Understanding the Directory Structure in DirectAdmin

When you access your hosting account, you’ll find several important directories that help organize your files. Here’s an overview of the key directories in the root of your account:

/backups

The /backups directory contains backups created through the control panel.

• This directory is empty until you initiate a backup within the control panel.

• Once a backup is created, it will be stored here for safekeeping.

/domains

The /domains directory is where all files related to your hosting account(s) are stored.

• Each domain hosted on your account has its own directory inside /domains, such as /domains/yourdomain.com.

• Within each domain directory, you'll find the following subdirectories:

  • /logs: Stores monthly logs. This directory is created automatically one month after your account is set up.
  • /private_html: Contains files accessed through SSL (e.g., HTTPS://).
  • /public_html: The primary directory for your website files (e.g., HTML, images, etc.).
  • /public_ftp: Used for files related to your FTP site.
  • /stats: Contains Webalizer files used for statistics tracking. This directory should not be altered or deleted.

/mail

The /mail directory stores files created by the server’s mail system.

• Important: Do not modify, delete, or add anything to this directory to avoid mail system issues.

/public_html

The /public_html directory in your account’s root is actually a symbolic link to /domains/yourdomain.com/public_html.

• If you host multiple domains on your account, this link will point to the public_html directory of the most recently created domain.

Important Notes:

• The /backups and /mail directories are system-managed, and should not be altered unless instructed.
• The /domains directory is essential for organizing domain-specific files and managing hosting-related content.
• /public_html is the main directory for your website’s public-facing files, while /private_html is used for secure files.