Migrating from cPanel to DirectAdmin: Full Step-by-Step Guide 

With cPanel licensing costs increasing over the years, many hosting companies and server owners are shifting to DirectAdmin. It’s lightweight, cheaper, and stable for large production workloads. This updated guide gives you a clear, technical workflow for migrating from cPanel to DirectAdmin with minimal downtime.

If you prefer a done-for-you migration handled end-to-end, check our Server Migration ServiceAttachment.tiff.

1. Why Migrate to DirectAdmin?

DirectAdmin has become the preferred alternative for teams who want:

  • Lower licensing costs

  • Faster panel performance

  • Simpler architecture

  • High stability under load

  • Better control over resources

  • Easy customization for hosting providers

For companies managing multiple servers, our DirectAdmin Server ManagementAttachment.tiff ensures stable, optimized setups post-migration.

2. Pre-Migration Requirements

Before starting, ensure:

  • Both servers run updated OS versions

  • SSH root access on old & new servers

  • Enough disk space on the destination server

  • Backups enabled on the cPanel server

  • Firewall rules allow server-to-server transfer

  • MySQL/MariaDB versions match or are compatible

  • PHP versions match the DirectAdmin server

If you’re handling large hosting setups, consider improving performance with Proactive Server ManagementAttachment.tiff.

3. Generate cPanel Account Backups

On the cPanel server, generate full backups using pkgacct:

cd /scripts
./pkgacct username

Backup all accounts:

for user in $(ls /var/cpanel/users); do /scripts/pkgacct $user; done

Backups are stored in:

/home/cpmove-*

You may also generate them via WHM → Backup → Full Backups.

📌 Insert WHM screenshot here.

4. Transfer Backup Files to the DirectAdmin Server

Use rsync (recommended):

rsync -avz /home/cpmove-* root@DirectAdminIP:/home/

Or use scp:

scp /home/cpmove-* root@DirectAdminIP:/home/

Ensure file permissions remain correct.

5. Restore cPanel Backups in DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin gives you two restore options:

Option 1: Restore via Command Line

DirectAdmin supports native cPanel backup restoration using:

cd /home/
./da-cpanel-import.sh /home/cpmove-username.tar.gz

Restore all accounts:

for file in /home/cpmove-*; do ./da-cpanel-import.sh $file; done

This automatically imports:

  • Home directory

  • DNS zones

  • Email accounts & passwords

  • MySQL databases

  • Forwarders & autoresponders

  • Cron jobs

  • Subdomains & addon domains

Verify logs:

/var/log/directadmin/cpanel/

Option 2: Restore via DirectAdmin Control Panel

📌 You will insert your screenshots in each section below.

Step 1 — Log in

Visit:

https://servername.domain.com:2222

Open the DirectAdmin Dashboard.

DirectAdmin dashboard home page after login

Step 2 — Switch to Reseller Access Level

The backup restore tool is under Reseller Level.

DirectAdmin interface showing switch to reseller level

Step 3 — Go to Backup Restore Wizard

Navigate to:

Reseller Tools → Manage User Backups → Restore Wizard

DirectAdmin restore wizard for cPanel backup import

Step 4 — Select Backup Location

Choose:

Local: /home/admin/user_backups

(This is where converted backups are stored.)

DirectAdmin restore wizard for cPanel backup import

Step 5 — Select IP Assignment

Choose “From the list” and pick the IP that should host the restored domain(s).

DirectAdmin restore wizard IP selection for restored account

Step 6 — Select Backup File

Select the cPanel-converted file from:

/home/admin/user_backups

⚠️ Filename must equal the username

⚠️ Must be < 10 characters

Step 7 — Proceed With Restore

Click Next / Restore and allow DirectAdmin to process the account.

6. Verify MySQL Databases & Users

Check imported databases:

mysql -u root -p -e "show databases;"

Check DirectAdmin’s cPanel → DA mapping:

/usr/local/directadmin/scripts/cpanel-to-da-mysql.sh

Update database credentials in:

  • wp-config.php

  • config.php

  • any CMS configuration files

7. Rebuild Email Accounts & Test Delivery

After migration:

  • Rebuild Dovecot indexes

  • Update MX, SPF, DKIM

  • Sync IMAP inboxes

  • Test incoming & outgoing mail

Check logs:

tail -f /var/log/exim/main.log
tail -f /var/log/maillog

8. Update DNS Zones

If DNS is handled by DirectAdmin:

  • Update nameservers at registrar

  • Verify DNS propagation

  • Rebuild or customize zone templates

DNS zones are located in:

/var/named/

📌 Insert DNS screenshot here.

9. Test Websites After Migration

Verify:

  • PHP version compatibility

  • .htaccess rules

  • WordPress permalinks

  • SSL certificates

  • Cron jobs

  • Email logins

  • Backups

Use DirectAdmin’s PHP Selector if versions need adjustment.

10. Switch Nameservers or Update A Records

When everything is verified:

  • Update nameservers OR

  • Update A records for each domain

Propagation: 2–24 hours

11. Post-Migration Optimization

Once stable, optimize the server:

  • Install & configure CSF

  • Enable ModSecurity

  • Enable SpamAssassin

  • Enable automatic SSL

  • Enable caching (Redis, PHP-FPM tuning)

  • Tune MySQL (my.cnf)

  • Tune Apache/Nginx

For long-term care, explore Linux Server ManagementAttachment.tiff.

12. Final Checklist

  • All accounts restored

  • Websites loading correctly

  • Emails working

  • SSL active

  • DNS propagated

  • Cron jobs functioning

  • Backups enabled

  • Firewall/security configured

Conclusion

Migrating from cPanel to DirectAdmin is straightforward when done correctly. With full backups, clean transfers, and proper restoration steps, the migration can be completed with minimal downtime. DirectAdmin offers a stable, lightweight alternative to cPanel with significantly lower licensing overhead.

If you want a zero-downtime, fully managed migration, our team handles the entire process from start to finish.

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