Basic Configuration for CentOS Web Panel (CWP)

So you installed CWP and what’s next? Here it is several initial configurations for newly installed CentOS Web Panel on your server. I believe without doing these, you will not be able to host your websites on it. Read on.

First thing first, install CWP and login to CWP dashboard as root or a user with root privilege via http://your-ip:2030

1. Setup Nameservers

Name servers (NS) are often called DSN servers, every web site has two name servers to which it is pointed. Setting up NS must be done at both domain registrar and hosting account (server-end). In CWP you can define your default NS by going to DNS Functions >> Edit Nameservers IPs. Enter your desired Nameservers and put your server’s IP next to each followed by clicking Save Changes button. See illustration below:

Once done, you’ll see this message:

Now do not forget to register those two NameServers (NS) to your domain registrar. Consult directly to your domain registrar if you confused on how to set it up.

2. Setup Shared IP

This is very needed. However if you forgot this step then you’ll not be able to host your websites on your server. Yet, even you typed your VPS IP on browser, it will load nothing / inaccessible. This step is also necessary if you have two or more free IPs on your sever so you can define any specific IP of your server to use with ant other users (think as Shared hosting).

Go to CWP Settings then Edit Settings.

Enter your current server IP or free unused IP. Leave Apache port to 80 by default because we don’t have Varnish activated yet. Do not forget to enter your valid email address in the Root Email field.

After clicking the Save Changes button, you’ll see a message similar to this:

3. Setup A Hosting Package

A hosting package is basically just like a web hosting plan you see in many providers. A hosting package contains limitations to resources like Disk space, Bandwidth quota, number of domains / subdomains allowed, etc. Still in CWP, go to Packages and Add a Package. Next, give that package a name and define several limitations followed by clicking the Create button.:

Once done, you’ll just see a message saying Data Updated!

4. Create a User Account

Think your root user (admin) is an account to access WHM so it has ability manage all cPanel accounts (user). Now, create a user account for your own. You’ll use that user to add your domains /websites on your hosting server. Go to User Accounts menu then click New Account. Fill in all necessary fields and options.

Enter your main domain in the Domain field. You may change other options or simply leave as it is (default). Once done, click the Create button. In the next page, you’ll see a custom Virtual Hosts file generated for that domain followed by account details.

That’s it. Now each time you want to add new website as new domain or addon domain, you can choose whether to create new account or simply use your newly created account.

5. Install Softaculous

This is optional but I believe you and your users may need it. Softaculous, a one-clik script installer. You can install this popular script installer software in CWP with only one click-away. Just go to Script Installer > Script Manager > then click the Install Softaculous button.

You’ll then see this message:

Installing Softaculous in background (check back in 5-10 minutes if softaculous is installed, log file: /var/log/softaculous-installer.log)
If the installation fails, you can try to install it manually using command: /usr/local/src/install.sh --quick

If you refresh your browser and the installation is done, you may notice new menu added in the bottom left corner:

That’s all what I think few basic configs for newly installed CWP. Any suggestion? Do not hesitate to tip me.