Set up cPanel/WHM credentials on a Linux virtual machine

Overview

StackPath allows you to deploy a CentOS server with cPanel and WHM already installed.

You can use this document to learn how to add your cPanel/WHM credentials to a virtual machine. Specifically, you will update the required root credentials on Linux which will allow you to log into the cPanel/WHM web interface

Before you begin, to use this document, you must:

• Have an active cPanel license
• Have an EdgeCompute virtual machine workload deployed with ports 80, 443, 22, and 2087 open
• Be able to access the virtual machine with your SSH key
  • To learn more about this requirement, see Generate and Add SSH Keys for virtual machine workloads.

Step 1: Set a root password 

Even though StackPath restricts access via SSH to your user when a virtual machine is deployed, you are still able to change the root password with the passwd bash command. With this method, StackPath can set a root password for the virtual machine, and then use the information to log in to cPanel from the web interface. 

1. Access your virtual machine via SSH. Use the default user and SSH key. 
2. From the virtual machine, run the following command:

   sudo passwd root

3. The output will ask for a new password for too. Enter a new root password, and press Enter to confirm. 

Step 2: Log in to the cPanel interface

1. In a web browser, navigate to your virtual machine's IP address over port 2087. 
   • 2087 is the default port that cPanel uses for the web interface. 
   • To specify a port, after the IP address, add a colon ( : ), and then enter the port number, such as http://151.139.xx.xx:2087.
2. In the cPanel / WHM login screen, enter root as the user, and then enter the newly created password.