Recipes in Virtualizor: A Detailed Guide with Example

Introduction:

If you are managing VPS servers using Virtualizor, you may have noticed a feature called Recipes. This feature is very helpful for automating software installation and server configuration inside virtual machines.

In this article, we will explain in a simple and clear manner:

1. What Recipes are

2. Why are they useful

3. How Recipes work

4. How to create a Recipe

5. A practical example

What Are Recipes in Virtualizor?

A Recipe in Virtualizor is a predefined automation script that runs automatically inside a VPS after it is created.

In simple terms: 

A Recipe is a set of commands that automatically installs or configures software on a newly created VPS.

Instead of manually logging in to every VPS to install software, you can create a Recipe to perform these tasks automatically.

This makes VPS deployment faster, easier, and more consistent.

Why Should You Use Recipes?

Recipes are extremely useful because they help you:

1. Save time

2. Reduce manual errors

3. Standardize server configurations

4. Automate post-install setup

5. Improve customer experience

Example Scenario

Without a Recipe:

1. Create VPS

2. Log in via SSH

3. Install LAMP stack

4. Configure firewall

5. Install the control panel

This process must be repeated for every new VPS.

With a Recipe:

1. Create VPS

2. Everything installs automatically

This automation significantly reduces your workload.

How Do Recipes Work?

The basic workflow is simple:

1. The admin creates a Recipe (a shell script).

2. The Recipe is attached to an OS template.

3. When a VPS is created using that template:

• Virtualizor automatically runs the Recipe.
• The script executes inside the VPS.
• Software gets installed and configured.

Recipes typically include:

• Bash shell commands
• Package managers such as apt, yum, or dnf
• System configuration commands

This allows you to automate almost any setup task.

Where to Create Recipes in Virtualizor

You can create Recipes from the Virtualizor Admin Panel:

Navigate to: Admin Panel → Recipes → Add Recipe

When adding a new Recipe, you will see the following options:

• Recipe Name: A friendly name visible to users
• Shell Type: Choose the interpreter (sh, bash, ksh, zsh, etc.)
• Logo (Optional): URL of a small icon
• Script Body: Paste the commands you want to execute
• Description: Explain what the Recipe does
• Visibility: Admin-only or available to end-users
• Status: Activate or deactivate the Recipe

Practical Example: Simple Linux Setup Recipe

Below is a basic example of a Recipe that updates the system and installs Nginx on an Ubuntu VPS:

#!/bin/bash
# Update all packages
apt update -y
apt upgrade -y
# Install Nginx
apt install nginx -y
# Enable Nginx to start on boot
systemctl enable nginx
# Start Nginx now
systemctl start nginx

What This Script Does:

• Updates system packages
• Installs Nginx web server
• Enables Nginx to start automatically on reboot
• Starts the service immediately

Once attached to an Ubuntu template, every newly created VPS will automatically have Nginx installed and running.

Conclusion

Recipes in Virtualizor are a powerful automation feature that helps hosting providers and server administrators:

• Automatically install required software
• Configure servers during VPS creation
• Reduce manual setup work
• Maintain consistent VPS configurations

By using Recipes properly, you can streamline VPS provisioning and deliver a faster, more reliable experience to your customers.