How to Upgrade cPanel Software
Learning how to upgrade cPanel software in WHM (Web Host Manager) to the latest version is a crucial step in ensuring the security and efficiency of your hosting environment. The process involves several steps, starting with upgrading your CentOS 7 operating system. Once the operating system upgrade is complete, the next important step is to check and adjust your cPanel Update Preferences.
Setting your Update Preferences to the Release tier is recommended to ensure optimal performance and security. The Release tier is one step behind the current tier regarding updates. It has undergone additional testing and is generally considered stable for production environments. This setting helps balance the need for up-to-date software with maintaining a stable and reliable hosting environment.
By following these steps and regularly updating your cPanel software in WHM, you can help protect your server from vulnerabilities, enjoy the latest features, and ensure a smooth experience for your website users.
What is WHM?
WHM (Web Host Manager) is an account dashboard with administrative access that allows users to customize and control their subaccounts, allowing them to manage multiple cPanel-based sites.
Unlike Shared Hosting, which only offers cPanel, VPS, and Dedicated Hosting, customers have WHM. Resellers also have WHM, which they use to manage all their resold hosting accounts. However, they have restricted reseller rights in WHM compared to VPS and Dedicated Servers' WHM (root user rights), so some functions are unavailable.
You may visit VPS & Dedicated Hosting: Root WHM (rWHM) to learn more about root user rights or Log in to WHM. The article is for more information on how to get into your account.
Upgrade cPanel Software in WHM
Take Note: Once the update is finished, make sure to refresh the WHM so that the changes will push through. It can take up to an hour (sometimes slightly longer) for the upgrade to complete after running the manual upgrade. If the upgrade has been finally completed, you can check your new cPanel version in the upper right-hand corner of the WHM panel.
- Log in to your WHM using your root username and password.
Generally, if your domain is already pointed at and resolving to Bluehost name servers and the server IP, you may use this URL:
http://insertdomain.name/whm.
- In the upper left corner of WHM, look for the Server Configuration section and select Update Preferences.
- Select the Recommended Release and hit save.
- Click on the here link to ensure that the changes will take effect immediately.
- Congratulations! You have successfully upgraded your cPanel software.
If v102 or higher shows in the WHM panel, it means you have successfully upgraded your cPanel software!
Summary
Learning how to upgrade cPanel software in WHM to its latest version is essential for maintaining a secure and efficient hosting environment. This process includes updating the CentOS 7 operating system first, then setting the cPanel Update Preferences to the Recommended Release tier. This tier offers a balance between up-to-date software and stability for production environments.
WHM (Web Host Manager) is crucial in this process, providing administrative access to manage multiple cPanel sites, especially for VPS, Dedicated Hosting, and reseller accounts. Upgrading cPanel within WHM involves:
- Logging in with root credentials.
- Adjusting update preferences.
- Initiating the upgrade may take up to an hour or slightly longer.
In summary, regularly updating your cPanel and WHM software is vital for server security, accessing new features, and ensuring an optimal user experience. Successfully upgrading to version 102 or higher signifies the completion of this important maintenance task. For any issues or further assistance, reaching out to support is recommended.
If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us via Chat or Phone:
- Chat Support - While on our website, you should see a CHAT bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Click anywhere on the bubble to begin a chat session.
- Phone Support -
- US: 888-401-4678
- International: +1 801-765-9400
You may also refer to our Knowledge Base articles to help answer common questions and guide you through various setup, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.