Knowledgebase

Synopsis:

This knowledgebase article will guide you through the inital setup of WHM.  The first part is a walk through that contains the basic instructions to get through the set up quickly.  The second part contains more detailed information on each option, allowing you to make informed choices on any custom settings you may wish to use.

How-to Steps:

:::PART I:::

1. Log into WHM, https://<yourIP>:2087

2. Click 'I Agree/Go to Step 2' to agree to the EULA.

3. Enter a contact email in 'Server Contact Email Address'.

4. If your server isn't named already, enter a fully qualified domain name in 'This Server's Hostname' e.g. server1.yourdomain.com.au

5. For resolvers, we recommend using Google name servers but you can use any reliable name servers that you prefer:
   Primary Resolver - 8.8.8.8
   Secondary Resolver - 8.8.4.4

6. Click 'Save & Go To Step 3'

7. You will see a list of IP's available on your server.  Any additional IPs you purchased should have been added during provisioning so you can 'Skip this step and use default settings'.

8. If you intend to use your cPanel/WHM server as a name server (it will require a minimum of two IPs on the server), we recommend using BIND.  Enter the names for your name servers:
   Nameserver 1 : ns1.yourdomain.com.au
   Nameserver 2 : ns2.yourdomain.com.au

9. Tick both checkboxes under "Add A Entries for Nameservers & Hostname", and then enter the IP addresses you wish to use for the name servers in the fields provided.

10. Click 'Save & Go to Step 5'.

11. You can leave all options on this page as default (FTP, mail & cPHulk) and then just be sure to tick 'Provide modules to /usr/bin/perl formerly provided by checkperlmodules' at the bottom of the page.  Click 'Save & Go to Step 6'.

12. On the Quotas page, ensure 'Use file system quotas' is selected and click 'Finish Setup Wizard'.

NB: If you see the following message, please lodge a support ticket to have your cPanel licence enabled:
Your license could not be activated because:
Cannot Read License File

13. On the 'Feature Showcase' page, you can leave all options as default but it is a good idea to Enable 'SMTP Restrictions' and then click 'Save settings'. 

:::PART II:::

1. Log into WHM. Type https://IP:2087 in your preferred web browser.  Replace IP with the IP address of your web server.  Enter 'root' as the login name in the Username field.  Enter your password in the Password field.  Click Login.

2. When you log into WHM for the first time, you will see an Initial Setup screen.  Read the license agreement. Click I Agree/Go To Step 2.

3. Setup Networking
This area allows you to define contact information. Required fields are marked with a red asterisk.
Under the Contact Information heading:
In the Server Contact Email Address field, enter the email address at which you wish to be contacted if your server has a problem.
To receive email news updates from cPanel, select Subscribe to cPanel News mailing list.
To receive email updates about new cPanel releases, select Subscribe to cPanel Releases mailing list.
If you wish to be contacted by text message, enter your phone number in the Server Contact SMS Address field.
If you wish to be contacted by AIM, select the Server Contact AIM Name checkbox.
Enter your AIM username into the Server Contact AIM Name field that appears.
If you do not have an AIM username, you can click the Get a new AIM name link to create an AIM account.
Enter the AIM username your server will use in the AIM Name to Send Alerts From field.
Enter the password for the server's AIM username into the Password for that AIM account field.
If you wish to be contacted by ICQ, select the Server Contact ICQ Number checkbox.
In the Server Contact ICQ Number field, enter the ICQ number at which you wish to be contacted.
If you do not yet have an ICQ contact number, click Get a new ICQ number to create a new ICQ account.
In the ICQ Number to Send Alerts From field, enter the ICQ number your server will use to contact you.
In the Password for that ICQ account field, enter the password for your server's ICQ account.
Under the Hostname heading:
Enter your server's hostname in the This Server's Hostname field.
Remember: The hostname must be a fully qualified domain name (FQDN). FQDNs are domain names that specify the exact location from the top level user domain to the root domain when read from right to left. This hostname will require you to use the format subdomain.domain.extension. For example, for the server account on the domain example.com, you might enter server.example.com as the hostname.

4. Resolvers initiate DNS queries, which allow your server to find and convert human-readable domain names to machine-readable IP addresses. You must configure these resolvers for your server to work correctly. Resolver IP addresses can be obtained through your Internet service provider (ISP).
Under the Resolvers heading:
Enter a primary resolver IP address into the Primary Resolver field.
Enter a secondary resolver IP address into the Secondary Resolver field. 
Note: The primary and secondary resolvers are required fields.
If you have a third resolver IP address, enter it into the Third Resolver field.
While not required, it is a good idea to add an additional resolver. An additional resolver will help ensure your server's uptime if anything happens to either of your other resolvers.  Under the Main Network/Ethernet Device heading:
Select the device you would like to use for your connection in the Select the main network/Ethernet device menu.
Click Save & Go to Step 3.
To return to Step 1, click Go Back

Note: We recommend you use Entity Data's DNS Manager to administer your zones.  You are entitled to a free 5 domain pack when leasing any of our virtual server offerings, which you can request to be set up by submitting a support ticket.  More info here:

https://www.entitydata.com.au/our-services/hosting/dns-hosting/

If you choose to manage zones through WHM, you will require an additional IP address and will not have any redundancy for the zones you host on the server.

5. Setup IP Addresses
This area allows you to add IP addresses to your server.
Remember: You will need at least one IP address to function as the primary IP address of your server. Without this IP address, visitors will not be able to access your server.

Note:You can only add IP addresses that have been ordered with the server package and assigned to your account.  Improper use of unregistered IP's will result in additional charges and may result in the suspension or cancellation of your services.

If you wish to skip this step, click Skip This Step and Use Default Settings.
To add IP addresses:
Enter the new IP address(es) into the IP Address(es) to add field.
You can use CIDR notation to add multiple IP addresses simultaneously. Refer to the Quick CIDR Reference Table on the right for more information.
Remember: When you use CIDR notation, enter the appropriate subnet mask for the range of IP addresses you wish to add.
Click Add Ip(s).
If you have already added IP addresses to your server, you can remove any IP addresses not in use. To do so, click Remove in the Current IP Addresses table.
Click Go to Step 4.
To return to Step 2, click the Go Back button.
note Note: If you intend to use only one IP address on this server, click the Skip This Step and Use Default Settings button at the top of the page.

6. Step 4: Nameservers
This screen allows you to configure nameservers. Nameservers are responsible for spreading your server's DNS information throughout the Internet. DNS allows visitors to access websites on your server.
To configure a nameserver:
Select the nameserver software you wish to use. To disable local nameservers, click the corresponding button.
Important: Review the information in the Advantages, Disadvantages, and Notes fields for more information about each option. The BIND nameserver software is adequate for most servers.
Next, choose your nameserver domains. You must add these at your domain registrar before they will work.
To add nameserver domains:
Enter the first nameserver into the Nameserver 1 field.
Most nameservers follow the naming convention ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com, where example.com stands for your domain name.
Enter the second nameserver into the Nameserver 2 field.
If possible, you should add nameserver domains to the Nameserver 3 and Nameserver 4 fields. If you configure additional nameservers, they will prevent downtime if anything happens to the first two nameservers.
Finally, add A entries for your nameservers and hostnames. A entries are records on your server that resolve domain names into their corresponding IP addresses.

7. To add A entries:
Select the Add "A Entries" for all Nameservers checkbox.
Enter the IP addresses for each of your nameservers.
Click Add "A Entries" for Hostname if you wish to add an A entry for your server's hostname.
If you clicked the Add "A Entries" for Hostname checkbox, enter the IP address for your server.
Click Save & Go to Step 5.
To return to Step 3, click Go Back.

8. Step 5: Services
This screen allows you to configure the services that you and your clients use on the server. To use the default settings, click Skip This Step and Use Default Settings at the top of the screen.
To configure an FTP server:
Select the FTP server software you wish to use, or keep FTP disabled. Review the information in the Advantages, Disadvantages, and Notes fields for more information about each option. 
note Note: Anonymous FTP defaults to disabled and we do not recommend that you enable it.

9. To configure a mail server:
Select the mail server you wish to use, or disable mail. Review the information in the Advantages, Disadvantages, and Notes fields for more information about each option.
If you switch mail servers: If you wish to preserve settings for each mailbox as you migrate to the new mail server, select the Convert Mailbox Format checkbox. Deselect this checkbox to speed up the migration. 
Warning: If you deselect this box, you may lose your email settings.

10. Finally, select whether you wish to use cPHulk. cPHulk runs in the background of your server to protect it from brute force attacks.
To enable and configure cPHulk:
Click the Enable cPHulk checkbox.
Select or deselect the checkboxes to determine:
Whether to extend lockout time for each additional failure past the limit.
Whether you will receive notifications when cPHulk detects a brute force attack.
Select the Configure Advanced Settings checkbox to access cPHulk's advanced settings:
IP Based Brute Force Protection Period in minutes — Specifies the number of minutes to block the IP addresses of potentially malicious users.
Brute Force Protection Period in minutes — Specifies the number of minutes to lock an account.
Maximum Failures By Account — Specifies the maximum number of failed authentication attempts allowed by an account.
Maximum Failures Per IP — Specifies the maximum number of failed authentication attempts allowed by an IP address.
Maximum Failures Per IP before IP is blocked for two week period — Specifies the number of failed authentication attempts before an IP address is blocked for a two week period.
Click Save & Go to Step 6.
Click the Go Back button to return to Step 4: Nameservers.

11. Step 6: Set Up Quotas
This is the final stage of the Initial Setup process. You will need to select whether you wish to track disk usage on your server. This is a good idea if you plan to lease server space to individual users. However, if you do not plan to host individual accounts on your server, you may not need to enable quotas.
To set up quotas:
Select Use file system quotas.
Remember: This is a good idea if you plan to host individual accounts on your server.
To disable quotas:
Select Do not use file system quotas.
Remember: This is not a good idea if you plan to host individual accounts on your server.
Once you have finished, click the Finish Setup Wizard button. You will then be taken to the WHM homepage.
To return to Step 5, click the Go Back button.