
# What is Pterodactyl?

Pterodactyl is a free, open-source game server management panel built with PHP, React, and Go. Designed with security in mind, Pterodactyl allows you to manage multiple game servers through a web interface using Docker containers for isolation.

Unlike traditional control panels, Pterodactyl provides complete isolation between servers, ensuring that one server's issues cannot affect others. This makes it ideal for hosting companies and communities managing multiple game servers.

> **Tip:** Pterodactyl supports over 30 game engines including Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, CS:GO, and many more!

# System Requirements

Before starting the installation, ensure your server meets these minimum requirements:

- Ubuntu 20.04 or newer / CentOS 8+ / Debian 10+
- Minimum 2GB RAM (4GB+ recommended)
- At least 2 CPU cores
- 20GB+ storage space
- Root access or sudo privileges
- Static IP address

> **Tip:** For production environments, we recommend at least 8GB RAM and 4 CPU cores for optimal performance.

# Installation Process

The Pterodactyl installation is automated using a bash script that handles both the Panel and Wings daemon installation.

```bash
# Step 1: Update your system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Step 2: Download and run the installer
bash <(curl -s https://pterodactyl-installer.se)

# Step 3: Follow the on-screen prompts
# - Choose Panel installation first
# - Configure database settings
# - Set up admin user
# - Configure SSL certificate
```

The installer will guide you through the entire process. Here's what each step does:

- Installs required dependencies (PHP, Nginx, MySQL, Redis)
- Configures the database and creates necessary tables
- Sets up the web server with SSL certificates
- Creates the admin user account
- Configures cron jobs for scheduled tasks

# Installing Wings Daemon

After installing the Panel, you need to install Wings on the same or separate server to manage game servers.

```bash
# Run the installer again for Wings
bash <(curl -s https://pterodactyl-installer.se)

# This time choose Wings installation
# Configure the daemon settings
# Set up Docker containers
```

> **Tip:** You can install Wings on multiple servers to create a distributed hosting environment.

# Post-Installation Configuration

Once installation is complete, you need to configure the Panel and Wings to work together.

- Access your panel at https://your-domain.com
- Log in with your admin credentials
- Create a new node in the Admin Panel
- Configure node settings (CPU, memory, disk space)
- Obtain the node configuration token
- Add the token to your Wings config file

```bash
# Edit Wings configuration
sudo nano /etc/pterodactyl/config.yml

# Add your node configuration
# Restart Wings service
sudo systemctl restart wings
```

# Security Best Practices

Securing your Pterodactyl installation is crucial for production environments.

- Enable firewall (UFW) and allow only necessary ports
- Use strong passwords for database and admin accounts
- Enable two-factor authentication for admin users
- Regularly update Pterodactyl and system packages
- Configure automatic backups
- Monitor server logs for suspicious activity

```bash
# Configure UFW firewall
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
sudo ufw --force enable

# Set up automatic backups
sudo crontab -e
# Add: 0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/pterodactyl-backup.sh
```

# Common Issues & Solutions

Here are some common issues you might encounter during setup:

- Panel not loading: Check Nginx configuration and restart services
- Wings not connecting: Verify node token and firewall settings
- Servers not starting: Check Docker status and available disk space
- Database errors: Ensure MySQL is running and credentials are correct

```bash
# Check service status
sudo systemctl status nginx
sudo systemctl status mysql
sudo systemctl status wings

# View logs
sudo journalctl -u wings -f
sudo tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log
```

# Next Steps

Congratulations! You now have a fully functional Pterodactyl panel. Here's what you can do next:

- Import game eggs or create custom server configurations
- Set up user accounts and permissions
- Configure automatic backups and monitoring
- Integrate with payment systems for commercial hosting
- Join the Pterodactyl Discord community for support

> **Tip:** Check out the Pterodactyl documentation for advanced configurations and integrations!


Complete Pterodactyl Setup Guide