What You’ll Need:
- A cPanel server with root access
- SSH access to your server
- CloudLinux trial license (obtained in Step 1)
Get a CloudLinux Trial License
- Visit the CloudLinux Trial Request Page
- Fill in your details and submit the request
- You will receive a trial license key via email
Prepare Your Server
Ensure your system is updated before installation:
yum update -y && reboot
Install CloudLinux
Run the following command to install CloudLinux:
wget https://repo.cloudlinux.com/cloudlinux/sources/cln/cldeploy bash cldeploy -k YOUR_TRIAL_LICENSE_KEY
Replace YOUR_TRIAL_LICENSE_KEY with your actual license key.
Convert the OS to CloudLinux
Reboot the server to complete the conversion:
reboot
Verify CloudLinux installation:
cat /etc/redhat-release
Expected output: CloudLinux release 8.6 (Green Obsidian)
Register CloudLinux
Register your CloudLinux installation:
/usr/sbin/rhnreg_ks --activationkey=YOUR_TRIAL_LICENSE_KEY --force
Enable CageFS (Recommended)
Install and enable CageFS for improved security:
yum install cagefs -y cagefsctl --init cagefsctl --enable
Benefits of CageFS:
- Prevents users from seeing each other’s files
- Protects system files from user access
- Limits users to only necessary binaries
Install PHP Selector (Optional)
Install PHP Selector to allow different PHP versions:
yum groupinstall alt-php -y
PHP Selector allows clients to select different PHP versions for each website from their cPanel interface.
Verify in WHM
Login to WHM and navigate to:
Home → Server Configuration → CloudLinux Manager
You should see CloudLinux activated with access to all CloudLinux features.
Final Reboot
reboot
Your server is now running CloudLinux with all features enabled!
Congratulations!
You have successfully installed CloudLinux on your cPanel server using a trial license. Your server now benefits from:
- Improved stability through user resource isolation
- Enhanced security with CageFS file system virtualization
- Better resource management with LVE technology
- Flexible PHP version control for end users
Frequently Asked Questions
No, installing CloudLinux should not affect your existing websites. The installation process preserves all user data and configurations. However, as with any major system change, it’s always recommended to have a backup before proceeding.
Yes, you can revert to your previous operating system, but it requires a clean OS reinstallation. It’s recommended to take a full backup before installing CloudLinux if you think you might want to revert later.
LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) limits allow you to control the amount of CPU, memory, and other resources each user can consume. You can set these limits in WHM under “CloudLinux Manager” → “User Resources”.