A cPanel licence does not install like a plugin: it is tied to a server's public IP address and to its type, virtual or dedicated. Here is how to choose the right reference, activate it and verify that the server is properly licensed in WHM.
VPS or Dedicated: the first decision
cPanel comes in two editions. cPanel VPS applies to a virtual server (KVM, VMware, Xen, Hyper-V) and cPanel Dedicated to physical hardware. Ordering the wrong edition blocks activation. Identify the machine type before anything else:
systemd-detect-virtAn output of kvm, vmware or xen means a virtual server; no output means a physical machine. cPanel does not install on OpenVZ or LXC containers: in that case, choose another panel or migrate to a KVM server.
Check the server before ordering
- A supported distribution: AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux or CloudLinux, up to date.
- A fully qualified, resolvable hostname, for example
srv1.example.com. - A fixed public IPv4 address, with ports 2087 (WHM) and 2083 (cPanel) reachable.
- No other panel or conflicting web server already installed.
- Enough resources: plan for at least 2 GB of RAM and free disk space for accounts and backups.
hostname -f
ip -4 addr show scope globalOrder the licence
In the OpenVista store, open the cPanel VPS or cPanel Dedicated product page, set the quantity and complete the cart. State the server's IP address in the order notes: the licence is issued for that address. After payment, the reference and the invoice appear in your client area.
Install cPanel on a new server
Log in as root, move to /home and run the official installer:
cd /home
curl -o latest -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest
sh latestInstallation takes several tens of minutes and restarts services. Once finished, cPanel retrieves the licence associated with the server's IP address. Check the installed version with:
/usr/local/cpanel/cpanel -VActivate and verify the licence in WHM
Open WHM at https://server-address:2087 and log in as root. The licence information page shows the edition, the associated IP address and the expiry date: they must match your order. If the licence is not recognised, check the public IP and the machine type, then force a panel update:
/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp
/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/restartsrv_cpsrvdIf the problem persists, open a ticket with the public IP, the order date and the server type: the licence can be reissued on the provider side.
Common cases: IP, edition and expiry
- IP address change: the licence is tied to the IP, request a reissue before switching.
- Moving from a VPS to a dedicated server: order the Dedicated edition and cancel the old one.
- Renewal: renew before the due date to avoid panel suspension.
- Several servers: one licence per machine, with the matching quantity.
