How to Check Usage Statistics of a User in DirectAdmin?

DirectAdmin is a well-known web hosting control panel providing software for hosting providers and system administrators. Among them, one of the important aspects with which users raise significant concerns is the view of user resources and their administration.

This knowledge-base article will help you learn how to track the usage stats of a particular user in DirectAdmin, and these statistics are quite helpful in understanding how the user utilizes server resources and, therefore, ensures the server runs efficiently.

1. Accessing DirectAdmin:

First of all, make sure you are signed in to your DirectAdmin control panel.

2. Navigating to User Management:

After secure login, at the control panel, try to find the “Admin Level” or “Reseller Level” wherever found according to the access type. After that, locate and click on the “User Management” or “List Users” link in the set of options offered.

3. Locating the Specific User:

In the User Management section, you'll see a list of all users on your server. Locate the specific user whose usage statistics you want to check. You can use the search function if available or scroll through the list to find the desired user.

4. Accessing User Statistics:

Click on the username or the "Stats" button next to the user's name to access their individual statistics page. This action will open a new page or section dedicated to that user's resource usage and account information.

5. Understanding the Statistics Dashboard:

The user statistics dashboard typically provides an overview of various resource usage metrics. Here are some key areas you'll likely encounter:

a. Disk Space Usage:

- Total allocated space

- Used space

- Available space

- Percentage of usage

b. Bandwidth Usage:

- Monthly bandwidth limit

- Current month's usage

- Remaining bandwidth

- Percentage of usage

c. Database Usage:

- Number of databases

- Total database size

- Database quota (if applicable)

d. Email Usage:

- Number of email accounts

- Email storage usage

- Email quota (if applicable)

e. FTP Accounts:

- Number of FTP accounts

- FTP usage statistics

f. Domains and Subdomains:

- Number of domains

- Number of subdomains

- SSL certificates usage

6. Analyzing Detailed Usage Breakdowns:

Most DirectAdmin installations offer more detailed breakdowns of resource usage. Look for options like "Show Details" or "Advanced Stats" to access this information. These detailed views may include:

a. Disk Usage by Directory:

- Size of public_html folder

- Size of mail folder

- Size of logs folder

- Custom directories

b. Bandwidth Usage by Domain:

- Individual domain bandwidth consumption

- Historical bandwidth trends

c. Database Size Breakdown:

- Individual database sizes

- Database-specific usage trends

d. Email Account Details:

- Individual mailbox sizes

- Email traffic statistics

7. Checking Historical Data:

DirectAdmin often provides historical data to help you track usage trends over time. Look for options to view statistics for different time periods, such as:

- Daily usage

- Weekly usage

- Monthly usage

- Yearly usage

This historical data can be invaluable for identifying usage patterns, planning for future resource allocation, and detecting any unusual spikes in consumption.

8. Setting Up Alerts and Notifications:

To proactively manage user resources, consider setting up alerts and notifications for when usage thresholds are approached or exceeded. While the exact process may vary depending on your DirectAdmin version and customizations, common steps include:

a. Locating the "Notifications" or "Alerts" section in the user management area.

b. Configuring threshold values for different resources (e.g., 80% disk usage, 90% bandwidth usage).

c. Specifying notification recipients and methods (email, SMS, etc.).

d. Setting up automated actions, such as suspending accounts or limiting services when thresholds are exceeded.

9. Generating and Exporting Reports:

For record-keeping and analysis purposes, DirectAdmin often allows you to generate and export usage reports. Look for options like "Generate Report" or "Export Stats" within the user statistics interface. Common export formats include CSV, PDF, and HTML.

10. Taking Action Based on Usage Statistics:

After reviewing a user's usage statistics, you may need to take action:

a. If resources are underutilized:

- Consider downgrading the user's package to optimize server resources.

- Reach out to the user to ensure they're aware of available resources.

b. If resources are nearing capacity:

- Contact the user to discuss upgrading their package.

- Implement temporary resource extensions if allowed by your policies.

c. If usage violates terms of service:

- Investigate potential abuse or security issues.

- Take appropriate action as per your cloud hosting policies (warnings, suspensions, etc.).

Conclusion:

Checking the usage in DirectAdmin with users is something that should be done frequently to ensure that everything is in order with the hosting. If implemented as suggested here, it will transform the procedures to monitor resource utilization, look for patterns, and make changes to prevent the servers and application from poor performance that may affect the users. Please ensure that you know your DirectAdmin version and possible customizations because interfaces and some options could be slightly different.