cPanel is a user-friendly web hosting control panel that simplifies the management of websites and server-related tasks. From overseeing server resources such as bandwidth, managing domain names, organizing website files, to creating and managing email accounts, cPanel enables users to handle all aspects of their hosting account with ease. Due to its straightforward interface, it is widely offered by hosting providers for Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Servers, and more.

WebHost Manager (WHM) is a specialized administrative control panel for managing VPS (Virtual Private Servers) or dedicated servers. It gives hosting providers powerful tools to efficiently manage customer accounts, configure server settings, enforce security policies, and perform other vital administrative tasks related to web hosting. If you’re interested in learning how to install WHM/cPanel on AlmaLinux, this guide will take you through the process. Let’s first explore what AlmaLinux is.

What is AlmaLinux and Why Should You Choose It?

AlmaLinux is a community-driven, free alternative to CloudLinux and CentOS. First released in March 2021, it was designed to fill the gap left by CentOS, which was discontinued by Red Hat in December 2020. AlmaLinux offers stability, security, and long-term support to users who previously relied on CentOS. It is compatible with various hardware and software configurations and provides updates and fixes promptly. With AlmaLinux 8 being supported until 2029, it’s quickly becoming the go-to choice for many Linux users.

Why Choose AlmaLinux?

1. Free and Open Source:
   AlmaLinux is free to use, which means you don’t need to pay for an RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) license.
2. Continuity:
   For users accustomed to CentOS, AlmaLinux offers an easy transition with similar features and compatibility.
3. Stability:
   Known for its robust performance, AlmaLinux ensures stability for both individual users and businesses.
4. Support:
   AlmaLinux is actively maintained, with bugs fixed and updates rolled out regularly.
5. Long-Term Support:
   AlmaLinux 8.x is supported until 2029, making it a reliable choice for long-term use.
6. Virtualization Support:
   AlmaLinux is compatible with popular virtualization technologies, including OpenVZ and KVM.
7. Security:
   AlmaLinux takes security seriously, implementing various measures to guard against vulnerabilities and threats.
8. Compatibility:
   Offering broad compatibility with many software and hardware systems, AlmaLinux is versatile enough for a range of user needs.

Prerequisites for Installing WHM/cPanel on AlmaLinux

Before you begin installing WHM/cPanel on AlmaLinux, make sure you meet the following requirements:

• Valid static IP address
• Hostname properly configured
• Minimum of 2 GB of RAM (1 GB can also work)
• 20 GB of free hard drive space

Important:
Once you install WHM/cPanel on your server, you cannot uninstall it. If you want to remove it, you’ll need to reinstall AlmaLinux.

How to Install the WHM/cPanel on AlmaLinux 8/9

First, we need to update the existing packages to the latest version.

1. update / patch the system

Run the following command:

yum update

yum upgrade

2. Install Perl and Curl

The cPanel is written in Perl, so you need to install the Perl on Almalinux 8. You can also install curl to download the cPanel installation script. 

yum install perl curl

3. Download the WHM cPanel installation script

Run this line to download the script to the main directory to automate the installation procedure.

cd /home

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

4. Run the cPanel installation script

Run the given command to start the execution of the downloaded script.

sh latest

5. Log in to WHM

To access the WHM, enter “https://Server_IP:2087” into the browser’s address bar. 

Now enter the AlmaLinux root user and password to access data for WHM and accept the terms and conditions. 

6. Apply for a WHM/cPanel trial license

To create an account with the WHM service, click on the login button. Once a 15-day free trial has been issued, add the email address and hosting service naming server details. 

7. WHM dashboard

To start hosting a website, create a cPanel account on it. 

Here are a few directories for cPanel installed stuff, in case we need to access it from the command line on AlmaLinux 8.

cPanel directories: /usr/local/cpanel

Third-party tools: /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/

Directories of addons or cPanel add-ons: /usr/local/cpanel/addons/

Basic files like PHPMyAdmin, themes: /usr/local/cpanel/base/

cPanel binaries: /usr/local/cpanel/bin/

CGI files: /usr/local/cpanel/cgi-sys/

Access to cPanel & Error event files: /usr/local/cpanel/logs/

WHM files: /usr/local/cpanel/whostmgr/

Apache configuration: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

Configuration of the Exim mail server: /etc/exim.conf

Named configuration files: /etc/named.conf

Configuration files ProFTP and Pureftpd: /etc/proftpd.conf and /etc/pure-ftpd.conf

cPanel user files: /var/cpanel/users/username

cPanel configuration files (tweak settings): /var/cpanel/cpanel.config

Network configuration files: /etc/sysconfig/network

Addons and subdomain information: /etc/userdomains

cPanel update files: /etc/cpupdate.conf

Clamav configuration files: /etc/clamav.conf

MySQL configuration files: /etc/my.cnf

PHP.ini configuration files: /usr/local/lib/php.ini