAINPID} (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Process: 2711639 ExecReload=/usr/sbin/httpd $OPTIONS -k graceful (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 2717227 (httpd)
Status: "Total requests: 0; Idle/Busy workers 100/0;Requests/sec: 0; Bytes served/sec: 0 B/sec"
Tasks: 410 (limit: 203494)
Memory: 85.9M
CGroup: /system.slice/httpd.service
├─2717227 /usr/sbin/httpd -DFOREGROUND
├─2717228 /usr/sbin/httpd -DFOREGROUND
├─2717230 /usr/sbin/httpd -DFOREGROUND
└─2717231 /usr/sbin/httpd -DFOREGROUND
Feb 03 00:41:40 admin.example.ke systemd[1]: Starting The Apache HTTP Server...
Feb 03 00:41:40 admin.example.ke systemd[1]: Started The Apache HTTP Server.
● php-fpm81.service - The PHP FastCGI Process Manager
Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/php-fpm81.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Sat 2024-02-03 00:41:39 EAT; 7s ago
Process: 2711922 ExecReload=/bin/kill -USR2 $MAINPID (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 2717222 (php-fpm81)
Status: "Ready to handle connections"
Tasks: 1 (limit: 203494)
Memory: 8.1M
CGroup: /system.slice/php-fpm81.service
└─2717222 php-fpm: master process (/usr/local/php81/etc/php-fpm.conf)
Feb 03 00:41:39 admin.example.ke systemd[1]: Starting The PHP FastCGI Process Manager...
Feb 03 00:41:39 admin.example.ke systemd[1]: Started The PHP FastCGI Process Manager.Install Softaculous on DirectAdmin Server
Download installer script.
wget https://files.softaculous.com/install.shMake the script executable.
chmod 755 install.shInitiate the installation of Softaculous on DirectAdmin Server
./install.shSome scripts are downloaded during the installation process. Once done you will see success output.
Dependencies resolved.
Nothing to do.
Complete!
-----------------------------------------------
Welcome to Softaculous Apps Installer
-----------------------------------------------
///////////////////////////////
// INSTALLING SOFTACULOUS
// Detected Panel : Directadmin
// DOWNLOADING SOFTACULOUS PACKAGE
// CONFIGURED universal.php
// FETCHED THE LICENSE
// UPDATED SCRIPTS CATEGORIES
// UPDATED SCRIPTS LIST
// ADDED CRON JOB
// BUILDING SCRIPT CACHE
--2024-02-03 00:52:47-- http://files.virtualizor.com/ioncube/64/ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.so
Resolving files.virtualizor.com (files.virtualizor.com)... 142.132.212.2
Connecting to files.virtualizor.com (files.virtualizor.com)|142.132.212.2|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 1401736 (1.3M) [application/octet-stream]
Saving to: ‘ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.so’
ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.so 100%[===========================================================================================================>] 1.34M 1.29MB/s in 1.0s
2024-02-03 00:52:48 (1.29 MB/s) - ‘ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.so’ saved [1401736/1401736]
// Script Packages will be downloaded in background
///////////////////////////////
=====================================================
Congratulations, Softaculous was installed successfully
Softaculous has been installed at:
Path : /usr/local/directadmin/plugins/softaculous
Scripts Path : /var/softaculous
We request you to please register for updates and notifications at :
https://www.softaculous.com/board/index.php?act=register
It also inspires us when you register. Registration is free and just a one minute job.
If you need any support you can always count on us. Just drop in at our Support Board:
https://www.softaculous.com/board
Alternatively, you can contact us via Email at [email protected]
Thank you for using SoftaculousYou can list all the contents in the installation path.
# ls /usr/local/directadmin/plugins/softaculous
admin cli.php cron2.php do_backups.php hooks images includes52 includes56 includes81 ioncube.so lib php.ini reseller scripts softaculous.zip upgrade.php
bin conf cron.php enduser ID import.cmd.php includes53 includes71 index.php ioncube.ver php plugin.conf rev sdk tmp userThe scripts will be placed inside the /var/softaculous directory.
When you login to DirectAdmin web dashboard, you can access “Softaculous” settings under Admin –> Extra Features –> Softaculous Auto installer.
Here you can purchase and apply new license key.
Normal user accounts will be able to use Softaculous as well.
Enjoy using Softaculous on DirectAdmin!.
