--- title: "How to install the Pterodactyl panel on a VPS for game servers | StreetHosting" description: "Set up the Pterodactyl panel on a VPS to manage game servers in containers: requirements, panel, database, Wings, SSL and role separation for production." url: "https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps" type: "page" language: "en-US" --- VPS · 3 min · Advanced Published on Jun 17, 2026 · Updated on Jun 17, 2026 # Install the Pterodactyl panel on a VPS Pterodactyl turns your VPS into a game hosting panel with isolated containers. See the requirements, the install order and why splitting the panel from the node pays off. By [Equipe StreetHosting](https://streethosting.com.br/en/autores#equipe-streethosting) · StreetHosting infrastructure and support team [Containers and Docker](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/docker) Summarize with: [](https://chat.openai.com/?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "ChatGPT") [](https://claude.ai/new?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Claude") [](https://www.google.com/search?udm=50&aep=11&q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Google AI Mode") [](https://x.com/i/grok?text=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Grok") [](https://www.perplexity.ai/search/new?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Perplexity") Share: [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20to%20install%20the%20Pterodactyl%20panel%20on%20a%20VPS%20for%20game%20servers&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps "Share on X") [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps "Share on Facebook") [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps "Share on LinkedIn") [](https://wa.me/?text=How%20to%20install%20the%20Pterodactyl%20panel%20on%20a%20VPS%20for%20game%20servers%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-pterodactyl-on-vps "Share on WhatsApp") For agents: Copy as Markdown [.md](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps.md) In this guide 5 sections * [What Pterodactyl is](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#o-que-e) * [Requirements](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#requisitos) * [Panel and Wings](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#painel-e-wings) * [Separating roles](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#separar-funcoes) * [Running it in production](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#operar) Quick answer To install **Pterodactyl**, prepare the VPS with Docker and a domain, deploy the web panel with a database and SSL, then install **Wings**, the daemon that runs the games in containers. Create a node, allocate ports and start the first server. At scale, keep the panel separate from the nodes that run the games. ## What Pterodactyl is[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#o-que-e) Pterodactyl is a free, open source panel for hosting game servers. It isolates each server in a Docker container and gives you a web console, a file manager and resource controls. It is the foundation of many hosting companies and of anyone who wants to resell servers. Because it depends on containers, it pays to get comfortable with [Docker on Ubuntu](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-docker-ubuntu-vps) first. ## Requirements[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#requisitos) * VPS with Docker installed and working * Domain pointing to the panel IP * Database and web server ready * Firewall allowing only the ports you need Do not expose the panel without SSL. Passwords and tokens sent unencrypted are an invitation to account theft. Set up the certificate before you open the panel to the public. ## Panel and Wings[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#painel-e-wings) The installation has two halves. The panel is the web interface where you manage everything, with its own database and certificate. Wings is the daemon that actually runs the games in containers and answers to the panel. The two have to talk to each other, so the domain and port configuration must be correct. ### SSL certificate Issue the certificate for the panel domain by following [SSL certificate with Let's Encrypt and Nginx](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/lets-encrypt-ssl-certificate-vps). Without HTTPS, the panel is vulnerable. ## Separating roles[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#separar-funcoes) | Scenario | Panel and Wings together | Panel and nodes separate | | ------------ | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------- | | Few servers | Simple and enough | Extra cost for no need | | Many servers | Resource contention | Each node has its own hardware | | Reselling | Limited | Scales better and isolates failures | ## Running it in production[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#operar) In production, monitor resources, keep backups and size the node for the sum of your games. For Minecraft servers on the panel, it helps to read the [guide to Paper on a root VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-paper-minecraft-server-on-vps) to understand what runs inside each container. For the hardware base, a [Ryzen VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/ryzen) delivers high clock speeds, and at large scale [dedicated servers](https://streethosting.com.br/en/dedicated) isolate resources. In this guide * [What Pterodactyl is](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#o-que-e) * [Requirements](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#requisitos) * [Panel and Wings](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#painel-e-wings) * [Separating roles](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#separar-funcoes) * [Running it in production](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-pterodactyl-on-vps#operar) ## Frequently asked questions Is Pterodactyl only for Minecraft? No. It manages many kinds of game servers in containers, Minecraft included, plus bots and applications. Minecraft is just the most common use case among people who run the panel. Do the panel and Wings have to run on the same VPS? No. The panel is the web interface and Wings runs the games. You can keep both on a small VPS, or move the panel to one server and the nodes to stronger machines as you grow. How many resources do I need? The panel itself is light. The load comes from the game servers running on Wings. Size CPU, RAM and disk for the sum of the games you plan to host, with headroom for spikes. Is it worth setting up Pterodactyl on my own? It is worth it if you want to resell or manage many servers with full control. For a single server, it is usually simpler to run the game directly or use a managed plan. Next step See Ryzen VPS Ryzen 9 9950X VPS in São Paulo with root access, NVMe and gamer Anti-DDoS. [See Ryzen VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/ryzen) [See VPS plans Root VPS in Brazil with NVMe and Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps) [See dedicated servers Exclusive hardware in São Paulo with NVMe and Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/dedicated) [FiveM server in Brazil Host your GTA RP city with a high-clock CPU, NVMe and Anti-DDoS in São Paulo.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/fivem) [CS2 server in Brazil Host competitive matches with low latency, NVMe and gamer Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/cs2) ## Related guides [VPS Intermediate How to install Docker on Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 on a VPS (straight to the point) A stable Docker install on an Ubuntu VPS depends on the right package source and step by step validation. In this guide you set up the official repository, install Engine and Compose, test the daemon and apply basic security measures before deploying applications. 3 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-docker-ubuntu-vps) [VPS Beginner SSL certificate on a VPS with Let's Encrypt and Nginx A site without the padlock loses trust and rankings. This guide shows how to issue, renew and audit a free SSL certificate on your VPS with Nginx and Certbot. 4 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/lets-encrypt-ssl-certificate-vps) [VPS Advanced Host a Paper Minecraft server on a root VPS: full manual guide A root VPS puts the Minecraft server in your hands: Java, jar, port, automatic restarts, and security. This manual guide covers the whole path from a clean Ubuntu install to Paper online in production in Brazil. 5 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/host-paper-minecraft-server-on-vps) [← Back to the Guide Center](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides)