cPanel/WHM (Web Host Manager) - The Best Installation Guide On The Internet with simple script

Sure! Here's a step-by-step, beginner-friendly tutorial on how to install the latest version of cPanel/WHM (Web Host Manager), including system requirements.

???? What is cPanel?

cPanel is a popular web hosting control panel that makes managing websites, domains, emails, databases, and files easy—even for non-techies. It’s usually used by hosting providers and server administrators.

✅ Minimum System Requirements

Before installing cPanel, make sure your server meets these:

1. Operating System (OS):

• ✅ AlmaLinux 8/9

• ✅ Rocky Linux 8/9

• ✅ CloudLinux 8/9 (Paid)

❌ Ubuntu, Debian, and Windows are NOT supported.

2. Server Type:

• A fresh, clean server (No other control panel installed)

• Root access (full admin rights)

3. Hardware Requirements:

⚠️ Dynamic or shared IP addresses will not work.

???? Pre-install Checklist

✅ Root SSH access
✅ Static IP
✅ Fully updated system
✅ Hostname (e.g., server.yourdomain.com)

???? Step-by-Step Installation of cPanel

???? Step 1: Connect to Your Server

Use SSH to log in as root. You’ll need a terminal or software like PuTTY (on Windows).

ssh root@your-server-ip

???? Step 2: Set the Hostname

Set a valid hostname (e.g., host.yourdomain.com):

hostnamectl set-hostname host.yourdomain.com

???? Step 3: Update the System

Make sure your OS is updated:

dnf update -y

???? Step 4: Disable Network Manager (if prompted)

systemctl stop NetworkManager
systemctl disable NetworkManager

⚠️ Optional but sometimes required depending on the system.

???? Step 5: Download and Run the cPanel Installer

Switch to the home directory and run:

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

???? This process can take 30–60 minutes, depending on your server.

???? Step 6: Log into WHM

After installation, access WHM (Web Host Manager):

https://your-server-ip:2087

Use your root username and password to log in.

???? Licensing

• cPanel is paid software.

• After installation, it will start a 15-day free trial.

• You’ll need to buy a license from https://cpanel.net.

???? Security Tips After Installation

1. Set a strong root password.

2. Configure the firewall (CSF recommended).

3. Disable unused services.

4. Take regular backups.

???? Summary

???? What Are Prerequisites?

Before installing cPanel, your server must:

• Have the correct OS

• Be updated

• Have a valid hostname

• Have required packages and configurations

Let’s break it down for each supported distro.

Here is a quick installer file to make things easy.

Simply copy the below as a cpanel-prereqs.sh file - Here is a single auto-setup script code that prepares your server for cPanel installation on AlmaLinux 8/9 or Rocky Linux 8/9 (and also works for CloudLinux with minor tweaks).

#!/bin/bash

# cPanel Prerequisites Installer Script for AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux
# Run this as root: bash cpanel-prereqs.sh

# Function to display a message
print_msg() {
  echo -e "\n\033[1;32m$1\033[0m\n"
}

print_msg "Starting cPanel prerequisites setup..."

# 1. Update system
print_msg "Updating system packages..."
dnf update -y

# 2. Install required packages
print_msg "Installing required packages..."
dnf install -y perl curl screen wget epel-release

# 3. Set hostname
read -p "Enter a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for your server (e.g., host.example.com): " fqdn
hostnamectl set-hostname "$fqdn"
print_msg "Hostname set to $fqdn"

# 4. Set timezone (Optional: change this to your timezone)
print_msg "Setting timezone to Asia/Kolkata (you can change this)..."
timedatectl set-timezone Asia/Kolkata

# 5. Disable NetworkManager (optional – only if facing issues)
read -p "Do you want to disable NetworkManager? (y/n): " disable_nm
if [[ "$disable_nm" == "y" ]]; then
  systemctl stop NetworkManager
  systemctl disable NetworkManager
  print_msg "NetworkManager disabled"
else
  print_msg "Skipping NetworkManager disable step"
fi

# 6. Confirm static IP notice
print_msg "Please ensure your server is using a static public IP address."

# 7. Show completion message
print_msg "✅ Prerequisites installed and system ready for cPanel installation!"

# 8. Suggest next step
echo -e "\nTo install cPanel, run the following commands:\n"
echo -e "cd /home && curl -o latest -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest && sh latest\n"