Installing cPanel on VPS

cPanel & WHM is a popular control panel for hosting websites, email and databases on a Linux server. Domain India does not offer cPanel on its VPS plans, so this guide explains your options: install cPanel yourself with a licence you buy from cPanel or a licence reseller, install another panel yourself, or use our shared cPanel hosting instead.

1. cPanel on a Domain India VPS: what we offer

Our VPS page states that cPanel is not offered on VPS because of its licensing cost. A Domain India VPS comes without a control panel: you get root SSH access and install whatever you want. No panel is sold or chosen at checkout.

If you need cPanel specifically, you have two routes: install it yourself on a VPS with a licence you buy elsewhere (sections 2 to 6), or use Domain India's shared cPanel hosting, where we run the server and cPanel for you.

2. Before you install cPanel yourself

cPanel is strict about the server it installs on. Check each point first:

• A cPanel licence for the server's IP address, bought from cPanel or an authorised licence reseller. cPanel licences are priced by the number of hosting accounts.
• A fresh operating system with nothing else installed: no other control panel, web server, mail server or database. If you have already installed other software, reinstall the operating system first from the Rebuild tab of your VPS page (see reinstalling your VPS operating system).
• A supported operating system. cPanel supports selected releases of AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, CloudLinux and Ubuntu LTS. The list changes between cPanel versions, so check cPanel's current system requirements before you pick the OS.
• Enough resources. Check cPanel's current minimums; for a server that hosts real sites with email, plan for at least 2 GB of RAM and 40 GB of disk, and more for many accounts.
• A hostname that is a fully qualified domain name, such as server.yourdomain.com, which is not the same as a domain you plan to host. Create an A record for it pointing to the VPS IP.
• Reverse DNS (PTR) for the IP set to that hostname, which matters for sending email. Request it on your VPS page (client area › VPS & Servers › your VPS): Network tab › Reverse DNS. The hostname must already resolve to the VPS IP; our team sets it within one business day. Older VPS without a VPS page in your client area: open a ticket with the VPS IP address and our team will do this for you.

3. Install cPanel & WHM

Connect as root (see how to access your VPS after purchase), then work through these steps.

The installer commands from cPanel's documentation:

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

The installer writes its progress to the terminal and to a log file under /var/log, named cpanel-install.log on most versions:

tail -f /var/log/cpanel-install.log

4. First steps in WHM

The setup wizard asks you to accept the licence agreement, enter a contact email address, and confirm networking and nameserver settings. After that:

• Licence: if the IP is licensed, cPanel activates automatically. Run /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt to force a check.
• SSL: enable AutoSSL so the hostname and every hosted domain get free certificates.
• PHP: use EasyApache 4 and MultiPHP Manager to install currently supported PHP versions, and set a sensible default.
• Security: enable cPHulk brute-force protection, configure a firewall that allows only the ports you use (see VPS firewall setup), and harden SSH with the SSH security hardening checklist.
• Backups: configure WHM's backup system and store copies off the server. The VPS is self-managed and no backup is kept for you; snapshots on your VPS page stay on the same server, so they are not a backup.
• Email: make sure SPF and DKIM are enabled for hosted domains, and check that the hostname has a valid certificate. Request matching reverse DNS on the Network tab. Outbound ports 25 and 465 are blocked on a new VPS (587 works); to open port 25, complete eKYC, keep your account in good standing for 30 days, then open a ticket.

5. Licence management

• A cPanel licence is tied to the server's IP address and checked regularly against cPanel's licensing servers.
• If the IP changes, ask your licence provider to move the licence before you reinstall.
• A new server often gets a short trial licence automatically; check cPanel's current terms before you rely on it.
• If the licence lapses, WHM and cPanel stop opening, although websites usually keep serving. Renew before the end date.

6. Troubleshooting the install

The installer refuses to start. It usually names the problem: an unsupported OS version, an existing web or mail server, or a hostname that is not a fully qualified name. Fix it, or reinstall the OS from the Rebuild tab and start again.

WHM does not open on port 2087. Check that the port is allowed in your firewall, that the install finished, and that systemctl status cpanel shows the service running. Use the IP address if DNS for the hostname has not propagated yet.

Licence not activating. Confirm the licensed IP matches the VPS IP exactly, run /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt, and contact your licence provider if it still fails.

7. If you don't need cPanel itself

Most people who ask for cPanel on a VPS want a web panel for sites, email and databases. Other panels you can install yourself cover that:

For a side-by-side comparison, read choosing the best control panel for your VPS.

8. Where Domain India fits

For cPanel without managing a server, choose shared cPanel hosting: we run the server, cPanel, security and weekly backups, and you manage your sites in cPanel. For full control, choose a VPS and install one of the panels above, or bring your own cPanel licence. Compare current prices, excluding 18% GST, on cPanel hosting and VPS plans.

Ready to choose? Compare VPS plans, look at cPanel shared hosting if you want cPanel without running a server, or open a ticket if you are not sure which fits.