After Installing cPanel on AlmaLinux - Steps
Step 1:
Login to WHM
- Open https://your-server-ip:2087
- Accept security warning
- Login with root and root password
Step 2:
Accept License Agreement
- Read and accept cPanel Terms of Service
Step 3:
Complete Initial Setup Wizard
- Enter contact email
- Set nameservers (example: ns1.yourdomain.com, ns2.yourdomain.com)
- Configure IP and Networking settings if needed
- Save and continue
Step 4:
Set Hostname
- Hostname must be Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)
- Example: server.yourdomain.com
- If wrong, fix by running:
hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com
- Then reboot:
reboot
Step 5:
Configure Networking
- Set DNS resolvers
- Primary: 8.8.8.8
- Secondary: 8.8.4.4
- This is important for server to resolve domain names
Step 6:
Secure the Server
- Change SSH Port from 22 to another port
- Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config
- Change Port 22 to Port 2222 (or any unused port)
- Restart SSH service
- Install CSF Firewall
- cd /usr/src
- wget https://download.configserver.com/csf.tgz
- tar -xzf csf.tgz
- cd csf
- sh install.sh
- Enable cPHulk in WHM
- Security Center -> cPHulk Brute Force Protection -> Enable
- Set up Two-Factor Authentication in WHM
Step 7:
Create a cPanel User (Hosting Account)
- Go to WHM -> Create a New Account
- Add domain, username, password, email
- Create account to start hosting websites
Step 8:
Install SSL Certificates
- Go to WHM -> Manage AutoSSL
- Select "cPanel (powered by Sectigo)"
- Enable AutoSSL
- System will install free SSL for domains automatically
Step 9:
Set Up Backups
- Go to WHM -> Backup Configuration
- Enable backups
- Choose daily or weekly schedule
- Set backup retention (example: keep last 7 backups)
- Set backup destination (local disk or remote server)
Step 10:
Update the Server
- In WHM -> cPanel -> Upgrade to Latest Version
- Or run in terminal:
/scripts/upcp
Step 11:
Start Using Your Server
- Upload websites
- Create emails
- Manage domains
- Install CMS like WordPress, Joomla, etc.
Optional:
Re-enable NetworkManager if you disabled it
- systemctl enable NetworkManager
- systemctl start NetworkManager