Purchase a Self-Managed VPS with WebAdmin Installation

WebAdmin is a powerful and user-friendly server management panel that gives you full control over your VPS environment. With WebAdmin, you can easily manage files, configure services, monitor resources, and perform administrative tasks through a secure web interface.

Why Use WebAdmin?

WebAdmin provides a secure and intuitive platform for managing your VPS. It allows you to perform essential tasks such as creating user accounts, configuring domains, setting up email, and monitoring server health—all from a centralized dashboard.

Uses of WebAdmin

WebAdmin can be used for a variety of server management tasks:

• Website Management: Host and manage multiple websites, configure domains, and set up SSL certificates.
• Email Configuration: Create and manage email accounts, set up spam filters, and configure mail services.
• File Management: Upload, download, and organize files using the built-in file manager.
• Resource Monitoring: View real-time server statistics, monitor CPU, RAM, and disk usage.
• Security Settings: Configure firewalls, manage user permissions, and set up backups for enhanced security.

WebAdmin is ideal for anyone who wants a reliable, secure, and easy-to-use VPS management solution.

How to Purchase a Self-Managed VPS with WebAdmin Installation

To get started with WebAdmin on Bluehost, you first need to purchase a Self-Managed VPS plan. Follow the steps below:

Pre-configured Setup

New to VPS or not sure where to start? No worries! At the top of the Self-Managed VPS purchase page, you’ll see the Pre-configured Setup section. This handy feature is perfect if you’re feeling a bit unsure—just pick the type of project you want, like WordPress Site, AI Agent/Claude Code, Dev/Staging, or eCommerce Store. We’ll take care of the rest by automatically filling in the best plan, operating system, and template for you.

• Super simple for beginners or anyone who just wants a quick setup
• Instantly get the recommended settings for your project
• Skip the guesswork and save time
• You can still customize things later if you want

Give the Pre-configured Setup a try and get your Bluehost Self-Managed VPS up and running in no time!

1. In your browser, go to https://www.bluehost.com/vps-hosting.
2. Click the Choose Plan button under your preferred VPS hosting plan.

   
    

   Important: Pricing is subject to change—please visit https://www.bluehost.com/vps-hosting for the current introductory/sign-up offer for Bluehost VPS Hosting. For the most up-to-date renewal pricing, visit your Bluehost Portal Renewal Center.

3. Select your preferred Data Center location.

   
    

4. On the Cart page, you can configure your server to fit your needs in the following section:
   1. Hardware:
      1. Pre-selected:

         You can select a different Self-Managed VPS plan in this section.

         
          

      2. Configure:

         Click Configure to customize your package.

         Note that your changes help customize your plan, and the overall cost will adjust accordingly to fit your needs.

         
          

   2. Software:
      1. Click on the Application Tab.
      2. Choose WebAdmin.

         
          

      3. Click Confirm to continue.

         
          

5. Add-Ons:
   • Premium Support:

     You can add Premium Support here, which gives you priority access to expert assistance and faster response times.

     
      

6. In the Advanced options:
   • Extra IP's: You can add extra IP addresses for an additional fee.
     Pricing changes based on how many IPs you add.
   • Hostname: Assign a custom hostname to easily identify your server. This is optional.

     
      

7. Select your preferred billing term and view your Order Summary. Click the Continue to Checkout button to proceed.

   
    

8. Do the following on the Checkout page:

   If you're new with Bluehost:

   1. Create your Bluehost account by using your email address or by connecting with your Google, Apple, or GitHub account — whichever you prefer!

      
       

   2. Choose your payment method: credit card, Google Pay, or PayPal. Enter your billing information.

      
       

   If you have an account with us, you will see your Bluehost login details when you are logged into your Bluehost Portal. If you are not logged in, please click the Log In link.

   
    

9. In the Shopping Cart section, you can still adjust your billing term if needed.

   
    

10. Review the items in your cart, add a Promo Code if you have one, and then click Submit Payment to complete the purchase.

    
     

After checkout, your Self-Managed VPS will begin setting up. Once it’s ready, you can find it under the Hosting tab in your Bluehost Portal.

Setting Up and Managing Your OpenLiteSpeed WebAdmin

Here is your step-by-step walkthrough to access, log in, and manage your WebAdmin console.

Step 1: Access your WebAdmin Dashboard

After installation completes:

1. Log in to your Bluehost Portal.
2. In the left-hand menu, click the Hosting tab.

   
    

3. Look for the server you want to manage then click the View Details to see more options.

   
    

4. Click the Reset Password.

   
    

5. In the pop-up window, type your new root password, then click Reset Password again to confirm and save the changes.

   
    

6. Connect to your VPS via SSH.
   Use your VPS IP and credentials with an SSH client, follow the prompts, and enter your root password when asked:

   ssh root@your_server_ip

   Example Output:

   Welcome to Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS (GNU/Linux 6.8.0-124-generic x86_64)
   ********************************************************************************
     OpenLiteSpeed WebAdmin
   
     URL:      https://12.1.111.12:7080
     Username: admin
     Password:7APJMXJxGPmkQQAuXrCp2odx
   
     Firewall: ports 22, 80, 443, 7080 open (all others blocked)
   
     Key paths:
       Config:    /usr/local/lsws/conf/httpd_config.conf
       Passwords: /root/.app_passwords
       Readme:    /root/README.md
   
     Useful commands:
       systemctl status lshttpd       # Check service status
       systemctl restart lshttpd      # Restart OpenLiteSpeed
       grep WEBADMIN_PASSWORD /root/.app_passwords
   
     To remove this message:
       rm -f /etc/update-motd.d/99-webadmin
   ********************************************************************************

7. If you ever need to quickly review the system's deployment notes directly inside your server terminal, you can print out the original README file by running:

   cat /root/README.md

Step 2: Retrieve Your Admin Password

Your temporary administrator password generates randomly during the server's first boot to ensure security. You can find this password in one of two ways:

• Option A: Log into your server via SSH. The login message (MOTD) automatically displays your password on the screen.
• Option B: Run the following command in your terminal to view the password file:

  grep WEBADMIN_PASSWORD /root/.app_passwords

  Example Output:

  root@11-1-111-11:~# grep WEBADMIN_PASSWORD /root/.app_passwords
  WEBADMIN_PASSWORD=7APJMXJxGPmkQQAuXrCp2odx

Step 3: Verify OpenLiteSpeed is Running

Before trying to load the web interface, make sure the OpenLiteSpeed service (lshttpd) is active and listening.

Run this status check:

systemctl status lshttpd

• If it is active (running): You are good to go!

  Example Output:

  root@11-1-111-11:~# systemctl status lshttpd
  ● lshttpd.service - OpenLiteSpeed HTTP Server
       Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/lshttpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
       Active: active (running) since Fri 2026-07-10 17:30:15 UTC; 53min ago
      Process: 1033 ExecStart=/usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl start (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
     Main PID: 1047 (litespeed)
       CGroup: /system.slice/lshttpd.service
               ├─1047 "openlitespeed (lshttpd - main)"
               ├─1048 "openlitespeed (lscgid)"
               ├─1049 "openlitespeed (lshttpd - #01)"
               └─1050 "openlitespeed (lshttpd - #02)"
  
  Jul 10 17:30:12 11-1-111-11.bluehost.com systemd[1]: Starting lshttpd.service - OpenLiteSpeed HTTP Server...
  Jul 10 17:30:12 11-1-111-11.bluehost.com lswsctrl[1033]: [OK] Send SIGUSR1 to 763
  Jul 10 17:30:15 11-1-111-11.bluehost.com systemd[1]: Started lshttpd.service - OpenLiteSpeed HTTP Server.

• If it is inactive or failed: Start it up using:

  systemctl start lshttpd

If WebAdmin still won't load: Run the first-boot initialization script manually to make sure everything is configured properly:

sudo bash /var/lib/cloud/scripts/per-instance/001_onboot

Step 4: Log Into the WebAdmin Console

Once you have your password, you can access the management interface.

1. Open your web browser.
2. Navigate to your server's IP address on port 7080 using HTTPS:
   https://<your-server-ip>:7080
3. Your browser will display a warning about a "self-signed certificate." You can safely bypass this warning and proceed to the site.

   
    

4. Log in using the following credentials:
   • Username: admin
   • Password: (The password you retrieved in Step 2)

   
    

Step 5: Reset Your Password

If you ever need to reset your WebAdmin console password, run this script and follow the on-screen prompts:

/usr/local/lsws/admin/misc/admpass.sh

Example Output:

root@11-1-111-11:~# /usr/local/lsws/admin/misc/admpass.sh

Please specify the user name of administrator.
This is the user name required to login the administration Web interface.

User name [admin]: JC

Please specify the administrator's password.
This is the password required to login the administration Web interface.

Password: 
Retype password: 
Administrator's username/password is updated successfully!

Post-Setup and Best Practices (Recommended)

Now that you are in, here are a few quick housekeeping tasks to secure your environment:

Monitor Live Logs

Track server errors and application behavior in real-time with these commands:

• View server errors:

tail -f /usr/local/lsws/logs/error.log

• View WebAdmin traffic:

tail -f /var/log/webadmin/webadmin.log

Check your firewall rules

Ensure UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is active and protecting your ports by running:

ufw status verbose

(Your setup should restrict access to ports 22, 80, 443, and 7080 while blocking the rest by default).

Clean up your login banner

Once you have saved your password securely, you can delete the SSH login MOTD banner so your credentials aren't exposed every time you log in via SSH:

rm -f /etc/update-motd.d/99-webadmin

Additional Information and Example Documentation Output

You can run cat /root/README.md to see more information and useful commands:

root@11-1-111-11:~# cat /root/README.md
# WebAdmin

## Description

WebAdmin is OpenLiteSpeed's built-in management interface that lets you configure, monitor, and control your web server settings through a browser.

It provides access to virtual host configuration, SSL management, rewrite rules, and real-time performance statistics, making it easier to administer your OpenLiteSpeed server without editing configuration files manually.

---

## Services

| Service | Port | Purpose |
|---------|------|---------|
| WebAdmin UI | 7080 | Management console (HTTPS) |
| OpenSSH | 22 | Remote access |

Ports are protected using UFW.

---

## How-to-use

### 1. Get your password

```bash
grep WEBADMIN_PASSWORD /root/.app_passwords
```

The password is also shown automatically in the SSH login MOTD.

### 2. Open WebAdmin

After the instance boots, open your browser and go to:

| URL | Purpose |
|-----|---------|
| `https://server-ip:7080` | WebAdmin management console |

Login with **username:** `admin` and the password retrieved above. Accept the self-signed certificate warning.

### 3. If WebAdmin is not accessible after boot

Run the first-boot script manually:

```bash
sudo bash /var/lib/cloud/scripts/per-instance/001_onboot
```

---

## Manage

### OpenLiteSpeed service

```bash
systemctl status lshttpd
systemctl restart lshttpd
systemctl stop lshttpd
```

### Reset WebAdmin password

```bash
/usr/local/lsws/admin/misc/admpass.sh
```

### UFW Firewall

```bash
ufw status verbose
```

### Logs

```bash
tail -f /usr/local/lsws/logs/error.log
tail -f /var/log/webadmin/webadmin.log
journalctl -u lshttpd -f
cat /var/log/cloud-init-output.log
```

---

## Security hardening

| Hardening | Detail |
|-----------|--------|
| UFW firewall | Ports 22, 80, 443, 7080 open. Default deny all incoming |
| SSH rate limiting | Port 22 set to LIMIT - brute force protection |
| Admin password | Never baked into image - generated randomly at first boot |
| Credentials file | `/root/.app_passwords` mode `0600` - root read only |
| WebAdmin TLS | Console served over HTTPS on port 7080 |

---

## Configuration files reference

| File | Purpose | Permissions |
|------|---------|-------------|
| `/usr/local/lsws/conf/httpd_config.conf` | OpenLiteSpeed main config | `0644` |
| `/root/.app_passwords` | Generated admin credentials | `0600` |
| `/var/lib/cloud/scripts/per-instance/001_onboot` | First-boot script | `0755` |
| `/etc/update-motd.d/99-webadmin` | MOTD with credentials on login | `0755` |
| `/etc/logrotate.d/webadmin` | Log rotation config | `0644` |

---

## Notes

- Admin password is never baked into the image - generated fresh on first boot and saved to `/root/.app_passwords`.
- WebAdmin uses a self-signed TLS certificate by default - replace with a valid cert for production.
- Configure HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) listeners inside WebAdmin for production use.
- Remove the MOTD once no longer needed: `rm -f /etc/update-motd.d/99-webadmin`

---

## Links

- Manage: [Manage](https://localhost:7080/)
- OpenLiteSpeed Documentation: [https://openlitespeed.org/kb/](https://openlitespeed.org/kb/)
- WebAdmin Console Guide: [https://openlitespeed.org/kb/admin-console/](https://openlitespeed.org/kb/admin-console/)
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Release Notes: [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NobleNumbat/ReleaseNotes](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NobleNumbat

Summary

With WebAdmin, you can easily manage your Self-Managed VPS hosting on Bluehost. The intuitive interface, robust features, and secure environment make it an ideal choice for website owners, developers, and businesses. Follow this guide to purchase your VPS and set up WebAdmin for a seamless server management experience.