Introduction to cPanel

cPanel is one of the world’s most popular control panels for Linux servers. Although it is not the cheapest option available, its user-friendly UI and extensive range of plugins and tools make it the preferred choice for IT admins and webmasters in 2023.

While cPanel and WHM are separate portals, they are deployed together during the same installation process. Before we dive into the installation steps, let’s explore the main features of cPanel and WHM.

Features of cPanel and WHM

cPanel Features

  • Domains, Addon Domains, and Subdomains Management
  • Email Accounts Administration
  • Log Files and Statistics
  • Database Management
  • File Manager
  • SSL Certificates and Security Settings

WHM Features

  • Server Configuration and Monitoring
  • Services Fine-Tuning (Mail, FTP, Apache/Nginx, PHP, etc.)
  • Backup Settings and Migration Tool
  • Third-Party Plugins Installation and Management
  • Manage cPanel Own Branding
  • Reseller Management

Easy Steps to Install cPanel/WHM on Ubuntu 22.04 Server

Step 1 — Disable firewalld and Update the System

Disable and stop any active firewalls before installing cPanel. You can re-enable them after installation.

[email protected]:~$ iptables-save > ~/firewall.rules
[email protected]:~$ systemctl stop firewalld.service
[email protected]:~$ systemctl disable firewalld.service

Next, update the server packages:

[email protected]:~$ apt update && apt upgrade

Step 2 — Set Hostname (FQDN)

Assign a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) to your server for a seamless installation.

[email protected]:~$ vi /etc/hostname

Replace any entries with your hostname (e.g., cpanel.netshop-isp.com.cy) and save the file.

Next, update the /etc/hosts file with the server’s IP and hostname:

192.168.1.1 cpanel.netshop-isp.com.cy cpanel

Step 3 — Install cPanel/WHM

Download and run the official installation script:

[email protected]:~$ cd /home && curl -o latest -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest && sh latest

If no errors occur, the installation should complete in a few minutes.

Step 4 — Access WHM/cPanel GUI

Access the WHM GUI via your browser using any of the following URLs:

  • https://[server-ip]:2087
  • https://[server-ip]/whm
  • https://fqdn-hostname/whm
  • https://fqdn-hostname:2087

Extra Step (if needed) — Activate License

cPanel licenses are IP-based. If your license is not activated, refresh it using the following command:

[email protected]:~$ /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt