Hestia Control Panel is modern and lightweight control panel grown from VestaCP, preserving its simplicity but with active development and current packages. Suitable for those who need neat Linux stack without extra overhead: fast web server, email, DNS, databases, SSL and backups in one interface plus convenient CLI utilities.
Supported OS and Stack
OS: Debian 11/12, Ubuntu 20.04/22.04/24.04 (clean installation without pre-installed LAMP/LEMP).
Web servers: Nginx as front plus Apache, or Nginx + PHP-FPM without Apache.
PHP: Multiple versions via PHP-FPM, per-site settings.
DB: MariaDB/MySQL, optionally PostgreSQL. Includes phpMyAdmin; for PostgreSQL pgAdmin available (separate installation).
DNS: Bind9 with zone templates and ability to designate slave servers.
Email: Exim + Dovecot, webmail Roundcube; DKIM/SPF/DMARC via DNS templates.
SSL: Let's Encrypt, automatic renewal, wildcard support via DNS validation.
File manager: Built-in, works over SFTP and doesn't require separate installation.
Application installer: Quick deploy of popular CMS like WordPress and Nextcloud.
When Hestia is Rational Choice
- Need clear Linux hosting without heavy panel and extra services
- Important transparent Nginx/Apache configuration and ability to fine-tune templates
- Need lightweight panel for many small sites on one VPS
- Need convenient automation via CLI/API: scripts v-add-user, v-add-web-domain, etc.
- Have migration plan from VestaCP or similar environments
Deployment on THE.Hosting VPS: Brief Scheme
- Prepare clean Debian or Ubuntu. SSH connection as root
- Run official Hestia installer with needed flags: Nginx + PHP-FPM or Nginx + Apache, email, DNS, databases
- After panel login create resource package and first user
- Connect domains, configure AutoSSL, enable HTTP/2
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC. On THE.Hosting side configure PTR for your dedicated IPv4
- Enable backups: daily incremental, weekly full, upload to remote storage via SFTP/FTP
- Check alerts for disk, memory, load and quotas
Site Management and Performance
User isolation. Each project lives in own environment.
Web server templates. Can choose Nginx-only for static and simple PHP sites or Nginx + Apache combo where .htaccess needed.
PHP-FPM per-site. Enable OPcache, select pm.max_children for real load.
Correct caching headers and compression. Configure Brotli/gzip and Cache-Control at Nginx level.
Logs and metrics visible. PHP errors, access/error for web server, email logs accessible from panel.
Email and DNS
- Full email stack: domains, mailboxes, aliases, autoresponders, quotas
- Roundcube for webmail
- For email delivery, clean IPv4, correct PTR, SPF/DKIM/DMARC are critical. Everything can be set up in zone templates right in Hestia, PTR configured through THE.Hosting support
- RBL checks worth monitoring before starting mailings
Backups
Default plan: daily incremental backups and weekly full.
Storage locally and upload to remote storage via SFTP/FTP.
Point restoration: site, DB, email, DNS—without rolling back entire server.
Security
- Fail2ban for login panels and services
- ModSecurity support when working with Apache; on pure Nginx connect WAF separately
- 2FA for panel, strong passwords, disabling unused services
- SFTP by default, jail for users
- Regular package updates through OS repositories and Hestia updates from panel/CLI
Migrations
From VestaCP migration goes relatively smoothly: account and template structure similar.
From cPanel/ISPmanager transfer files, DB and email manually or via scripts, then configure DNS and SSL anew.
For WordPress convenient to create clean site, import DB and uploads, write wp-config, then enable AutoSSL.
Pros and What to Remember
Pros
- Low overhead and fast panel response
- Transparent architecture: standard Linux services without closed modules
- Convenient CLI utilities and simple backups
- Good balance between simplicity and stack control
Nuances
- No "heavy" combines like WP Toolkit or built-in Docker manager
- Email stack better kept in order from day one: DNS templates, PTR, separate trusted resource lists
- For Windows projects Hestia not suitable; panel oriented to Linux
THE.Hosting Best Practices for Production on Hestia
- One project = one user. Easier with permissions and backups
- Nginx + PHP-FPM where .htaccess not needed; combo with Apache only for specifics
- AutoSSL enabled immediately, renewal check quarterly
- Email starts only after SPF/DKIM/DMARC setup and PTR verification
- Backups daily, copy off-server mandatory
- Fail2ban and 2FA active, passwords rotated, SSH key access
- Monthly log and rotation check, manual audit of major updates
Conclusion
Hestia provides lightweight and clear Linux stack for production: Nginx/Apache, PHP-FPM, databases, email, DNS, AutoSSL and backups. Panel is fast, architecture transparent, CLI automation convenient. Need neat start without extra complexity—Hestia fits. On THE.Hosting VPS you get 1 dedicated IPv4 free. We'll help deploy panel, configure DNS and email, enable AutoSSL, organize backups and conduct migration without downtime.
HestiaCP FAQ
Can Hestia run on Windows server?
No. Hestia designed for Debian/Ubuntu.
Does Hestia work without Apache, only on Nginx + PHP-FPM?
Yes. This mode is supported and gives performance plus for projects without .htaccess.