Guide to Managing the cPanel Control Panel on VPS

cPanel is among the most sought-after control elements for managing virtual servers. It provides a simple and comfortable interface that allows control over databases, emails, websites, and other services. With its accessible workspace and efficient functionality, cPanel has gained popularity among server owners and developers. The panel significantly simplifies the process of coordinating server operations, making it possible to perform tasks that require multiple console commands with just a few clicks, even for users without technical knowledge.

When to Use cPanel and Possible Alternatives

Using cPanel on a VPS is recommended if:

There is a need for a simple and quick method of administering the server and web resources.
Several databases, internet resources, and domain names will be hosted on the VPS.
It is important to ensure ease of management of email services and SSL certificates.
The main focus is on excellent security and efficient operation, which can be configured using the control panel.

Among the alternatives to cPanel are Plesk, DirectAdmin, and ISPmanager. However, compared to them, cPanel offers more flexible and advanced customization and security options, as well as being more user-friendly for beginners.

Setting Up cPanel on VPS

To use cPanel on a VPS, you first need to do some preparation, which we will now discuss.

Step 1. Preparing the VPS for Installation

The first step is to ensure that our server meets the minimum requirements:

OS CentOS, CloudLinux, or Ubuntu (depending on the version of cPanel).
At least 2 GB of RAM for proper operation; 4 GB or more is recommended.
Hard disk space of 20 GB. However, to avoid memory issues, a recommended size is 40 GB.
SSH must be used to connect to the server, and root privileges must be available.

Step 2. Installing cPanel

Use the following command to connect to the VPS via SSH:
ssh root@your_server_ip

To install cPanel, use the appropriate command. Download the installation script and run it:
cd /home

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

sudo sh latest

The installation process takes an average of 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Upon completion of the installation, you will receive a link to access cPanel.

Follow the link and enter your credentials to log in to cPanel.

Main Features of cPanel

cPanel is a powerful tool with a wide range of capabilities for administering web resources and servers. Here is a more detailed overview of the main features that make cPanel a universal management platform on VPS.

1. Domain Name Administration

cPanel offers effective tools for managing domain names and subdomains. Key features include:

Addon Domains — allows you to add new domain names to the server, each functioning independently. This is convenient for hosting multiple web resources on one server.
Subdomains — the ability to create subdomains, allowing you to organize the site structure so that different sections of the same resource use different addresses.
Aliases — allows you to add domains that will redirect to the main site, which is useful for creating mirror sites or alternative domain names.
Redirects — setting up redirects between domains and pages, which is convenient for redirecting from old links to new pages or for organizing canonical URLs.

2. File Management

This tool is equipped with a powerful, high-performance file manager that allows you to perform all basic actions with documents. Deleting, copying, editing, and moving files can be done without issues. Below, we will separately discuss the main functions:

File Manager — a visual interface that allows you to manage documents on the VPS, similar to regular file managers on computers. It provides options for uploading, deleting, and moving files, as well as editing them directly in the browser.
Backup Wizard — a tool for creating backups. With this feature, you can make a full backup, including documents from the web resource, databases, and emails. If necessary, you can select individual components for backup.
Disk Usage — allows you to monitor disk space usage and analyze which folders take up the most space, which is important for optimizing server resources.
FTP Accounts — administration of FTP accounts to provide access to documents using FTP clients. Here, you can manage FTP accounts for employees and restrict their access to certain directories.

3. Database Administration

Managing databases on cPanel is also a very straightforward and easy process. The main tools include:

MySQL Databases — development and administration of MySQL databases. You can develop databases, remove unnecessary ones, manage users, and set their access levels.
phpMyAdmin — a visual tool for managing MySQL databases, where you can execute SQL queries, create backups, and import and export data.
Remote MySQL — allows you to connect remote servers to the MySQL database on your server, which is especially useful for distributed systems or interaction with external services.

4. Email Services

cPanel provides a complete set of tools for managing email services:

Email Accounts — creation and management of mailboxes. You can create corporate mailboxes on your domain (e.g., [email protected]).
Forwarders — setting up forwarding, which allows sending copies of emails to another email address.
Autoresponders — automatic sending of replies to incoming emails, which is useful for setting up auto-responders, for example, when you are on vacation.
Spam Filters — setting up spam filtering to protect email from unwanted messages.
Email Deliverability — a tool for improving email deliverability, which helps correctly configure DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to avoid emails landing in spam.

5. Security Management

cPanel offers various features to ensure the security of your server and websites:

IP Blocker — allows you to block access from specific IP addresses, which is useful for protecting against unwanted visitors and hackers.
SSL/TLS — management of SSL certificates to ensure a secure HTTPS connection. You can install free Let's Encrypt certificates or upload your own.
Hotlink Protection — prevents unauthorized use of your images and files by other websites.
Leech Protection — prevents the use of account passwords with unrestricted access. This is especially useful for protecting files in password-protected directories.
ModSecurity — a built-in web application firewall (WAF) that protects the server from common web threats such as SQL injection and XSS attacks.

6. DNS Record Management

cPanel allows you to manage DNS records for your domains, including A records, CNAME, MX, and TXT records. This simplifies the configuration of domain names for the proper functioning of websites, email, and other services.

Zone Editor — a tool for adding, deleting, and editing DNS records. You can configure IP addresses, subdomains, and other parameters.

7. Statistics and Monitoring

cPanel provides tools for monitoring the performance and traffic of websites:

Awstats and Webalizer — analytical tools for viewing the traffic statistics of your site, including unique visitors, geography, and popular pages.
Resource Usage — a report on server resource consumption, allowing you to monitor CPU load and the amount of RAM used.
Error Logs — error logs that help find and fix issues occurring on the site.

8. Website and Application Management

cPanel simplifies the installation of various web applications and manages them through tools such as Softaculous or Site Publisher:

Softaculous — an auto-installer for popular CMSs, including WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Installation is done in one click, which is especially convenient for beginner users.
Site Publisher — a tool for creating simple static websites. Useful for quickly creating placeholders or landing pages.

9. Automatic Updates and Backups

cPanel allows you to automate backup processes, helping to protect data and quickly restore the system in case of failure. Key features include:

Backup Wizard — a tool for creating full backups that can be stored on the server or downloaded to your computer.
Automated Backup — allows you to set up automatic backups on a schedule.

Using FTP and Security Management

To manage files on the server, you can also set up FTP access through FTP Accounts. This tool allows you to add accounts for FTP access with the ability to restrict access to certain folders.

Additionally, cPanel provides built-in tools for ensuring security:

Setting up SSL certificates through SSL/TLS for secure connections.
IP Blocker for blocking suspicious IP addresses.
Leech Protection for protecting against unauthorized access to secured folders.

Conclusion

The functionality of cPanel makes it one of the most versatile tools for managing a VPS server. With this control panel, you can address any tasks related to file management, domain configuration, databases, email services, and security, all accessible through a user-friendly interface. The panel is especially useful for users who want to gain full control over the server but do not have deep knowledge in system administration, as cPanel makes server management clear and intuitive.