Install CloudLinux on CentOS linux server with cPanel
Released in 2010, CloudLinux is a must-have web hosting system which offers optimum security, stability, and churn.
It optimizes shared hosting by isolating each customer into separate user through “Lightweight Virtualized Environment” (LVE). The software is designed for cPanel servers and it raises uptime, decreases reboots, reduces account suspension and brings improvement in density. CloudLinux virtualizes the user environment and each user feels they have been offered a separate server.
For illustration purposes, we have used CentOS 6 with cPanel. Before you proceed to convert CentOS server to CloudLinux, you need a few things with you.
Pre-conversion checks
You will need IP based license or software activation. You can obtain this for free from CloudLinux (CLN) portal. You can request the key after registering on CLN site. If you have purchased the key, you will find the information about the key in your welcome mail.
To install CloudLinux, you will need root level access to cPanel based server. If you have that privilege, you need to open an SSH connection to your cPanel based server, using your preferred SSH console application. Here are the commands to start and execute the conversion process.
If you have activation key then type following commands
- $ wget https://repo.cloudlinux.com/cloudlinux/sources/cln/cldeploy
- $ sh cldeploy -k <activation_key>
- $ reboot
If you have IP based license then type following commands
- $ sh cldeploy -i
- $ reboot
Once you have rebooted, you will be running CloudLinux kernel with LVE enabled.
The above script automatically detects cPanel with EA3 (Easy Apache Version 3) and rebuilds process automatically. The script will not install additional components but only build apache’s current profile.
If the hosting account is using cPanel with EA4 (Easy Apache Version 4), the script will install all essential RPM packages including mod_hostinglimits package required for proper LVE operation. The rebooting is an essential step to boot the server with CloudLinux kernel that is specifically built for LVE support and limit operation. You can verify the running of CloudLinux and the kernel by the following command.
Open an SSH connection to your cPanel based server using your preferred SSH console and execute the following command- “uname –a” (type command without quotes)
The result will display the Linux kernel running and you should also see “lve” in its name that confirms the server is running the right kernel. You need to check the WHM interface to see the LVEmanager plugin installed during the conversion process.
- Log into WHM with your user credentials
- Click CloudLinux LVEmanager to see the current usage, statistics, and other information related to hosting
Here is the information you will get by clicking on different tabs in CloudLinux LVEmanager
- The Current usage tab shows all users/domains
- The Setting tabs contain the list of cPanel users and their current limits. You can edit the limits of any particular user by clicking the Edit button in its rows or Reset it to default limits by clicking on Reset option
- The Statistics tab shows the server resources used by each user
- The Packages tab is used to set the limit for different packages
Now that you know how to use the LVEmanager options, you are all set to use CloudLinux and enjoy its benefits.
