DirectAdmin How to Manually Remove a Domain

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for manually removing a domain from DirectAdmin control panel when the standard removal methods are unavailable or not functioning properly. Manual domain removal involves accessing DirectAdmin's configuration files and database to completely eliminate all domain-related entries and data.

1. Prerequisites and Warnings 2. Backup Important Data 3. Stop Related Services 4. Remove Domain Files 5. Clean Database Entries 6. Update Configuration Files 7. Restart Services 8. Verification Steps 9. Troubleshooting 10. Alternative Methods

Prerequisites and Warnings

Before proceeding with manual domain removal, ensure you have root or admin access to the server and understand the risks involved.

Requirement	Description
Server Access	Root or admin SSH access to the server
Backup	Complete server backup recommended
Domain Information	Exact domain name to be removed
Technical Knowledge	Basic command line and file editing skills
Service Management	Knowledge of starting/stopping web services

WARNING! Manual removal can break your server if done incorrectly. Proceed with caution and always backup first.

Backup Important Data

Create comprehensive backups before making any changes to ensure data recovery is possible.

Backup domain files: Copy entire domain directory to safe location.
Backup databases: Export all databases associated with the domain.
Backup email accounts: Save email data and configurations.
Backup DNS records: Document current DNS settings.
Backup configuration files: Copy relevant DirectAdmin config files.

CAUTION! Without proper backups, data loss is permanent and irreversible.

Stop Related Services

Stop services to prevent conflicts during the removal process.

Web Services: Apache, Nginx, or LiteSpeed
Email Services: Exim, Dovecot
DNS Services: Named/BIND
FTP Services: ProFTPd, Pure-FTPd

Service stop commands:

service httpd stop
service exim stop
service named stop
service proftpd stop

Remove Domain Files

Delete all domain-related files and directories from the server.

Navigate to domains directory: cd /usr/local/directadmin/data/users/[username]/domains
Remove domain entry: rm [domain.com].conf
Delete public_html: rm -rf /home/[username]/domains/[domain.com]
Remove SSL certificates: rm -rf /usr/local/directadmin/data/users/[username]/domains/[domain.com].key
Clean backup files: rm -rf /home/[username]/backups/[domain.com]*

WARNING! Double-check paths before deleting to avoid removing wrong domains.

Clean Database Entries

Remove all database associations and user data related to the domain.

Access MySQL: mysql -u root -p
List databases: SHOW DATABASES LIKE '%domain%';
Drop databases: DROP DATABASE [database_name];
Remove database users: DROP USER '[db_user]'@'localhost';
Update DirectAdmin data: Remove entries from /usr/local/directadmin/data/users/[username]/user.conf

Tip: Use FLUSH PRIVILEGES; after dropping users and databases.

Update Configuration Files

Modify DirectAdmin configuration files to remove domain references.

Key files to update:

File Path	Action Required
/etc/virtual/domains	Remove domain entry
/etc/virtual/domainowners	Delete domain ownership line
/etc/named.conf	Remove domain zone reference
/usr/local/directadmin/data/admin/ip_usage	Update IP allocation
/usr/local/directadmin/data/task.queue	Clear any pending domain tasks

Restart Services

Restart all services to apply changes and ensure proper functionality.

Restart web server: service httpd restart
Restart email services: service exim restart && service dovecot restart
Restart DNS: service named restart
Restart FTP: service proftpd restart
Restart DirectAdmin: service directadmin restart

CAUTION! Verify all services start without errors before proceeding.

Verification Steps

Confirm the domain has been completely removed from all systems.

Check	Verification Method
Domain Access	Attempt to access domain via browser - should show error
DirectAdmin Panel	Verify domain no longer appears in user panel
DNS Resolution	Check domain does not resolve via nslookup
Email Function	Confirm email addresses no longer work
File System	Verify domain directories are removed

Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Domain still accessible	DNS cache or web server cache	Clear cache; restart services; wait for DNS propagation
Error in service restart	Configuration syntax errors	Check config files for syntax; verify all domain references removed
Database errors	Orphaned database entries	Recheck MySQL for remaining databases/users
Email delivery issues	Remaining email configurations	Verify /etc/virtual files cleaned properly
DirectAdmin panel errors	Incomplete user data removal	Check user.conf and domain list files

Alternative Methods

If manual removal is too complex, consider these alternative approaches:

DirectAdmin API: Use DirectAdmin's API for domain deletion
Script Solutions: Utilize community scripts for domain removal
Support Ticket: Contact hosting provider for assistance
User Level Removal: Try standard removal through user panel first
Admin Level Removal: Use admin-level domain management tools

Reset: If issues persist, restore from backup and try alternative method.

Support: Consult DirectAdmin documentation or community forums for additional help.