How to Uninstall Plesk on Ubuntu

Plesk is a popular web hosting control panel that allows webmasters and system administrators to manage websites and servers with ease. However, there might be instances where you need to uninstall Plesk, perhaps to free up resources or switch to another control panel.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of uninstalling Plesk on an Ubuntu server. Before proceeding, it’s essential to back up any critical data, as this process will remove all Plesk-related files and configurations.

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Backup Your Data

Before making any significant changes to your server, always ensure you have a backup of your data. This includes website files, databases, emails, and any other essential data managed by Plesk.

Step 2: Access Your Server

Log in to your Ubuntu server using SSH. You can do this using the following command:

ssh username@your_server_ip

Replace username with your server’s username and your_server_ip with your server’s IP address.

Step 3: Stop Plesk Services

Before uninstalling, ensure that all Plesk services are stopped:

sudo service psa stopall

Step 4: Remove Plesk Packages

Use the following command to remove all Plesk packages:

sudo apt-get purge `dpkg -l | grep psa- | awk '{print $2}'`

This command searches for all packages related to Plesk (those starting with psa-) and purges them.

Step 5: Remove Plesk Directories

After uninstalling the packages, remove all Plesk-related directories:

sudo rm -rf /etc/psa
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/psa
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/psa

Step 6: Clean Up Remaining Dependencies

To ensure no residual packages are left, you can use the autoremove command:

sudo apt-get autoremove

Step 7: Restart Your Server

After successfully uninstalling Plesk, restart your server to ensure all changes take effect:

sudo reboot

Commands Mentioned

• ssh username@your_server_ip – Used to access your server via SSH.
• sudo service psa stopall – Stops all Plesk services.
• sudo apt-get purge – Purges specified packages.
• sudo rm -rf – Removes directories and their contents.
• sudo apt-get autoremove – Removes unnecessary packages.
• sudo reboot – Restarts the server.

FAQ

1. Why would I need to uninstall Plesk?

   There could be various reasons, such as switching to another control panel, freeing up server resources, or troubleshooting specific issues related to Plesk.

2. Is it safe to uninstall Plesk?

   Yes, but always ensure you have backed up essential data before proceeding, as the uninstallation process will remove all Plesk-related files and configurations.

3. Can I reinstall Plesk after uninstalling it?

   Yes, you can reinstall Plesk after uninstalling it. Ensure you follow the official installation guidelines for a smooth reinstallation process.

4. Will uninstalling Plesk affect my websites?

   Yes, uninstalling Plesk will remove all configurations and data related to the websites managed by Plesk. Ensure you have backups before proceeding.

5. Are there alternatives to Plesk?

   Yes, there are several alternatives to Plesk, such as cPanel, DirectAdmin, and Webmin. The choice depends on your specific requirements and preferences.

Conclusion

Uninstalling Plesk from your Ubuntu server is a straightforward process when you follow the steps outlined in this guide. Always remember to back up your data before making significant changes to your server.

If you’re considering other hosting solutions after uninstalling Plesk, be sure to explore options like dedicated server hosting, VPS server hosting, cloud hosting, and shared hosting to find the best fit for your needs.