Getting started with Parallels Plesk Panel

Plesk Control Panel is powerful, but easy-to-use server automation software which we pre-install on our entire range of Managed Cloud VPS and Dedicated Server products. We offer this to you in order to give you complete control over all aspects of your service, such as creating new domains, FTP accounts, email accounts, MySQL (and PostgreSQL if you have purchased the Web Pro or Web Host edition) databases, and much more.

Logging in to Plesk

When subscribing to any managed Plesk Control Panel based system, regardless of whether it’s a virtual private server or a dedicated server, you will need to know how to log into your Plesk CP administrative interface in order to manage your domains.

When you first order your VPS we will send you a welcome email containing login details for Plesk Panel. You can follow the instructions contained within your welcome email to log in.

So how do we log in to Plesk Control Panel?

In order to log in to Plesk CP simply point your web browser towards your system address:

https://hostname:8443 (where ‘hostname’ is any IP address or domain name pointing at your VPS)

Your browser will load a page like the following:

Simply complete the form with your administrative/user credentials and click “Log In”.

This username cannot be changed in any version of Plesk but you can add additional admin users within the Plesk control panel.

Resetting your Plesk administrator password

It’s possible to reset the password for your Plesk control panel at anytime via your Layershift account at control.layershift.com. Please refer to our article ‘How to reset your Plesk admin password’ for detailed instructions.

Using SpamAssassin 

In order to use SpamAssassin, which is included for free in your Plesk Panel license, it is necessary to install this via Layershift Customer Control Panel. We do not install it automatically as it uses system resources (RAM, or memory, in particular) even when not in use. To install it see our separate article ‘Installing SpamAssassin’.

Using MagicSpam

MagicSpam is designed to identify harmful emails and remove them before they even reach your inbox. It has an extremely user friendly interface and multiple configuration options to suit your needs perfectly. To install MagicSpam, please refer to our article ‘Installing MagicSpam’ for detailed steps and the related costs. For further information please contact our sales team and we will be happy to advise you of costs for this option.

Using Kaspersky Antivirus for email

This is an email virus scanner which is integrated with all versions of Plesk. We can provide this to all customers upon request for a small monthly fee. To install it see our separate article ‘Installing email antivirus’. For further information please contact our sales team and we will be happy to advise you of costs for this option.

Using PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL support is included with the Plesk Web Pro and Plesk Web Host Editions.

We do not install PostgreSQL automatically as it uses system resources (RAM, or memory, in particular) even when not in use. In order to use this software, it can be installed by our technical support team any time, simply open a support ticket and this can be quickly installed.

If you are using Plesk Web Admin edition and you need PostgreSQL, we can provide this for a small monthly fee with the PowerPack for Plesk add-on.

You can add PowerPack for Plesk in your Layershift Customer Control Panel under the Upgrade Licenses section. Simply select PowerPack for Plesk 12 (VPS) and follow the checkout process. Once payment is processed you can open a support ticket and our technical support team will be able to install PostgreSQL for you.

Using the Plesk Mobile Manager

Using the Plesk Mobile Manager app is completely free. All you need to do is download the Mobile Server Manager on your device from the following links:

• Download Plesk Mobile Manager for iPhone from iTunes
• Download Plesk Mobile for Android from Android Market
• Download Mobile Server Manager for BlackBerry from BlackBerry App World

Plesk documentation

You can find additional documentation regarding the Plesk Control Panel on the links listed below:

Administrator’s Guide
Reseller’s Guide
Control Panel User’s Guide
Other Documentation