How to Install cPanel & WHM on a Dedicated Server (Complete Guide)

Are you looking to set up the world’s leading control panel on your infrastructure? Whether you are managing dedicated server hosting with cPanel or setting up a server for a client, proper installation is critical for security and performance.

Whether you are managing dedicated server hosting with cPanel or setting up a server for a client, proper installation is critical for security and performance. While cPanel dedicated hosting offers a powerful interface to manage websites, the backend installation requires precision. This guide will walk you through the manual installation process step-by-step.

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Important Note: This process requires root-level access and knowledge of Linux command-line interfaces. If you prefer a ready-to-go solution, check the section at the bottom regarding Servers99 pre-configured servers.

System Requirements & Preparation

Before attempting to install a cPanel dedicated server, you must ensure your hardware and software environment meets the minimum criteria. Fulfilling these requirements prevents installation failures.

Hardware Requirements

To run a dedicated cPanel server efficiently, your machine must meet these specs:

  • Processor: Minimum 1.1 GHz
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB (We strongly recommend 4 GB+ for smoother performance)
  • Disk Space: Minimum 20 GB (We recommend 40 GB+)
  • Architecture: 64-bit systems only
Supported Operating Systems

You must install cPanel on a freshly installed operating system. cPanel supports:

  • AlmaLinux OS: 8, 9, 10
  • CloudLinux™: 7, 8, 9, 10
  • Rocky Linux™: 8, 9
  • Ubuntu®: 22.04 LTS or 24.04 LTS
Networking & Licensing
  • Static IP: You must use a public, static IP address. Dynamic IPs (DHCP) are not supported.
  • Hostname: You need a registered Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) that resolves to your IP (server.yourdomain.com)
  • License: You will need a valid cPanel dedicated server license. If it is a new install, you can activate a 15-day trial, but for production, ensure your IP is licensed.

Server Configuration (Pre-Install)

Before running the installation script, you must configure the operating system environment.

1
Login as Root

You must log in to your server via SSH as the root user.

Bash ssh root@your-server-ip
2
Set the Hostname

Ensure your server knows its own name to avoid networking warnings later.

Bash hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com
3
Disable OS Firewalls

The cPanel installer opens the necessary ports automatically. Existing OS firewalls can interfere.

For AlmaLinux/Rocky Linux/CloudLinux:

Bash iptables-save > ~/firewall.rules systemctl stop firewalld.service systemctl disable firewalld.service

For Ubuntu:

Bash iptables-save > ~/firewall.rules systemctl stop ufw.service systemctl disable ufw.service # Ubuntu Only: Disable NetworkManager systemctl stop NetworkManager systemctl disable NetworkManager
4
Disable SELinux (RHEL-based systems only)

This is a critical step for AlmaLinux, Rocky, or CloudLinux. A cPanel dedicated server cannot function properly if SELinux is in "Enforcing" mode.

Edit the config file: nano /etc/selinux/config

Find the line SELINUX= and change it to: SELINUX=disabled

Reboot the server for changes to take effect: reboot

5
Install Required Utilities

Minimal OS installations often lack tools required by the cPanel installer (Perl, curl, and Screen). Installing screen is vital—it prevents the installation from failing if your internet disconnects.

For RHEL-based systems (AlmaLinux/Rocky):

Bash dnf -y install perl curl screen

For Ubuntu:

Bash apt update && apt -y install perl perl-base curl screen

The Installation Command

Once your server is prepped, you are ready to install the software. This process transforms your standard Linux box into a powerful dedicated server hosting cPanel solution.

1
Start a Screen Session

This ensures the installation keeps running even if you lose your SSH connection.

Bash screen -S install
2
Run the Installer

Run the following command to download and execute the latest cPanel version:

Bash cd /home && curl -o latest -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest && sh latest
  • Changes the directory to /home.
  • Downloads the latest installation script from cPanel's secure servers.
  • Executes the script.
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Wait Time: The installation can take between 45 to 90 minutes depending on your server's internet speed and processing power.

Tip: If you get disconnected, log back into your server and type screen -r install to resume viewing the progress.

Post-Installation & Access

Once the installation is complete, the terminal will display a success message along with a specific URL to access your server.

Bash [Date/Time] [ProcessID] (INFO): Congratulations! [Date/Time] [ProcessID] (INFO): Your installation of cPanel & WHM [version] is now complete. [Date/Time] [ProcessID] (INFO): The next step is to configure your server. [Optional: It will then provide a URL to log in to WHM, usually https://your-server-ip:2087]
How to Access WHM (Web Host Manager)
  • Open your web browser
  • Navigate to:https://YOUR-SERVER-IP:2087
  • Login with user root and your server password.

On your first login, you will be greeted by the Setup Wizard. This will ask you to accept the legal agreement and set up your initial nameservers.

The Smart Way to Deploy cPanel

Manual installation allows for granular control, but it is time-consuming and technical. One mistake with SELinux or Partitioning can force you to reformat the entire server.

Why struggle with terminal commands when you can get it pre-installed? At Servers99, we specialize in dedicated server hosting cPanel solutions.

Pre-Installed
License Included
Instant Deployment
Explore Servers99 Dedicated Servers Now

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