cPanel & WHM — License Deployment & Verification Guide

CloudRaya Marketplace

This guide explains how to attach a WHM (Web Host Manager) server license to a CloudRaya Virtual Machine (VM) and verify that it is active.

WHM licenses are linked to a public IP address, not to a server name.

The VM must be reachable from the internet so the cPanel validation service can confirm the license status.

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Overview

cPanel & WHM is a hosting control platform used to operate a full hosting server.

It allows you to manage:

• Websites and domains
• Email accounts
• DNS zones
• Databases
• Hosting users and packages

WHM vs cPanel (How It Works in CloudRaya)

• WHM (Web Host Manager)
  The administrator layer for the entire server. You use WHM to:

  • Create hosting packages
  • Manage server settings
  • Create and control multiple cPanel accounts

• cPanel
  The end-user control panel for each website or customer account created inside WHM.

In CloudRaya, you run your own hosting server on a VM.

The WHM license gives you the right to operate that server and create many cPanel accounts, based on your license tier.

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Shared Hosting vs CloudRaya (WHM Model)

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High-Level Flow

All WHM licenses follow this lifecycle:

1. Select license package
   Choose a tier based on how many cPanel accounts you plan to run.

2. Choose VM location
   Select the cloud zone where your VM is running.

3. Attach public IP
   Link the license to your server’s public IP.

4. Complete payment
   Confirm purchase using CloudRaya credits or invoice.

5. Verify license
   Confirm activation in WHM or the cPanel verification portal.

6. Operate and renew
   Use WHM to manage hosting accounts and maintain license validity.

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Step 1 — Purchase License

1. From the CloudRaya Control Panel home page navigate to Other Products → Marketplace
2. Go to My Licenses
3. Click Add License
4. Select WHM / cPanel

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Step 2 — Select Package

Choose a license tier:

• Admin
  For small hosting environments with a limited number of cPanel accounts.

• Pro
  For growing hosting platforms.

• Premier
  For large-scale or reseller hosting environments.

Each tier defines:

• Maximum number of cPanel accounts
• Monthly subscription cost

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Step 3 — Select Location & Public IP

1. Choose the Cloud Zone where your VM is running.
2. Select the Public IP address assigned to that VM.

This links the WHM server license to your server.

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Step 4 — Complete Payment

Choose one of the available options:

• Pay using credit balance
  The WHM license is activated immediately using your CloudRaya credit.

• Do not select Pay using credit balance
  A new invoice will be generated when you click Add License.
  The license will remain in a pending state until the invoice is paid.

• (Optional) Auto-renew using credit
  Automatically renews the license each month using your credit balance.

Click Add License to submit the purchase.

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Required Network Access (Before Verification)

Before accessing WHM or verifying the license, make sure your VM allows inbound traffic on the required ports.

In CloudRaya, this is configured in your VPC → Access Control List (ACL).

Required Ports & Protocols for WHM & cPanel

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Configure Access in CloudRaya VPC

To allow these ports:

1. Open Network → VPC
2. Select the VPC connected to your VM
3. Open Access Control List (ACL)
4. Add Ingress Rules for the required ports
5. Set the Target to your WHM VM
6. Save and apply the rules

If ports are blocked, WHM and cPanel pages may timeout, fail to load, or show license errors.

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Learn More

For a full walkthrough on VPC networking and firewall rules:

📄 See:

• Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
• Access Control List (ACL)

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Step 5 — Verify License

Once network access is confirmed:

Option 1 — Verify in WHM

1. Open: https://your-server-ip:2087

2. Log in as root or server administrator

3. Confirm the license status shows Active

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Option 2 — Verify via cPanel Portal

1. Open: https://verify.cpanel.net
2. Enter your VM’s public IP address
3. Confirm the license status is Active

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Pro Tip (Enterprise / Security Teams)

For production environments:

• Restrict 2087 / 2083 / 22 to your office IP ranges
• Keep 80 / 443 / mail ports open to the public
• Use CloudRaya ACL as the first security layer, and OS firewall (UFW/iptables) as the second

Operating Model

CloudRaya

• Maintains the WHM server license subscription
• Handles billing and renewal
• Displays license status and expiration in the dashboard

You

• Install and update the cPanel & WHM software
• Create and manage cPanel accounts
• Secure and operate the server
• Manage domains, users, and hosting services

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Common Operational Scenarios

Public IP Changes

If your VM’s public IP changes:

• The WHM license will no longer validate
• Attach a license to the new IP
• Verify activation again in WHM or the verification portal

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Server Migration

When moving to a new VM:

• Attach a WHM license to the new server’s public IP
• Verify activation
• Cancel the old license if it is no longer needed

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Renewal & Billing

• WHM licenses are billed monthly
• Billing continues while the license exists, even if the VM is stopped
• If auto-renew is disabled and your balance is insufficient, the license may expire

Expired licenses may result in:

• Restricted access to WHM
• Inability to create or manage cPanel accounts

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Next Steps

• Access WHM (Server Administration)
  https://your-server-ip:2087

• Access cPanel (Account Management)
  https://your-server-ip:2083

• Learn advanced server and hosting management
  https://docs.cpanel.net