Tutorial: Installing and Configuring cPanel/Plesk on a Dedicated Server
Anyone buying a dedicated server for the first time is faced with a “bare” machine: root access, a freshly installed operating system, and no graphical interface to manage domains, email, databases, or SSL certificates. This is where a control panel like cPanel or Plesk comes in, turning the command line into an intuitive web interface.
We at Servereasy.it have been managing dedicated servers for years, and in this guide we share the workflow we use internally to set up cPanel and Plesk on our clients’ servers: from choosing the right operating system to post-installation configuration.
Install and Configure cPanel/Plesk: How to Choose Before You Start
Before running any command, it’s essential to choose the right panel, because going back after installation almost always means reinstalling the operating system from scratch.
cPanel vs Plesk Comparison Table
| Feature | cPanel / WHM | Plesk |
|---|---|---|
| Supported operating systems | RHEL-based distributions (AlmaLinux, CloudLinux), Ubuntu | Linux and Windows Server |
| Ideal target | Web agencies and multi-client hosting resellers | Mixed Linux/Windows environments, developers |
| Multi-domain management | Yes, via WHM (administrator level) | Yes, via Service Plan |
| Interface | Established, widely used, huge community | Modern, modular, marketplace extensions |
| License | Paid, starting from a few tens of euros/month | Paid, three editions (Web Admin, Web Pro, Web Host) |
| Learning curve | Medium | Low-medium |
We recommend cPanel when you manage dozens of clients in an exclusively Linux environment and want to take advantage of the industry’s most mature plugin and community ecosystem. We recommend Plesk instead when you also need to support Windows Server, or when you’re looking for a more modern, modular interface for a smaller number of sites.
System Requirements
cPanel Requirements
cPanel requires an RHEL-based Linux distribution: AlmaLinux, CloudLinux and Ubuntu. The minimum hardware requirements are 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of free disk space, but for production use with multiple active sites we recommend at least 4 GB of RAM and NVMe storage to ensure adequate backend response times.
Plesk Requirements
Plesk is more flexible: it supports both Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, CentOS) and Windows Server. Here too the stated minimum requirement is 2 GB of RAM, but for real production environments we recommend starting with at least 2-4 GB of RAM.
In our experience, the most common mistake at this stage is trying to install cPanel on an unsupported operating system, resulting in an installation that stalls halfway through. Always check your OS compatibility before proceeding.
Before You Start: Preparing Your Dedicated Server
Before launching the panel installation, make sure you have everything you need. Here’s the checklist we use before every setup:
- IPMI/KVM access working, to manage the server even before the OS is reachable over the network
- Compatible operating system already installed (AlmaLinux for cPanel; any supported distribution for Plesk)
- Root SSH access active and tested
- Server hostname correctly configured (e.g. server1.yourdomain.com) and resolvable via DNS
- cPanel or Plesk license ready, or a plan to activate a trial license
- Required ports not blocked by any external firewall (2087 for WHM, 8443 for Plesk)
At Servereasy.it we provide free IPMI/KVM access with every dedicated server, precisely to simplify this stage: you can mount a custom ISO, reinstall the operating system, or work on the machine even without network connectivity, without depending on an external technician.
How to Install cPanel on a Dedicated Server (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Check the Hostname and Operating System
Connect to the server via SSH with root credentials and confirm the system is a compatible distribution (AlmaLinux) with the command:
cat /etc/os-release
2. Start the Installation Inside a Screen Session
To prevent a connection interruption from stopping the installation (which can take 30-60 minutes), run the process inside a screen session:
screen -S cpanel-install
We at Servereasy.it always recommend this step: if your SSH connection drops, you can reconnect to the session with screen -r without losing the work already done.
3. Run the Official Installation Command
cd /home && curl -o latest -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest && sh latest
The process will automatically download and run all the necessary components, with no further interaction required until completion.
4. Activate the License
Once installation is complete, activate your cPanel license using the activation code received at purchase. If you don’t yet have a license, you can buy one directly through Servereasy support or start with a trial period.
5. First Access to WHM
Access from your browser at:
https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:2087
Use your root credentials to complete the initial setup wizard (network settings, DNS resolution, nameservers).
How to Install Plesk on a Dedicated Server (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Run the Official Plesk Installer
Via SSH, run:
sh <(curl https://autoinstall.plesk.com/one-click-installer || wget -O – https://autoinstall.plesk.com/one-click-installer )
The command-line installer lets you choose which components to install (web server, PHP, mail server, database) or proceed with the recommended setup.
2. Activate the License
Once installation is finished, log in to the panel and enter the activation code received by email after purchasing your license, or start a free trial to evaluate the product.
3. Complete the Setup Wizard
On first access, Plesk requires some essential information:
https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8443
Administrator name and contact email, a new secure password, and the recommended view selection (for commercial hosting, we recommend Commercial Web Hosting and Power User View).
Essential Post-Installation Configuration
Whether on cPanel or Plesk, once installation is complete there are a few steps you should never skip:
- Creating your first hosting account or domain, with a dedicated FTP/SSH user
- Enabling AutoSSL or Let’s Encrypt on all domains, to ensure HTTPS without manual intervention
- Configuring email, DNS records, and SPF/DKIM protection for mail deliverability
- Setting up automatic backups, checking the retention period and testing at least one restore
- Enabling basic security measures: application firewall, two-factor authentication on the administrator login, automatic panel updates
We always recommend enabling AutoSSL and automatic backups as the first two post-installation steps, before publishing any site on the server: these are the two settings that, if forgotten, cause the most problems down the line.
Common Errors and Troubleshooting
WHM/Plesk Port Unreachable
If after installation you can’t reach port 2087 (WHM) or 8443 (Plesk), the problem is almost always an external firewall blocking the port, not an installation error.
cPanel Installation Stuck Halfway
In most cases this is caused by an incompatible operating system (Debian, Ubuntu, or CentOS Stream instead of AlmaLinux). Always check your OS before starting the installation.
License Won’t Activate
Check that the server has outbound connectivity to the vendor’s license servers (cPanel or Plesk), and that the activation code isn’t already tied to another IP.
Discover the configurations available on our Dedicated Servers and choose the hardware best suited to the control panel you want to install.
Servereasy Answers:
Is cPanel or Plesk better for a web agency?
It depends on your stack. If you only work with clients on a Linux environment and manage many reseller accounts, cPanel is generally the industry standard. If you also need to support Windows Server clients, or prefer a more modern interface, Plesk is the better fit.
How much does a cPanel or Plesk license cost?
Pricing varies based on the number of accounts/domains managed and the edition chosen. Both panels offer several license tiers, from entry-level versions up to unlimited hosting plans. We recommend contacting Servereasy support for an up-to-date quote based on your use case.
Can I install a free control panel instead?
Yes. If you don’t need the advanced features of cPanel or Plesk, you can opt for free solutions like HestiaCP or Webmin, which cover the basic needs of managing sites, email, and databases at no license cost.
Do I need Linux experience to manage cPanel or Plesk?
For the initial installation, basic knowledge of the Linux command line is helpful. Once installed, however, both panels let you manage the entire server through a graphical interface, with no need for further commands for day-to-day tasks.
What operating system do I need to install cPanel?
cPanel requires an RHEL-based Linux distribution: AlmaLinux or CloudLinux. It is not supported on Debian, Ubuntu, or CentOS Stream.
Can I switch panels after installation?
Switching from one panel to another on the same active operating system is not recommended: in practice, it’s almost always necessary to reinstall the operating system from scratch and start over with a clean migration of sites and email.
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