How to Install PluginCams on a Cheap VPS (AlmaLinux 8 + Free CWP)

This is the simplest cheap VPS setup for PluginCams: AlmaLinux 8 + free CWP ( Control Web Panel). The steps are easy and beginner-friendly.

🧰 What You Need

• A VPS with AlmaLinux 8 (fresh install) (Contabo, OVH, Alexhost, Mojohost, etc...).
• A domain (example: yourdomain.com).
• VPS IP + root password.
• SSH access (Windows: PuTTY/Termius, Mac/Linux: Terminal).

Step 1 - Connect to Your VPS (SSH)

Connect as root:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Step 2 - Install CWP (Exact Commands)

Run these commands exactly:

yum install epel-release -y
yum -y install wget
yum -y update

cd /usr/local/src
wget http://centos-webpanel.com/cwp-el8-latest
sh cwp-el8-latest

When the installer finishes, reboot:

reboot

Step 3 - Login to CWP Admin

After reboot, open the CWP admin panel:

• Admin (HTTPS): https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:2031
• Admin (HTTP): http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:2030

If your browser shows an SSL warning, click Advanced → Proceed (normal on fresh installs).

Step 4 - Point Your Domain to the VPS (DNS) (Cloudfare recommended)

Create these DNS records in your domain provider:

• A Record @ → YOUR_SERVER_IP
• A Record www → YOUR_SERVER_IP

Wait for DNS propagation (often a few minutes).

Step 5 - Create a Hosting Account (This is where the domain is added)

Important: In CWP, the website is created by making a Hosting Account. This is the step where you attach the domain.

1. In CWP Admin, go to User Accounts (or Accounts).
2. Click New Account / Create Account.
3. Fill the basics:
   • Domain: yourdomain.com
   • Username + Password
   • Email (recommended)
   • Package/Plan: default is fine
4. Create the account.

CWP will create your web root (example): /home/USERNAME/public_html/

Step 6 - Enable SSL

Now enable HTTPS for the domain you just added:

1. In CWP Admin, go to SSL Certificates → Auto SSL.
2. Select yourdomain.com (and www.yourdomain.com if available).
3. Issue the certificate and enable SSL.

Step 7 - IMPORTANT: Switch PHP Version in CWP Admin (PHP Version Switcher)

This part is critical. Some CWP installs default to an old PHP version (many people see PHP 5.x by default). Modern WordPress + PluginCams require a modern PHP version.

In CWP Admin:

1. Open PHP Version Switcher.
2. Select the latest stable PHP available (recommended: PHP 8.1 / 8.2 / 8.3).
3. Apply the change.

Step 8 - Toggle ionCube + Redis + Memcached (Inside PHP Version Switcher)

Still inside PHP Version Switcher, you can enable PHP extensions with simple toggles.

Enable these (recommended):

• ionCube Loader — basic and sometimes required by plugins or specific configurations.
• Redis (optional) — if you want to use Redis object cache.
• Memcached (optional) — if you want to use Memcached object cache.

This is PHP-level: you simply toggle the options in the PHP Version Switcher. No extra server commands needed for this part.

Step 9 - Access Your Hosting Account (List Accounts)

Now you can enter the hosting account to manage the website (file manager, databases, installers, etc.).

1. In CWP Admin, go to List Accounts.
2. Find your domain / username.
3. Click Login (or “Switch to user”).

Step 10 - Install WordPress and Upload PluginCams

Once PHP is updated and extensions are enabled, install WordPress and then PluginCams:

1. Install WordPress from your panel tools (or manual install).
2. Login to WordPress: https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin
3. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
4. Upload PluginCams and activate it.
5. Finish the PluginCams setup inside WordPress.

Common Issue: Firewall / Ports

If you can’t open the panel or the site, make sure your VPS provider firewall allows:

• 22 (SSH)
• 2030 / 2031 (CWP Admin)
• 80 / 443 (Website)

✅ Done

You now have:

• AlmaLinux 8 + Free CWP
• Hosting account created (domain added)
• SSL enabled (Let’s Encrypt)
• Modern PHP selected (8.x)
• ionCube enabled (recommended)
• Optional Redis/Memcached PHP modules enabled (if you want caching)
• WordPress + PluginCams