Saturday, June 15, 2024

Simplify Server Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Installing cPanel on Your Ubuntu Server



Introduction

cPanel is a popular and user-friendly web-based control panel used for managing servers and websites. It is designed to simplify and automate various server management tasks, making it easier for users to handle their websites, domains, emails, databases, and other server functions.

Understanding cPanel

cPanel is a web hosting control panel that allows users to manage their server and website in a user-friendly and efficient way. It is a popular choice among web hosting providers and is often included in hosting packages as it provides a wide range of features and tools to manage websites, domains, email accounts, and files.

Some of the key features of cPanel include:

  • Website Management: cPanel allows users to easily manage their website files, databases, and domains. With File Manager, users can upload, edit, and delete files directly from the cPanel interface. The Domain section allows users to add and manage domains, subdomains, and DNS records.

  • Email Management: cPanel provides a comprehensive set of tools for managing email accounts, including creating new email accounts, setting up email forwarding and autoresponders, and managing spam filters.

  • Security: cPanel offers various security features, such as password-protected directories, SSL/TLS support, and IP address denials, to protect websites and server resources from unauthorized access.

  • Server Management: cPanel allows users to manage various aspects of their server, including Apache and PHP configuration, database management, and server backups.

  • One-Click Applications: cPanel has a one-click installation feature that allows users to easily install popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal on their server.

  • Analytics and Statistics: Users can track the performance of their website and server resources through the built-in analytics and statistics tools in cPanel.



Preparing for cPanel Installation on Ubuntu Server

1. Checking system requirements: Before beginning the cPanel installation process, it is important to ensure that your server meets the minimum system requirements. These include:

  • A clean installation of Ubuntu Server 18.04 or newer

  • Minimum 1GB RAM (2GB recommended)

  • Minimum 20GB of available hard disk space (40GB recommended)

2. Updating the server:

To ensure that your server is up-to-date and has the latest security patches, it is important to update it before installing cPanel. This can be done by running the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

3. Installing necessary dependencies: cPanel requires certain packages and dependencies to be installed on your server. These can be installed by running the following command:

sudo apt install screen wget perl

4. Installing Perl modules: cPanel also requires certain Perl modules to be installed. These can be installed by running the following command:

sudo apt install libarchive-zip-perl libio-socket-ssl-perl libauthen-pam-perl libnet-ssleay-perl

5. Disabling SELinux: If you are using SELinux on your server, it is recommended to disable it before installing cPanel. To do this, edit the SELinux configuration file using the command:

sudo nano /etc/selinux/config

Find the line that says “SELINUX=enforcing” and change it to “SELINUX=disabled”. Save and exit the file.

6. Disabling control panels: If you have any other control panels installed on your server, it is recommended to remove or disable them before installing cPanel. This will avoid any conflicts or issues during the installation process.

7. Downloading the cPanel installation script: Now that your server is updated and has all the necessary dependencies, it is time to download the cPanel installation script. This can be done by running the command:

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

Steps to Install cPanel on the Ubuntu Server

Step 1: Download the cPanel installation script

Firstly, log in to your server via SSH and navigate to the root directory. Then, download the cPanel installation script using the command:

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

This will download the cPanel installation script to your server.

Step 2: Running the installation script

Next, you need to run the cPanel installation script. Use the following command to start the installation:

sh latest

The installation process will take some time to complete. Once it is finished, you will see a message saying “Congratulations, your installation of cPanel is now complete!”

Step 3: Configuring cPanel settings

After the installation is complete, you need to configure some settings to access cPanel. First, you will be prompted to set a root password. Choose a secure password and make a note of it.

Next, enter your email address to receive cPanel notifications and configure the hostname for your server. You can also choose to set up a nameserver if you have one.

Once you have completed these steps, the installation script will automatically start configuring cPanel and installing necessary packages.

Step 4: Accessing the cPanel web interface

Once the installation and configuration are complete, you can access the cPanel web interface. cPanel is installed on port 2087 by default. You can access it by entering the following URL in your browser:

https://your_server_IP:2087

You will be prompted to enter your username and password, which you set during the installation process. After logging in, you will have access to the cPanel dashboard.

Managing cPanel on Ubuntu Server

cPanel offers a wide range of features and tools to manage a server efficiently. Some of the key functionalities of cPanel include:

  • Website Management: cPanel provides a simple and intuitive interface for creating and managing websites. Administrators can easily add domains, subdomains, and addon domains, manage DNS records, set up redirects, and more. It also includes a file manager for easy access to website files and folders.

  • Database Management: With cPanel, administrators can create and manage databases using MySQL or MariaDB. It provides tools for importing and exporting databases, creating users and user permissions, and managing database backups.

  • Email Management: cPanel offers a comprehensive email management solution. Administrators can create and manage email accounts, set up email forwarders and autoresponders, configure spam filters, and more.

  • Server Security: cPanel provides various security features to keep your server safe. It includes a built-in firewall, IP address blocker, and SSL certificate manager. It also offers tools for scanning and securing your server from malware and viruses.

  • Application Installers: cPanel has a built-in application installer called Softaculous that allows administrators to quickly install popular web applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Magento.

  • Server Monitoring: cPanel provides real-time server monitoring to keep track of server metrics like CPU usage, disk space, and bandwidth. This helps administrators to identify and troubleshoot any issues with the server.

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