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Installing cPanel on VPS

Installing cPanel on VPS

cPanel & WHM is the industry-standard hosting control panel for managing websites, email, databases, and more. This guide covers the complete installation process on a fresh VPS.

Prerequisites

Before installing cPanel, ensure your VPS meets the following requirements:

System Requirements

  • Operating System: AlmaLinux 8/9, Rocky Linux 8/9, CloudLinux 8/9, or Ubuntu 22.04 (LTS)
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB (4 GB or more recommended for production)
  • Disk Space: Minimum 20 GB free (40 GB+ recommended)
  • Architecture: 64-bit (x86_64)
  • Network: Static IP address with proper reverse DNS
  • Hostname: A valid FQDN (e.g., server.yourdomain.com) — must not be the domain you plan to host

Pre-Installation Checklist

  1. Fresh OS installation — cPanel must be installed on a clean server with no other control panels or web servers
  2. Root access via SSH
  3. Valid cPanel license — purchase from {{COMPANY_NAME}} or cPanel directly
  4. Perl installed — required by the installer
  5. Disable NetworkManager (on RHEL-based systems):

```

systemctl stop NetworkManager

systemctl disable NetworkManager

```

Tip: Set your hostname before installation. Use hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com to set a valid FQDN.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Connect to Your VPS

Connect via SSH as the root user:

ssh root@your-server-ip

Step 2: Update the System

yum update -y   # For AlmaLinux/Rocky
apt update && apt upgrade -y   # For Ubuntu

Step 3: Set the Hostname

hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com

Step 4: Run the cPanel Installer

cd /home
curl -o latest -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest
sh latest

The installation process takes 30-60 minutes depending on your server's resources and network speed. Do not interrupt the process.

Step 5: Monitor the Installation

The installer outputs progress to the terminal. You can also monitor the log:

tail -f /var/log/cpanel-install.log

Post-Installation Setup

Once installation completes:

1. Access WHM

Open your browser and navigate to:

https://your-server-ip:2087

Log in with your root credentials.

2. Complete the Setup Wizard

  1. Accept the license agreement
  2. Enter your contact email address
  3. Configure nameservers (ns1.yourdomain.com, ns2.yourdomain.com)
  4. Select the networking configuration
  5. Set your main shared IP address

3. Activate Your License

If your license is IP-based, it activates automatically. To verify:

/usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt

4. Essential Post-Install Configuration

  • Update PHP versions: WHM > MultiPHP Manager — install PHP 8.1 and 8.2
  • Configure backups: WHM > Backup Configuration
  • Set up SSL: Install a valid SSL for the hostname via WHM > Manage Service SSL Certificates
  • Enable Firewall: Install and configure CSF (ConfigServer Security & Firewall)
  • Configure email: Set up DKIM and SPF for the server hostname

License Management

cPanel requires an active license tied to your server's IP address:

  • Licenses are verified daily against cPanel's licensing servers
  • If your IP changes, update your license or contact your license provider
  • Trial licenses are available for 15 days for evaluation

Troubleshooting

Installation Fails or Hangs

  • Ensure no other web server (Apache, Nginx) is pre-installed
  • Check that required ports (80, 443, 2087, 2083) are open
  • Review /var/log/cpanel-install.log for error details

Cannot Access WHM After Install

  • Verify the firewall allows port 2087
  • Check that the cpanel service is running: systemctl status cpanel
  • Try accessing via IP if DNS has not propagated

License Not Activating

  • Confirm your IP matches the licensed IP
  • Run /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt to force a license check
  • Contact your license provider if the issue persists

Related Articles

Need help with cPanel installation or licensing? Contact our support team at {{SUPPORT_EMAIL}} or open a ticket at {{SUPPORT_URL}}.

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