The easy way: one-click installation

Before you start manually installing cPanel, know this: ServerPoint’s Client Portal does it for you automatically.

When you deploy a new VPS through ColossusCloud:

Select your VPS size and location
Choose your operating system (AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux recommended for cPanel)
Check the option to install cPanel
Deploy

That’s it. Your VPS will be provisioned with cPanel already installed and ready to configure. No command line required.

The license is handled separately. You’ll need to purchase one from cPanel (see licensing section below).

Manual installation

If you already have a VPS running without cPanel, you can install it manually.

Requirements

Before installing cPanel, make sure you have:

Fresh OS installation: cPanel prefers a clean system with no other control panels
Supported OS: AlmaLinux 8/9, Rocky Linux 8/9, or CloudLinux (CentOS is no longer supported)
At least 2GB RAM: 4GB or more recommended
At least 20GB disk space: More for production use
Static IP address: Your VPS IP
Valid hostname: A fully qualified domain name (e.g., server.yourdomain.com)

Step 1: Prepare your server

Connect via SSH and update your system:

sudo dnf update -y

Set a proper hostname:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com

Make sure the hostname resolves to your server’s IP address.

Step 2: Disable NetworkManager (if needed)

On some systems, cPanel works better with NetworkManager disabled:

sudo systemctl disable NetworkManager
sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager
sudo systemctl enable network
sudo systemctl start network

Step 3: Open required ports

In your ServerPoint’s Client Portal firewall settings, open these ports:

Port 2087: WHM (WebHost Manager) HTTPS
Port 2086: WHM HTTP
Port 2083: cPanel HTTPS
Port 2082: cPanel HTTP
Port 80: HTTP web traffic
Port 443: HTTPS web traffic
Port 21: FTP
Port 22: SSH
Port 25, 465, 587: Mail (if using email)
Port 110, 995: POP3 (if using email)
Port 143, 993: IMAP (if using email)

Step 4: Run the cPanel installer

Download and run the official cPanel installation script:

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

The installation takes 30-60 minutes depending on your server speed. Don’t interrupt it.

You’ll see progress output as it installs. When complete, you’ll see a message with your WHM login URL.

Step 5: Access WHM

Once installation completes, access WHM (WebHost Manager) at:

https://your-server-ip:2087

Username: root
Password: Your server’s root password

You’ll be prompted to:

Accept the license agreement
Enter your contact email
Configure nameservers
Set up basic server settings

Licensing

cPanel requires a paid license. Without a valid license, it stops working after 15 days.

Where to buy a license

Purchase directly from cPanel:

cPanel Pricing Page

License types:

License	Description	Approximate price
Solo	1 cPanel account	~$15/month
Admin	Up to 5 accounts	~$21/month
Pro	Up to 30 accounts	~$30/month
Premier	Up to 100 accounts	~$45/month

Prices vary and may change. Check cPanel’s website for current pricing.

Activate your license

After purchasing, cPanel licenses are tied to your IP address. The license activates automatically within a few hours.

To check license status:

/usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt

Or check in WHM under Server Configuration → License Information.

Third-party license providers

Some providers offer discounted cPanel licenses. Be cautious. Only use authorized resellers to avoid license issues.

Post-installation steps

After cPanel is installed:

Create a cPanel account

In WHM, go to Account Functions → Create a New Account to set up your first website.

Configure DNS

Either use cPanel’s built-in DNS or point your domains to external nameservers.

Set up SSL

cPanel includes AutoSSL for free Let’s Encrypt certificates. Enable it under SSL/TLS → Manage AutoSSL.

Configure backups

Set up automatic backups under Backup → Backup Configuration.

Troubleshooting

Can’t access WHM on port 2087

Check your firewall rules allow port 2087
Verify cPanel is running: sudo systemctl status cpanel
Check if the port is listening: ss -tlnp | grep 2087

License not activating

Verify your IP matches the licensed IP
Wait a few hours for propagation
Run /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt to force a license check

Installation failed

Check you’re using a supported OS version
Ensure you have enough disk space and RAM
Review the installation log: /var/log/cpanel-install.log

The bottom line

For the easiest experience, use our one-click cPanel installation when deploying your VPS. It saves you an hour of installation time and ensures everything is configured correctly.

If you need to install manually on an existing server, the process is straightforward. Just run the installer, wait for it to complete, and purchase a license from cPanel.

Explore our VPS plans with one-click cPanel installation.

How to install cPanel on your VPS