When logging into DirectAdmin, you might see a notification stating: ‘This server is running DirectAdmin legacy codebase, which receives limited development’. In this article, we explain why you are seeing this message, the difference between the ‘legacy’ and regular codebases, and how to resolve the notification.
TL;DR: DirectAdmin offers both old and new license types. The new ones are significantly more expensive for both us and our customers; however, the old licenses lack certain ‘Pro’ features, and some of the software included in them has reached End of Life status. Consequently, we now only offer the new license types, and you can upgrade your old DirectAdmin license via the TransIP control panel.
Why do you see a notification about a DirectAdmin legacy codebase?
DirectAdmin used to offer the most cost-effective licensing model among the major control panels (DirectAdmin, Plesk, and cPanel): the licenses were reasonably priced and came without restrictions (such as limits on the number of users or domains). A few years ago, Plesk and cPanel merged under WebPros; the licensing models they subsequently adopted were significantly more expensive and based on the number of users or domains.
Following these changes at Plesk and cPanel, the price gap between them and DirectAdmin became so wide that DirectAdmin decided to adjust its own licensing model as well. DirectAdmin’s new licensing model closely resembles those of Plesk and cPanel, being based on both the number of users and domains. In terms of pricing, the new DirectAdmin licenses remain more affordable than those from Plesk and cPanel, though they do represent a significant price increase compared to the old model. DirectAdmin observed that not only our customers but also those of other providers were continuing to use the old license. Consequently, DirectAdmin decided to introduce a notification and restrict access to certain features for users on the old licenses.
DirectAdmin legacy vs. standard codebase
DirectAdmin refers to a ‘legacy’ codebase that receives less development. In practice, this does not mean that it is receiving less development, but simply that there are two limitations:
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Software versions: Software such as Apache and MariaDB cannot utilize the very latest versions within the legacy codebase. Furthermore, the software used in the legacy codebase is no longer supported, and all software components—such as MariaDB—are gradually reaching "End of Life" status.
- Pro Pack: DirectAdmin previously offered a "Pro Pack"; see this overview of its features. In August 2023, the Pro Pack was discontinued, and its features were incorporated into the new licenses. It is not possible to use these features with the "legacy codebase."
As long as you do not require Pro Pack features, the "legacy" licenses remain perfectly suitable for hosting services on a DirectAdmin server.
How do you resolve the "This server is running DirectAdmin legacy codebase" notification?
There is only one way to eliminate this warning: by upgrading your server's DirectAdmin license. This immediately gives you access to all features and the latest available software versions. We explain how to upgrade your license in ‘Upgrading your DirectAdmin legacy license’.