aaPanel is a free control panel you can deploy on a LumaDock VPS using our aaPanel OS template.
The key thing to know is this: aaPanel installs automatically the first time you log in to the VPS over SSH. The initial install usually takes 2 to 4 minutes.
What you will see on first SSH login
On your first SSH login, the installer runs and prints the details you need to access the panel:
Your aaPanel URL
A generated username
A generated password
A few quick next steps
Here is an example of what that output looks like:
Once the installer finishes, open the aaPanel URL in your browser and log in using the credentials shown in your SSH session.
Tip: Copy the username and password somewhere safe right away. If you close the terminal and lose them, you will need to reset them via SSH.
SSL and why you should add a domain
During installation, aaPanel will try to fetch a Let’s Encrypt certificate for your server’s public IP. That helps you access the panel over HTTPS quickly.
Still, it’s usually better to access aaPanel using a domain you control.
With a domain, you get cleaner URLs and fewer browser warnings long term. You can also issue a Let’s Encrypt certificate for your domain or upload your own certificate.
Change the default aaPanel username and password
After you log in to the aaPanel web interface, you can change the generated credentials.
Step 1 – Log in to the aaPanel web interface
Use the URL and credentials shown after the first SSH login.
Step 2 – Open Settings
In aaPanel, go to Settings and update your username or password.
Here is where that option typically appears:
Useful aaPanel commands in SSH
aaPanel includes a terminal menu you can open anytime.
Step 1 – SSH into your VPS
Log in as you normally would.
Step 2 – Run the bt command
bt
You will see a menu similar to this:
This menu is handy if you need quick status checks or recovery actions without using the web interface.
First login popup and recommended packages
The first time you log into aaPanel, you will see a popup with recommended packages. This is where you install the main components you want such as a web server, a database, or FTP.
The one click install step usually takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on what you select.
Important: Some features require an aaPanel account. In particular, WP Toolkit, DNS Manager and Mail Server require you to create a free aaPanel account on their website and sign in inside aaPanel.
What the aaPanel dashboard looks like
Once setup is done, you will land on the aaPanel dashboard. You can switch between a light theme and a dark theme based on preference.
For aaPanel documentation and updates, refer to their official website:
https://www.aapanel.com/