How to install cPanel/WHM on a VPS (AlmaLinux/Rocky/Ubuntu)

1) Before You Begin

• Supported OS: AlmaLinux 8/9, Rocky Linux 8/9, CloudLinux 8/9, or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (fresh, minimal install).
• Minimum resources: 2 GB RAM (4 GB+ recommended), 1–2 vCPU (2–4 vCPU recommended), 40 GB disk (80 GB+ recommended for production).
• Access: Root SSH to your VPS (KVM). Public IPv4 assigned and reachable.
• Licensing: cPanel requires a license. You can start with a trial, then apply a paid license to your server IP.
• Clean system: Do not preinstall Apache/Nginx/MySQL/Postfix etc. The installer will handle required services.
• Firewall: Ensure outbound HTTP/HTTPS is allowed; you can configure an inbound firewall after installation.

Tip: For best results on LumaDock, pick a plan with at least 2 vCPU / 4 GB RAM / 80 GB NVMe if you’ll host multiple sites or mail.

2) Set a Proper Hostname (FQDN)

Use a fully-qualified domain name that resolves to your server IP, e.g. server1.example.com.

# Example (AlmaLinux/Rocky/Ubuntu):
hostnamectl set-hostname server1.example.com

# Verify
hostnamectl status
hostname -f

Important: Avoid using your root domain (e.g., example.com) as the hostname. Use a subdomain instead.

3) Update the System

Apply the latest updates and reboot if the kernel was upgraded.

# AlmaLinux / Rocky
dnf -y update
reboot

# Ubuntu 22.04
apt update && apt -y full-upgrade
reboot

4) Prepare Basic Packages

Install required tools. Perl and curl are needed for the installer.

# AlmaLinux / Rocky
dnf -y install perl curl tar

# Ubuntu 22.04
apt -y install perl curl tar

Optional: Install screen or tmux so the installer continues even if your SSH session disconnects.

5) Run the cPanel Installer

Run the official installer. This will download and install all dependencies automatically.

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

• The process may take 15–45 minutes depending on resources.
• Do not interrupt the installer. If using screen or tmux, detach and reattach as needed.

6) Access WHM (Initial Setup Wizard)

After installation, access the WHM interface:

https://YOUR.SERVER.IP:2087

1. Log in as root with your root password.
2. Accept the license agreement and confirm your contact email.
3. Configure DNS resolvers (use your datacenter or public resolvers like 1.1.1.1 / 8.8.8.8).
4. Set up nameservers (e.g., ns1.example.com, ns2.example.com) and add A records for them.
5. Choose default services (Apache/PHP, Dovecot, Exim, etc.). The defaults are fine to start.

Tip: You can enable AutoSSL in WHM → SSL/TLS → Manage AutoSSL (cPanel includes Sectigo; Let’s Encrypt provider can be enabled as an option).

7) Open Required Firewall Ports

If you configure a software firewall (e.g., firewalld or CSF), allow these commonly used ports:

Note: LumaDock provides network-level DDoS protection. You can still use CSF (ConfigServer Security & Firewall) for host-level controls.

8) Create Your First Hosting Account

1. In WHM, go to Packages → Add a Package (define limits and features).
2. Go to Account Functions → Create a New Account.
3. Enter a domain, username, and password, select your package, and create the account.
4. Log in to cPanel at https://YOUR.SERVER.IP:2083 using the new account credentials.

Tip: Point your domain’s DNS to your server (via your registrar or your own nameservers) so websites and mail resolve correctly.

9) Recommended Post-Install Tasks

• AutoSSL: Enable/verify AutoSSL and run an issuance check for hosted domains.
• PHP Versions/Handlers: Use EasyApache 4 to select PHP versions and extensions per account.
• Backups: Configure WHM → Backup Configuration. Store to a remote destination (S3, another VPS, etc.).
• Mail Deliverability: Set proper rDNS (PTR) on your server IP, SPF/DKIM/DMARC for sending domains.
• Security: Enable cPHulk, consider CSF, keep the system updated (dnf update / apt upgrade).
• Performance: Consider installing OPcache, adjusting PHP-FPM, enabling HTTP/2 (default) and Brotli (optional).

10) Troubleshooting