Using EHCP on Ubuntu VPS A Simple Way to Build Your Own Linux Hosting Server - Linux Server Lab

Why Use EHCP on a VPS?

Running your own hosting server used to sound scary. Command lines, configuration files, strange errors at 3 AM yeah, not exactly beginner-friendly. But that’s where EHCP comes in.

EHCP (Easy Hosting Control Panel) is a free, open-source hosting control panel designed to make Linux web hosting simple. Pair it with Ubuntu Linux on a VPS, and you get a powerful yet beginner-friendly hosting environment.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using EHCP as a hosting server on Ubuntu VPS from what EHCP is, why it’s still relevant, to step-by-step installation and real-world usage.

If you want to host websites, manage domains, emails, databases, and FTP accounts without memorizing hundreds of Linux commands, this guide is for you.

What Is EHCP?

EHCP stands for Easy Hosting Control Panel. As the name suggests, its goal is simple:
make hosting management on Linux easy.

EHCP provides a web-based control panel that allows you to manage:

Websites and domains
Apache virtual hosts
MySQL databases
FTP users
Email accounts
PHP settings
Cron jobs
Server services

All from a browser no constant SSH usage required.

Why Choose EHCP for a Hosting Server?

EHCP may not be as popular as cPanel or CyberPanel, but it has some solid advantages.

Key Benefits of EHCP

✅ Free and open-source
✅ Simple and lightweight
✅ Easy to install
✅ Beginner-friendly interface
✅ Works well on low-resource VPS
✅ Perfect for personal or small hosting projects

EHCP is especially suitable if:

You’re learning Linux hosting
You want a simple hosting panel
You’re running personal or small business websites
You don’t want recurring license fees

Why Ubuntu Linux Is a Perfect Match for EHCP

EHCP officially supports Ubuntu, and for good reason.

Advantages of Ubuntu for EHCP

Long Term Support (LTS)
Massive documentation
Stable package ecosystem
Excellent Apache and PHP support
Compatible with most VPS providers

Recommended version:
👉 Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS or 22.04 LTS

Avoid non-LTS releases for hosting servers.

System Requirements for EHCP on VPS

EHCP is lightweight, but you still need some minimum specs.

Minimum VPS Requirements

1 CPU core
1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)
20 GB storage
Fresh Ubuntu installation
Root access

EHCP works even on small VPS plans, which makes it perfect for beginners.

What Does EHCP Install Automatically?

When you install EHCP, it sets up a complete hosting stack for you.

Included Components

Apache Web Server
PHP
MySQL / MariaDB
FTP server
Mail server (Postfix)
DNS services
Web-based admin panel

In other words, EHCP turns a plain Ubuntu VPS into a full-featured hosting server.

Step 1: Prepare Your Ubuntu VPS

Before installing EHCP, do some basic server preparation.

Connect via SSH

ssh root@your_server_ip

Update the System

apt update && apt upgrade -y

A clean, updated system avoids many installation issues later.

Step 2: Set a Hostname (Important)

EHCP relies on proper hostname configuration.

hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com

Edit /etc/hosts and add:

127.0.0.1 server.yourdomain.com server

Reboot the server:

reboot

Step 3: Install EHCP on Ubuntu VPS

EHCP provides an automatic installer script.

Download and Run EHCP Installer

wget https://www.ehcp.net/ehcp_latest.tgz
tar -xvzf ehcp_latest.tgz
cd ehcp
./install.sh

The installer will ask several questions during the process. Most of the time, default options are fine.

☕ Grab a coffee installation may take 10–20 minutes.

Step 4: Access EHCP Control Panel

Once installation finishes, access EHCP via browser:

http://your_server_ip/ehcp

Default Login Credentials

Username: admin
Password: (shown at the end of installation)

⚠️ Change the admin password immediately.

EHCP Dashboard Overview

EHCP’s interface is simple and functional not flashy, but effective.

Main Sections

Domain Management
FTP Accounts
Email Accounts
Databases
PHP Configuration
Server Status
Logs and Tools

Everything you need for basic hosting is right there.

Adding Your First Website in EHCP

Let’s host a real website.

Step 1: Add a Domain

Go to Add New Domain
Enter your domain name
Choose document root
Save

EHCP automatically creates:

Apache virtual host
Website directory
DNS records (optional)

Step 2: Upload Website Files

You have two options:

Option A: FTP (Recommended for Beginners)

Create FTP account in EHCP
Use FileZilla
Upload files to public_html

Option B: SSH

cd /var/www/yourdomain.com

Creating a MySQL Database

Most websites need a database.

Steps in EHCP

Open MySQL Management
Create a new database
Create a database user
Assign privileges

Use these credentials in your CMS (WordPress, Joomla, etc.).

Installing WordPress on EHCP

EHCP works perfectly with WordPress.

Basic Steps

Create domain
Create database
Upload WordPress files
Run WordPress installer in browser

That’s it. No complex configurations needed.

Managing PHP Settings in EHCP

EHCP allows basic PHP configuration.

You can:

Enable/disable PHP
Adjust memory limits
Change upload size
Manage PHP extensions

For most shared hosting needs, default settings work fine.

Email Hosting with EHCP

EHCP includes a mail server.

You Can Create:

Email accounts
Forwarders
Autoresponders

Access emails using:

Webmail
Thunderbird
Outlook

⚠️ For production use, configure SPF, DKIM, and reverse DNS to avoid spam issues.

Security Tips for EHCP Hosting Server

EHCP is easy but security is still your responsibility.

Essential Security Steps

Change default passwords
Enable firewall (UFW)
Disable root SSH login
Use SSH keys
Keep Ubuntu updated
Backup regularly

Basic Firewall Setup

apt install ufw
ufw allow OpenSSH
ufw allow 80
ufw allow 443
ufw enable

EHCP Performance Considerations

EHCP uses Apache by default.

Good Enough For:

Personal websites
Small business sites
Blogs
Portfolios

Not Ideal For:

High-traffic sites
Heavy PHP applications
Enterprise hosting

For higher performance, consider:

Nginx-based panels
Dedicated caching layers
CDN integration

EHCP vs Other Hosting Control Panels

Feature	EHCP	CyberPanel	cPanel
Price	Free	Free/Paid	Paid
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource Usage	Low	Medium	High
Beginner Friendly	Yes	Yes	Yes
Enterprise Ready	No	Medium	Yes

EHCP shines in simplicity and low resource usage.

Common EHCP Issues and Solutions

EHCP Page Not Loading

Check Apache service
Verify firewall rules
Ensure correct URL

Email Going to Spam

Configure SPF/DKIM
Set reverse DNS
Use proper hostname

Slow Website

Enable PHP OPcache
Optimize images
Use caching plugins

Who Should Use EHCP?

EHCP is perfect if you are:

Learning Linux hosting
Hosting personal projects
Running small websites
Building a test environment
Avoiding paid control panels

If you need enterprise-grade hosting, look elsewhere but for learning and light production, EHCP is great.

Final Thoughts: Is EHCP Still Worth Using?

Yes EHCP is still relevant.

It may not be trendy, but it’s stable, simple, and effective. Combined with Ubuntu VPS, EHCP offers an easy path into the world of Linux hosting without overwhelming complexity.

If your goal is to learn, experiment, and host your own websites, EHCP is an excellent starting point.

Using EHCP as a hosting server on Ubuntu VPS is one of the easiest ways to get started with self-hosted web hosting. It removes much of the complexity of Linux server management while still giving you control and flexibility.

Start small, secure your server, and grow your skills. Before you know it, you’ll understand hosting from the inside out and you’ll never look at shared hosting the same way again.