How to Use NetrillerHost Python Apps in DirectAdmin

Overview

NetrillerHost Python Apps allows you to create and manage Python applications from your DirectAdmin control panel. You can create an application with its own virtual environment, install Python packages, start or stop the application, view its status and logs, and connect an existing subdomain to it.

You do not need root or server-administrator access to use these features.

1. Open Python Apps

1. Log in to your NetrillerHost DirectAdmin account.
2. Open NetrillerHost Python Apps from the available plugins or account menu.
3. The Python Application Manager page will display the application creation form and any existing Python applications in your account.

If Python Apps is not visible, contact NetrillerHost Support to check whether the feature is enabled for your hosting account.

2. Create a Python application

1. Open the Python Application Manager.
2. Enter an application name, such as myapp.
3. Click Create Python Application.

Application names must start with a letter and may contain letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens. The maximum length is 32 characters.

When the application is created, NetrillerHost prepares an application directory containing:

• app.py — the starter Python application.
• requirements.txt — the list of Python packages required by the application.
• .venv — the application's dedicated Python virtual environment.

Each application has its own environment, so its packages are kept separate from those of other applications and customers.

Important: Creating an application does not automatically install its packages or connect it to a domain. Complete the following setup steps before publishing your application.

3. Install Python packages

Python packages are declared in the application's requirements.txt file.

1. Locate your application in the Python Apps list.
2. Find the Edit requirements.txt editor.
3. Add the packages your application needs, one package per line.
4. Click Save Requirements.
5. Click Install Requirements and wait for the result.

For example, a simple application might use:

gunicorn==23.0.0 requests

The package versions you need depend on your application. Keep existing requirements unless you intentionally want to change them.

NetrillerHost provides Gunicorn in the default requirements for newly created applications. Gunicorn is used to run the application's WSGI entry point.

Remember: Saving requirements.txt does not install packages. You must use Install Requirements after saving changes.

4. Upload or edit application files

You can manage your Python code using the file-management tools available to your hosting account or by using FTP.

Your application files are stored inside your account's Python Apps directory, under the folder named after your application.

For example:

python-apps/ 

└── myapp/    

├── app.py    

├── requirements.txt    

└── .venv/

Replace or edit app.py with your application code, and add any additional files your application needs.

The current application runner expects a WSGI callable named application in app.py, so make sure your code provides that entry point. The original starter application created by NetrillerHost already includes it.

Do not delete or overwrite .venv while the application is running unless you intend to rebuild the virtual environment.

5. Start your application

After uploading your code and installing the requirements:

1. Return to the Python Apps page.
2. Find your application.
3. Click Start.
4. Open View to confirm that the application is running.

When started successfully, NetrillerHost runs the application under your hosting account and assigns it a local application port. You do not need to open that port to the public internet.

Applications managed by the NetrillerHost service integration are configured for automatic startup after a server reboot.

6. View application status and logs

Click View on the application card to inspect its details.

The view page can show information such as:

• Application name and directory.
• Virtual environment location.
• Running or stopped status.
• Process ID and local port, when available.
• Recent application error logs.
• Recent access logs.

Use these details when troubleshooting a failed application startup, a missing dependency, or an application error.

Avoid sharing logs publicly without first checking them for passwords, API keys, access tokens, or other sensitive information.

7. Stop, restart, or start the application again

The application card provides controls for managing the running process.

Stop

Click Stop to stop the running application. Your code and installed packages are not deleted.

While the application is stopped, its connected domain may no longer serve the application successfully.

Restart

Click Restart after changing your application code or configuration when a process restart is required.

Start

Click Start to run a stopped application again.

If the application fails to start, open View and inspect the error log. Confirm that your requirements are installed and that app.py contains the expected application entry point.

8. Connect a domain or subdomain

You can publish a Python application using an existing subdomain registered in your DirectAdmin hosting account.

For example:

py-test.example.com

Before connecting

1. Open DirectAdmin's domain or subdomain management area.
2. Create the subdomain you want to use, if it does not already exist.
3. Ensure the subdomain's DNS points to the correct hosting server.
4. Start your Python application and confirm that it is running.

The current Python Apps domain controls are intended for existing subdomains in your DirectAdmin account. Root domains are excluded to avoid accidentally replacing existing PHP or WordPress websites.

Connect the subdomain

1. Return to Python Apps.
2. Find the application you want to publish.
3. Locate Connect Domain.
4. Enter the full subdomain, such as py-test.example.com.
5. Click Connect Domain.

The system will validate the subdomain and connect it to the running application through the web-server configuration.

If the page reports that the domain is already connected to the application, the route is already configured; you do not need to add it again.

HTTPS and SSL

For secure HTTPS access, the subdomain must have a valid SSL certificate that covers its hostname. NetrillerHost's test environment successfully served a Python application over HTTPS using a valid wildcard certificate.

Certificate availability depends on your domain and hosting configuration. If HTTPS displays a certificate warning, contact NetrillerHost Support rather than disabling certificate verification.

9. Disconnect a domain

Disconnecting a domain removes the managed route between the subdomain and the Python application. It does not, by itself, delete the application or its files.

1. Find the application in Python Apps.
2. Under Disconnect Domain, enter the full connected subdomain.
3. Click Disconnect Domain.
4. Confirm the result shown by the panel.

After disconnection, the subdomain will no longer route to that Python application. It may display other content from its configured document root or return a web-server error.

Disconnect the domain before removing or repurposing a subdomain if you no longer want it to point to the application.

10. Delete an application

Deleting an application is permanent. It removes the application's files and virtual environment, including its installed packages.

Before deleting an application, back up any source code, configuration files, uploaded data, or other files you want to keep.

1. Locate the application in Python Apps.
2. Click Delete.
3. Review the application name in the confirmation page.
4. Confirm only if you are sure you want to remove the application.

For applications managed by the NetrillerHost service integration, deletion also removes the corresponding managed service and matching Python domain route.

If you want to keep the code but temporarily stop serving the application, use Stop instead of Delete.

11. Troubleshooting

Python Apps is not visible

The feature may not be enabled for your account or hosting package. Contact NetrillerHost Support and provide your DirectAdmin username and hosting package.

Installation failed

Check the contents of requirements.txt. Verify that package names and versions are valid and compatible with the Python version available on your server. Use View to inspect the error log.

The application will not start

Confirm that you have installed the requirements and that your app.py file exposes the expected WSGI application callable. Review the error logs for missing modules, syntax errors, or configuration problems.

The domain does not load the application

Confirm that the application is running, the subdomain exists in DirectAdmin, and DNS points to the correct server. Make sure the subdomain is connected to the intended application and that its SSL certificate is valid for HTTPS.

The domain is already connected

The message means a matching route is already configured for the application. If you intend to connect the subdomain to a different application, disconnect the existing route first and then connect it to the intended application.

You see an unsafe directory or ownership error

Do not attempt to solve this by changing ownership or permissions manually. Contact NetrillerHost Support so the application directory and hosting-account configuration can be checked safely.

Security and best practices

• Keep your application dependencies up to date.
• Never place passwords, API keys, or database credentials in publicly accessible files.
• Do not share your DirectAdmin password or FTP credentials.
• Keep backups before making major code or dependency changes.
• Use a subdomain for testing rather than replacing a root domain that already hosts a live website.
• Use Stop when temporarily taking an application offline and Delete only when you intend to remove it permanently.
• Contact NetrillerHost Support if you encounter permission errors or repeated service failures.

Need assistance?

If you need help creating, configuring, or troubleshooting a Python application, contact NetrillerHost Support through your usual support channel. Include your application name, the affected domain or subdomain, and the relevant error message. Remove any passwords, tokens, and other secrets before sharing logs.

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