If you’re planning to launch a hosting environment or manage multiple websites from a single interface, cPanel & WHM is one of the most powerful and widely used web hosting control panels in the industry. Before installing it, it’s essential to understand the system requirements for cPanel, to ensure optimal performance, compatibility, and stability.
This guide breaks down the hardware, software, and OS requirements you’ll need to successfully run cPanel on your server.
What Is cPanel?
cPanel is a Linux-based control panel that simplifies web hosting management. It comes with WHM (Web Host Manager), which allows server administrators to manage multiple hosting accounts, domains, emails, databases, and security features making it ideal for shared hosting providers, resellers, and agencies.
Minimum Hardware Requirements for cPanel
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1.1 GHz | 2+ GHz multi-core |
| RAM | 1 GB | 2 GB or more |
| Disk Space | 20 GB | 40 GB+ SSD for better I/O |
| Architecture | 64-bit only | 64-bit |
| Storage Type | HDD or SSD (SSD preferred) | NVMe or SSD recommended |
Supported Operating Systems for cPanel
cPanel only works on Linux and does not support Windows.
As of 2024, the supported Linux distributions are:
AlmaLinux 8 & 9
Rocky Linux 8 & 9
CloudLinux 8 & 9 (commercial, optimized for hosting)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 & 9 (only with cPanel Partner NOC)
CentOS 7 is deprecated and no longer supported for new cPanel installations.
Ensure your server OS is clean and minimal, with no pre-installed web servers or control panels.
Network and Software Requirements
Static IP Address: Required for licensing and domain resolution
Hostname: Should be a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) (e.g.,
server.yourdomain.com)Perl: Installed by default on most distributions
Firewall Ports: Ensure the following ports are open:
2087(WHM)2083(cPanel)2086,2082(legacy)80,443(HTTP/HTTPS)21,22,25,465,587,110,143,993,995(FTP, SSH, email services)
Virtualization Compatibility
cPanel can be installed on physical servers or virtual environments, but the following are officially supported:
KVM
VMware
Hyper-V
OpenVZ 7+
Virtuozzo 7+
Xen
Be sure your virtualization platform supports FQDN, static IP, and 64-bit OS installation.
Disk Partitioning Recommendations
To optimize performance and simplify backup/restore operations, it’s recommended to partition your disks as follows:
Use LVM or similar disk management tools for flexibility.
Licensing Requirements
cPanel is a commercial software, and a valid license is required. You can purchase licenses through:
cPanel.net
Your hosting provider
NOCs (Network Operation Centers) or VPS resellers
Licensing is tied to the server’s IP address and must be static.
What You Should NOT Do Before Installing cPanel
Do not install Apache, NGINX, MySQL, or any other services manually
Do not use a server with other control panels (like Plesk or Webmin)
Do not try to install cPanel on a 32-bit or desktop OS version
Do not use a dynamic or DHCP IP address
Prepare Your Server Before Installing cPanel
Installing cPanel/WHM is one of the most effective ways to simplify server and website management. But before you begin, it’s crucial to ensure that your server meets the minimum system requirements and follows the best practices outlined above.
By selecting the right Linux OS, having enough CPU, RAM, and SSD storage, and ensuring network readiness, you’ll set the foundation for a stable, secure, and high-performing cPanel hosting environment.