cPanel is a commercial Linux web hosting control panel used to manage websites, email, DNS, databases, and servers through a web interface.

⚠️ Important: cPanel can only be installed on RHEL-based operating systems and must be installed on a fresh OS.

Supported Operating Systems for cPanel

You must use one of the following:

• AlmaLinux 8 / 9 ✅

• Rocky Linux 8 / 9 ✅

• CloudLinux 8 / 9 ✅

• RHEL 8 / 9 ✅

• CentOS 7 ⚠️ (Legacy / End of Life)

❌ Not Supported: Ubuntu, Debian, Windows, Fedora

Minimum System Requirements

Step 1: Prepare the Server

1. Log in as root via SSH

2. Set a valid hostname

Check:

Use a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

3. Disable NetworkManager (Required)

4. Update the Operating System

Reconnect after reboot.

Step 2: Install cPanel

1. Go to the home directory

2. Download the cPanel installer

3. Run the installer

⏳ Installation time: 30–60 minutes (do not interrupt)

Step 3: Access cPanel & WHM

After installation completes, open your browser:

Log in using:

• Username: root

• Password: root password

Step 4: Complete Initial Setup Wizard

In WHM:

1. Accept license agreement

2. Configure networking

3. Set shared IP

4. Configure nameservers

5. Choose services (Apache, Exim, Dovecot)

6. Set contact email

Step 5: Activate cPanel License

• Log in to your cPanel Store or provider

• Assign the license to your server IP

• Click Recheck License in WHM

Path:

Common Errors & Fixes

❌ Installer Stops or Fails

• Ensure OS is supported

• Ensure fresh OS (no Apache/MySQL installed)

• Ensure enough RAM and disk

❌ Cannot Access WHM

• Open firewall ports:

  • 2087 (WHM SSL)

  • 2083 (cPanel SSL)

• Check firewall:

Important Notes

• ❗ Do not install cPanel on an existing production server

• ❗ Do not use Docker / LXC containers

• ✅ KVM virtualization is recommended

• SELinux should remain enabled

Recommended OS for cPanel

Conclusion

Installing cPanel is straightforward when using a supported RHEL-based OS and a clean server. AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are the best modern choices for stable, long-term cPanel deployments.