In this tutorial, we'll learn how to setup a KODExplorer on Ubuntu with Nginx.
For developers, freelancers, and businesses alike, accessing and managing server files from a browser can be a huge convenience. A web-based file manager lets you upload, edit, delete, and organize files through a user-friendly interface, without relying on FTP or SSH. One of the most popular options is KODExplorer — a sleek, powerful file manager with a desktop-like UI.
Prerequisites
Before starting, make sure our new Ubuntu server is ready. The following components should be installed and configured:
- A Ubuntu 24.04 installed dedicated server or KVM VPS.
- A root user or normal user with administrative privileges.
- A domain name pointing A record to server IP.
Step 1: Update Your Server
Start by updating your system packages.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Install Nginx and PHP
Install Nginx and PHP with required extensions:
sudo apt install nginx php php-fpm php-zip php-mbstring php-xml php-curl php-gd unzip -y
Verify PHP is installed:
php -v
It should return something like PHP 8.3.x (depending on your Ubuntu version).
Step 3: Download KODExplorer
Navigate to your web directory:
cd /var/www/
sudo mkdir kod
cd kod
Download the latest stable release from the official GitHub repo:
sudo wget https://github.com/kalcaddle/KodExplorer/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
sudo unzip master.zip
sudo mv KodExplorer-master/* ./
sudo rm -rf KodExplorer-master master.zip
Set appropriate permissions:
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/kod
Step 4: Configure Nginx for KODExplorer
Create a new Nginx server block:
sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/kod
Add the following config:
server {
listen 80;
server_name yourdomain.com; # Replace with your actual domain or IP
root /var/www/kod;
index index.php index.html index.htm;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$query_string;
}
location ~ \.php$ {
include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php-fpm.sock; # Adjust if your PHP version differs
fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
include fastcgi_params;
}
location ~* \.(js|css|png|jpg|jpeg|gif|ico|woff|ttf|svg|eot|otf)$ {
expires max;
log_not_found off;
}
}
Enable the site:
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/kod /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx
Step 5: Configure Firewall
We need to open HTTP and HTTPS ports in firewall.
ufw allow 80/tcp
ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw reload
Step 6: Secure with SSL (Optional but Recommended)
If you’re using a domain, secure it with Let’s Encrypt:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com
Auto-renewal is handled by default via systemd timers. You can verify with:
sudo certbot renew --dry-run
Step 7: Access KODExplorer in Your Browser
Visit:
https://yourdomain.com
You’ll see the KODExplorer setup interface. It will guide you through:
- Environment check
- Admin account creation
- File structure verification
Complete the wizard and log in.
Why KODExplorer?
✔️ Easy-to-use GUI
✔️ Multiple users and permission controls
✔️ Online file editing and preview
✔️ Plugin support and terminal access (optional)
✔️ Works great on shared, VPS, or dedicated hosting environments
Common Use Cases for Hosting Clients
- Quick content edits without FTP
- File sharing portal for clients or internal teams
- Self-hosted web-based file storage
- Lightweight alternative to cPanel’s file manager
Final Thoughts
In this tutorial, we've learnt how to setup a KODExplorer on Ubuntu with Nginx. For hosting providers and developers alike, KODExplorer is an efficient and modern file manager you can offer clients or use internally.
It's fast, sleek, and gives you full control via the browser. Whether you're managing your own projects or running a hosting business, integrating a browser-based file manager can save time and simplify operations.
If you’re looking to offer a file management portal as part of your web hosting packages — or just need quick access to files on your own server — this setup delivers the power and convenience you need.
