Connect a VPS

Connecting a server means installing the agent on a VPS you already own. MZPanel does not create VPSes for you — you bring your own, and the agent dials home.

Prerequisites

• A VPS running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (1 CPU / 1 GB RAM minimum)
• Root or sudo access over SSH
• Outbound HTTPS:443 open (the default on almost every host)
• Free plan quota for 1 VPS (more on higher tiers — see Tiers & quotas)

1. Get the install command

In the dashboard choose Add server. You’ll get a one-line command with a short-lived install token (valid for 1 hour):

curl -fsSL https://get.mzpanel.com | bash -s -- --token=<install-token>

2. Run the one-liner

SSH into your VPS and run it. The script:

1. Downloads the agent binary and sanity-runs it.
2. Registers with the control plane, swapping the install token for a long-lived one.
3. Installs and starts the mzagent.service systemd unit.

3. Verify it’s online

Back in the dashboard the server appears with a live online dot within seconds. From here you can create sites, run backups, issue SSL, and open monitoring.

Troubleshooting

• Stays offline? Confirm the VPS can reach https://ws.mzpanel.com on 443 (curl -I https://ws.mzpanel.com). Outbound 443 must be open.
• Token expired? Install tokens last 1 hour — generate a fresh command from Add server.
• Re-running install? The installer guards against accidental re-install; pass --force only if you intend to re-provision.

See also Install the agent and Troubleshooting.