Although cPanel used to be compatible with CentOS 7, starting in 2024, cPanel has officially dropped support for this operating system. Therefore, if you attempt to install cPanel on a CentOS 7 server, it will no longer be possible. Additionally, while AlmaLinux 9 is now available, there are certain incompatibilities with cPanel that could cause issues in some configurations, versions, and production environments.

The current recommendation is to use AlmaLinux 8, which has proven to be the most stable and compatible option for servers running cPanel.

Prerequisites

• Operating System: AlmaLinux 8 (preferably the "minimal" version).
• SSH Access: You need SSH access with root privileges to your server.

Connect to the Server via SSH

First, connect to your server via SSH using a client like Terminal (on Linux or macOS) or PuTTY (on Windows). Use the following command to connect:

Disable the Network Manager

To ensure cPanel runs smoothly, it's recommended to disable the Network Manager in AlmaLinux 8. This will prevent network conflicts during the installation.

To disable it, run the following command:

This will stop the Network Manager service and prevent it from starting automatically upon server reboot.

Install cPanel on AlmaLinux 8

With the Network Manager disabled, you can proceed to install cPanel. Run the following command to download and install cPanel:

This command will download and initiate the cPanel installer directly from the official servers. The installation may take a few minutes depending on your server resources and internet connection.

Resolve cPanel License Issues

If you encounter a license error after installation, ensure the license is correctly provisioned. You can update it using the following command:

This command will refresh the license key and resolve any activation issues with cPanel.

Access cPanel/WHM

Once the installation is complete, you can access WHM from your browser using the following URL:

Replace your-server-ip with your server’s IP address. Here, you can log in with your root credentials and begin configuring cPanel on your server.

Currently, AlmaLinux 8 is the most recommended option for using cPanel due to its stability and compatibility, ensuring a better experience. If you have any questions or encounter issues, don’t hesitate to contact Webzi’s technical support team for assistance.

If you have questions about PHP version compatibility, you can check the official cPanel documentation in their article What versions of PHP does cPanel support?.

You can also reach out to our support team for clarification or further assistance.