How to Uninstall ServerPilot on Ubuntu

ServerPilot is a popular server management tool that automates the process of setting up and securing PHP, MySQL, and Nginx on cloud servers. While it’s a great tool for many webmasters, there might be instances where you’d want to uninstall it, perhaps to switch to another management tool or to manually manage your server.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to safely uninstall ServerPilot from your Ubuntu server.

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Backup Your Data

Before diving into the uninstallation process, the most crucial step is to ensure the safety of your data. Any changes to server configurations, especially uninstallation of software, can inadvertently lead to data loss. Hence, it’s paramount to have a recent backup of all essential data. This includes your website files, databases, and any configuration files that have been customized.

1.1: Backup Website Files

Your website files include all the data related to your website – from the core files of your CMS (like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal) to your themes, plugins, and media uploads.

Using rsync:

rsync is a fast and versatile file-copying tool. It’s particularly useful for its ability to sync files between locations and its efficiency in transferring only the changed parts of files.

Example:

rsync -avz /var/www/html/ /backup/location/html/

In this example, -a stands for archive mode, -v for verbose (so you can see the files being transferred), and -z for compression. /var/www/html/ is the typical location of web files on an Ubuntu server, but this may vary based on your setup.

Using tar:

tar is a utility that can archive multiple files into a single file. It’s useful for creating a single backup file of your entire website directory.

Example:

tar -czvf /backup/location/website_backup.tar.gz /var/www/html/

Here, -c stands for create a new archive, -z compresses the archive using gzip, -v is for verbose output, and -f allows you to specify the filename.

1.2: Backup Databases

Databases store dynamic content for your website, like posts, comments, and user data. It’s essential to back up this data separately from your website files.

Using mysqldump:

mysqldump is a utility provided by MySQL/MariaDB to backup databases.

Example for a single database:

mysqldump -u [username] -p[password] [database_name] > /backup/location/database_name.sql

For backing up all databases:

mysqldump -u [username] -p[password] --all-databases > /backup/location/all_databases.sql

Replace [username], [password], and [database_name] with your MySQL/MariaDB credentials and the name of your database.

1.3: Backup Configuration Files

Configuration files store settings for your server and web services. Common configuration files include those for Apache, Nginx, and PHP.

Example for backing up Apache configuration:

cp /etc/apache2/apache2.conf /backup/location/

Always store backups in a safe and accessible location, preferably off-site or on a different server, to ensure data integrity and availability in case of any server failures.

Step 2: Stop All Services Managed by ServerPilot

Before uninstalling, ensure that all services managed by ServerPilot are stopped.

sudo service nginx stop
sudo service apache2 stop
sudo service php7.4-fpm stop

Note: Replace php7.4-fpm with the version you have installed.

Step 3: Remove ServerPilot Packages

Now, you’ll need to remove the packages installed by ServerPilot.

sudo apt-get purge nginx apache2 php* mysql*

Step 4: Remove ServerPilot User and Directories

ServerPilot creates a user named serverpilot. Remove this user and its associated directories.

sudo userdel -r serverpilot
sudo rm -rf /srv/users/

Step 5: Clean Up Remaining Dependencies and Files

To ensure all dependencies and configurations related to ServerPilot are removed:

sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get autoclean

Then, manually check and remove any residual configuration files.

Commands Mentioned

• rsync – Used for fast file transfer and synchronization.
• tar – A utility for archiving files.
• mysqldump – A database backup program.
• apt-get – APT package handling utility.

FAQ

1. Why would I want to uninstall ServerPilot?

   There could be multiple reasons, such as wanting to switch to another server management tool, manually managing your server, or facing compatibility issues with certain applications.

2. Is it safe to uninstall ServerPilot?

   Yes, but always ensure you have a complete backup before proceeding. This ensures you can restore your server to its previous state if needed.

3. Will my websites be affected during the uninstallation?

   Yes, your websites will be down temporarily during the uninstallation process. It’s advisable to notify your users in advance.

4. Can I reinstall ServerPilot later?

   Yes, you can reinstall ServerPilot anytime you wish. Just ensure you follow the official installation guide.

5. What are the alternatives to ServerPilot?

   There are several alternatives like RunCloud, Forge, and Ploi. Each has its own set of features and pricing, so choose based on your needs.

Conclusion

Uninstalling ServerPilot from your Ubuntu server is a straightforward process, but it’s crucial to take precautions. Always backup your data and configurations before making significant changes to your server.

If you’re looking for alternative hosting solutions after uninstalling ServerPilot, consider exploring dedicated server hosting or VPS server hosting. Always choose the solution that best fits your needs and technical expertise.

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