Installing the Pterodactyl Panel on a KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) setup might seem like a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it becomes a straightforward process. Let's dive into the steps to get your game server management panel up and running.

# How to Install Pterodactyl Panel on a KVM Machine

Managing game servers can be a complex task, but with tools like the Pterodactyl Panel, it becomes much more manageable. This guide will walk you through the process of installing the Pterodactyl Panel on a KVM-based virtual machine.

## What is Pterodactyl Panel?

Pterodactyl is an open-source game server management panel that allows you to manage multiple game servers from a single web interface. It's built using PHP, React, and Go, ensuring a smooth and responsive experience for administrators and users alike.

## Why Choose Pterodactyl for Game Server Management?

Pterodactyl offers a user-friendly interface, supports a wide range of games, and provides robust security features by running each server in isolated Docker containers. This isolation ensures that each game server operates independently, reducing the risk of conflicts and enhancing security.

## Prerequisites

Before diving into the installation, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

### System Requirements

• Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or Debian 10
• RAM: Minimum 2 GB
• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• Storage: At least 20 GB of free disk space

### Necessary Software Packages

Ensure the following packages are installed:

• Nginx
• MariaDB
• PHP 7.4 or higher with necessary extensions
• Composer
• Node.js
• Docker

## Preparing Your KVM Machine

### Updating the System

Begin by updating your system to ensure all packages are current:

Execute this command 

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

### Installing Dependencies

Install the necessary dependencies with this command:

sudo apt install -y software-properties-common curl apt-transport-https ca-certificates gnupg git

## Setting Up the Database

### Installing MariaDB

Install MariaDB, a reliable database server with this command:

sudo apt install -y mariadb-server

### Configuring the Database for Pterodactyl

Secure your MariaDB installation and set up a database for Pterodactyl:

Log in to the MariaDB shell:

Create a database and user for Pterodactyl using this code:

## Installing the Pterodactyl Panel

### Downloading the Panel Files

Create a directory for the panel and download the latest release using this code:

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/pterodactyl
cd /var/www/pterodactyl
curl -Lo panel.tar.gz https://github.com/pterodactyl/panel/releases/latest/download/panel.tar.gz
sudo tar -xzvf panel.tar.gz
sudo chmod -R 755 storage/* bootstrap/cache/

### Configuring the Environment

Copy the example environment file and install PHP dependencies:

cp .env.example .env
composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader
php artisan key:generate --force

Set up the environment configuration:

php artisan p:environment:setup

Follow the prompts to configure your application URL, timezone, and other settings.

### Migrating the Database

Now, let's set up the database tables for Pterodactyl. This step is crucial as it lays the foundation for your panel's data management. Run the following command:

This command might take a moment, so hang tight. Once it's done, your database will be ready to go.

## Setting Up the Web Server

With the panel installed, it's time to configure your web server to serve the Pterodactyl interface. We'll use Nginx for this setup.

### Configuring Nginx for Pterodactyl

First, create a new Nginx configuration file: