cPanel Newbie Guide

• Non-Secure http://yoursite.com/whm
  
  Non-Secure http://yoursite.com:2086


• Secure https://yoursite.com:2087
  
  

  Login to cPanel

  
  
  
• Non-Secure http://yoursite.com/cpanel
  
  Non-Secure http://yoursite.com:2082


• Secure https://yoursite.com:2083
  
  

  General WebMail
  
  (User chooses from NeoMail / Horde / SquirrelMail
  
  depending on what you have enabled in root WHM area)

  
  


• Non-Secure http://yoursite.com/webmail
  
  Non-Secure http://yoursite.com:2095


• Secure https://yoursite.com:2096
  

  Setup WHM / cPanel Update Preferences

  
  

  When configuring WHM if you selected
  the x2 theme this is how it would look.

  
  

  Click "Change Update Preferences
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  We select "Manual Updates Only (Stable tree)" because while
  cPanel.net releases important updates sometimes these updates contain new
  security holes. (Like what was recently found in the 'request a password'
  module). cPanel.net will release security fixes apart from cpanel/whm updates
  so it's a good idea to keep the security and package updates on automatic.

  
  

  Tweaking WHM Settings
  
  
  
  If you are using the x2 theme you should see the following.
  
  Click on "Tweak Settings"

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Things
  I like checked & why:

  
  

  
  
  
  
  • Allow Creation of Parked/Addon
    Domains that are not registered
    
    I like to be able to add domains that are not registered yet so that I
    can work on them either before I decide to buy the domain or before the
    domain has finished registering.
  
  
  • Prevent users from parking/adding
    on common internet domains. (ie hotmail.com, aol.com)
    
    This just saves time, and hassle for the "not so smart" user/customer.
  
  
  • Number of days between processing
    log files and bandwidth usage (default 1, decimal values are ok): .10
    
    I like my statistics updated often, but if you have a lot of popular
    sites keep this at 1 or .5 because your load will increase greatly when
    the statistics software runs.
  
  
  • Keep log files at the end of
    the month (default is off as you can run out of disk space quickly)
    
    I like logs, and I like to know what's going on. Keeping the logs at the
    end of the month does take up a lot more disk space, but this allows me
    to go back and find problems, and identify issues I would otherwise not
    be able to do. I can also just remove the logs myself or back them up
    when I feel I need more space. You need to keep an eye on these though
    so they don't get out of control.
  
  
  • Awstats Stats
    
    I believe Awstats to be the #1 statistics program available. I don't check
    Webalizer or Analog because I don't like them, and don't use them at all.
    If you are running a webhosting company some of your users may require
    Webalizer or Analog statistics so it is up to you if you should run them
    all or just one or two.
  
  
  • Enable Reverse dns resolution
    for Awstats
    
    I like statistics, and the more the better.
    
    These statitics do not come without a price however...
    They will 'connect to' a bunch of DNS servers and may slow your system
    down for REALLY heavy use sites, and at times can fill up a log with DNS
    timeouts. So if you enable this, and have HEAVILY VISITED sites be warned.
  
  
  • Allow users to update Awstats
    from cPanel
    
    I like to update my own stats if they aren't up to date when I am checking
    them. I would not reccomend leaving this checked if you run a webhosting
    company as allowing your customers to update their stats whenever they
    want could really cause a serious bottleneck in system performance.
  
  
  • SquirrelMail Webmail
    
    SquirrelMail is my favorite webmail application, so instead of running
    the other 2 I just run this one.
  
  
  • I do not have Spamassassin
    checked however I do run MailScanner & ClamAV
    
    The more scanning that is taking place the more CPU / MEM usage there
    is. So if you don't get spam yet, don't run it.. run it when you start
    to get spam.. This will save on system resources for the time being.
  
  
  • Attempt to prevent pop3 connection
    floods: 60
    
    I chose 60 because once every minute is as much as anyone should check
    their e-mail.
    
    However if you are running a webhosting company and have host many customers
    you may want to set this number betweeen 30-45 so that your server is
    not hammered.
  
  
  • Use jailshell as the default shell
    for all new accounts (linux 2.4 or later only)
    
    Safer, more secure.
  
  
  
  

  Backups

  
  

  
  

  Backups are important to any dedicated
  server, wether it be for private or for running a hosting company you
  should always backup your data remotely or on a second hard drive atleast.
  
  
  
  
  Back Up Using cPanel & Backup Manualing in SSH Click Here

  
  

  
  

  Monitoring Your
  Service Status

  
  






You should always keep an eye on your
server's status. If you can't keep an eye on it, or atleast check it 2 times
a day you should setup some monitoring software so that it will notify you
within minutes incase of a problem.








• Manual Check your system status:


• In WHM as Root click "Service
  Status"
  
  


• Green = Good
  
  Red = Bad
  
  If anything is in red you have a problem.


• Click
  Here For SMI Installation

Firewalls

A firewall is a set of related
programs, located at a network gateway server, that protects the resources of
a private network from users from other networks. Basically, a firewall, working
closely with a router program, filters all network packets to determine whether
to forward them toward their destination. A firewall is often installed away
from the rest of the network so that no incoming request can get directly at
private network resources. There are a number of firewall screening methods.
A simple one is to screen requests to make sure they come from acceptable (previously
identified) domain names and IP addresses. For mobile users, firewalls allow
remote access in to the private network by the use of secure logon procedures
and authentication certificates.

The main advantage of a hardware firewall
is that it uses none of your dedicated servers resources. During intense filtering
a software firewall may crash your dedicated server, a hardware firewall would
not.

Not everyone can afford a hardware firewall,
so we are left with running a software firewall. I reccomend, and personally
use APF Advanced Policy Firewall.

How-To Install APF Click Here

Server Logs

Knowing where your server logs are, and
how to monitor them is very important. If someone attacks your server they most
likely left at trace, and you are going to want to find out how they got in,
and where they came from.

Click
Here To Find Where Are Your Logs

Click
Here To Install LogWatch Software

SSH Explained

How do I SSH to my server? also known
as

How do I connect to my servers command prompt?

Learn
how to connect to your server

Now that I am connected what do I type?

Learn
basic Linux commands

Ok, I understand the basics how do I do
some cPanel & Web Hosting commands?

Learn
cPanel & Web Hosting commands

How do I setup
my own name servers?

This has to be the most common question
we get. You would think after years cPanel would have come up wtih a better
way to help you setup your name servers, but no it's still tricky, and requires
some manual work on your part.

Name
Server Setup Guide Click Here