How to Install Control Web Panel (CWP) on Linux

In this tutorial, we will be installing CWP on a Linux AlmaLinux server, and I will try to make the tutorial as easy as possible. We are going to use the free plan, which offers:

• Apache web server (ModSecurity + automatic updated rules optional)
• PHP version switcher (on AlmaLinux 9, PHP 7.4 to 8.4 and later)
• MySQL/MariaDB + phpMyAdmin
• Postfix + Dovecot + Roundcube webmail (antivirus, SpamAssassin optional)
• CSF firewall
• File system lock (no more website hacking, all your files are locked from changes)
• Backups (optional)
• AutoFixer for server configuration
• CloudLinux + CageFS + PHP Selector
• Softaculous
• Script installer (free and premium)
• LiteSpeed Enterprise (web server)
• Setups server for web hosting (websites like WordPress)
• API for easier account management, and billing API
• NAT-ed version, support for NAT-ed IPs

NotesCopy Anchor Link

To start from a supported system, choose AlmaLinux 8 or 9 at checkout on a StealthRDP Linux VPS.

System requirementsCopy Anchor Link

Make sure that you complete the following tasks before you start the installation process.

HostnameCopy Anchor Link

Set a fully qualified hostname that does not match any domain on the server:

hostname srv1.example.com

Software requirementsCopy Anchor Link

You must have a clean, fresh installation of a supported operating system:

• AlmaLinux 8 or 9, minimal (recommended): the best-supported choice for CWP. AlmaLinux 10 is not on CWP's list.
• Rocky Linux 8 or 9, minimal: supported, but CWP reports some issues and prefers AlmaLinux.
• CentOS 7: not recommended. CentOS 7 reached end of life in June 2024, so do not use it for a new CWP server.

Hardware requirementsCopy Anchor Link

64-bit systems require at least 2 GB of RAM.

Recommended system: 4 GB+ RAM, so you have the full functionality, such as antivirus scanning of emails.

Prepare the serverCopy Anchor Link

dnf install epel-release -y
dnf -y install wget

yum -y update

reboot

Install CWPCopy Anchor Link

Now you are ready to start the CWP installation. The CWP installer can run for more than 30 minutes because it needs to compile Apache and PHP from source.

cd /usr/local/src
wget http://centos-webpanel.com/cwp-el9-latest
sh cwp-el9-latest

Rocky Linux 8 and 9 use the same installers: cwp-el8-latest and cwp-el9-latest.

Optional argumentsCopy Anchor Link

Available long-name arguments:

• --restart yes for an automatic restart after a successful install
• --phpfpm <version> (you can use only one). On the EL9 installer, PHP 7.4 to 8.4 and later are supported.
• --softaculous yes to install Softaculous, the script installer

Available short-name arguments:

• -r yes for an automatic restart after a successful install
• -p <version> (you can use only one)
• -s yes to install Softaculous, the script installer

Example for AlmaLinux 9 (you can combine short and long name arguments):

sh cwp-el9-latest -r yes -s yes

Any of these additions can also be installed later from the CWP GUI.

Reboot the serverCopy Anchor Link

Reboot your server so that all updates can take effect and CWP gets started.

reboot

CloudLinux (optional)Copy Anchor Link

You need a license to use CloudLinux.

wget https://repo.cloudlinux.com/cloudlinux/sources/cln/cldeploy
sh cldeploy -k YOUR-KEY
cd /usr/local/src/
wget https://dl1.centos-webpanel.com/files/c_scripts/cloudlinux.sh
sh cloudlinux.sh

After the reboot, you need to build CageFS and enable it:

/usr/sbin/cagefsctl --init
cagefsctl --enable-all

ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Log in to your CWP server using the link provided by the installer on your server:

• Control WebPanel admin GUI: http://SERVER-IP:2030/
• Username: root
• Password: your root password

Then set up the root email, set up at least one hosting package (or edit the default package), and set the shared IP, which must be your public IP address.

Set up nameserversCopy Anchor Link

And now you are ready to host domains.