What is the cPanel server installation service?
It is a one-time job in which we take a server that has only a fresh operating system on it and configure it, end to end, into a hosting server you can put customers on. That means cPanel & WHM with the hostname, DNS and nameservers done properly, a tuned web server and PHP stack, a database server sized for the RAM, a firewall that only opens what you use, the security settings cPanel itself recommends, and the LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, Imunify360 and Softaculous layers if you are licensed for them. We test every part before handing over root to you.
It is for people who just bought a VPS or a dedicated server and want it set up the way an experienced host would set up its own: resellers starting a hosting business, agencies moving off shared hosting, developers who want one server done right once, and businesses in Pakistan who would rather deal with a local administrator on WhatsApp than a foreign ticket desk. If you want to understand the work before you buy it, the complete cPanel server setup guide walks through every step we perform.
What the final build looks like depends on your server. Operating system, RAM and CPU, which licences you hold, what the software supports on that OS, and what you actually need to host all change the configuration. Every component below is included when it applies; none of them is forced onto a server where it does not belong.
What is included for $50
Everything in the grid is part of the flat price. Items that need a licence (LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, Imunify360, Softaculous) are installed and configured when you have that licence; we sell all of them at reseller rates in the licence store if you do not.
cPanel & WHM
- cPanel & WHM installation on a clean, updated OS
- Hostname (FQDN) set and verified, hostname SSL via AutoSSL
- DNS: nameservers, resolvers, first zone and records
- WHM Initial Setup, Basic WebHost Manager Setup, Tweak Settings
- Hosting environment: packages, feature lists, contact email, backups schedule
LiteSpeed Web Server
- LiteSpeed Enterprise installed in place of Apache (licence required)
- Web server configuration ported from EasyApache 4
- LSCache module enabled so sites can use LiteSpeed Cache
- PHP handler, worker and connection tuning for the box size
CloudLinux OS
- CloudLinux conversion or fresh install (licence required)
- LVE limits: CPU, memory, IO, IOPS, entry processes, processes
- CageFS enabled so accounts cannot see each other
- PHP Selector and MySQL Governor where the licence includes them
Imunify360
- Installation and registration against your licence
- Firewall, WAF rules, malware scanner and proactive defence enabled
- Scan schedule, quarantine and notification policies set
- Coordinated with CSF so the two do not fight over the same rules
Softaculous
- Installation and licence activation
- Enabled per package or feature list as you prefer
- Auto-update, backup and email settings configured
CSF/LFD firewall
- CSF installed from the cPanel-maintained fork (ConfigServer closed in 2025)
- Only the ports your services need are open; everything else closed
- LFD login-failure blocking for SSH, cPanel, WHM, FTP, mail
- Port-flood, connection-limit and SYN-flood rules sized for the server
Security hardening
- SSH: key-based login, root policy, custom port on request
- cPHulk brute-force protection and WHM Security Advisor items cleared
- Unused services disabled, Host Access Control rules
- Automatic cPanel and OS updates enabled
- PHP and Apache/LiteSpeed attack-surface reduction (details below)
Optimization and testing
- PHP versions, PHP-FPM pools and OPcache set to sane defaults
- MySQL 8 or MariaDB tuned for the available RAM
- Web server, CloudLinux and resource limits sized to the hardware
- Full test pass, then a written handover checklist
How the installation works, step by step
The order matters. Security goes on after the stack is built but before any real domain is added, and nothing is handed over until it has been tested from outside the server. This is the same sequence we follow on our own machines.
Pre-flight checks
We log in over SSH and confirm the OS is a fresh, supported release, the server has a static IPv4, at least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk, SELinux is disabled and nothing else is installed on it. We set the hostname to your FQDN, run a full OS update and ask your provider for a matching reverse DNS record if it is missing.
cPanel & WHM installation
The official installer runs on the clean OS. When it finishes we activate your cPanel licence (or the 15-day trial), complete the WHM Initial Setup with your contact email, nameservers and resolvers, and confirm WHM loads over HTTPS on the hostname.
WHM and hosting configuration
Basic WebHost Manager Setup, Tweak Settings, packages and feature lists, backup schedule and destination, mail and DNS settings. If the server will host resellers we build the reseller ACLs and packages you ask for.
Web, PHP and database stack
EasyApache 4 profile with the PHP versions you need, PHP-FPM enabled, OPcache set, or LiteSpeed Enterprise installed in place of Apache if you hold a licence. MySQL 8 or a MariaDB LTS release is chosen with you and tuned for the RAM on the box.
Security layer
CSF/LFD, cPHulk, SSH policy, Imunify360 if licensed, ModSecurity rule set, Host Access Control, disabled unused services and the WHM Security Advisor cleared. Automatic updates are switched on so the server does not fall behind after handover.
CloudLinux, Softaculous and add-ons
CloudLinux conversion with LVE limits and CageFS if you have the licence, then Softaculous, JetBackup or any other cPanel plugin you are licensed for. Each one is registered, configured and checked in WHM.
Testing and handover
A test account with a real domain, PHP and database checks on every version, mail delivery test, DNS and nameserver checks from outside the server, firewall and service verification. You receive a handover note listing every setting we changed, then we remove our SSH key.
Security hardening that ships with every install
A default cPanel install is not hardened; cPanel ships it open so nothing breaks, and expects the administrator to lock it down. These are the layers we apply. The exact set depends on the OS and on whether Imunify360 and CloudLinux are licensed; where they are not, CSF, cPHulk and ModSecurity carry the load. The reasoning behind each one is in our cPanel server security hardening guide.
| Area | What we configure | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| SSH | Key-based login, password auth off on request, root login policy agreed with you, custom port if you want one | SSH is the most attacked service on every public server |
| Firewall (CSF/LFD) | Allow only 22 (or your port), 25/465/587, 53, 80/443, 110/995, 143/993, 2082-2096; block everything else; LFD watches logins | Closed ports cannot be exploited and LFD stops password guessing |
| Service exposure | Unused services disabled in WHM Service Manager (Mailman, FTP if unused, cpdavd, etc.) | Fewer daemons listening means fewer things to patch |
| Authentication | cPHulk enabled and tuned, two-factor authentication offered for WHM, strong password policy | Brute-force attempts against WHM and cPanel logins are constant |
| Updates | Automatic cPanel updates on the RELEASE tier, OS security updates automatic | Most compromises exploit software that was already patched upstream |
| Attack-surface reduction | PHP dangerous functions disabled per version, symlink protection, jailed shell default, Compiler Access restricted, Shell Fork Bomb Protection | Limits what a compromised account can do to the rest of the server |
| Web application firewall | ModSecurity with a maintained rule set, or Imunify360 WAF when licensed | Blocks common injection and upload attacks before PHP runs |
| WHM security settings | Security Advisor cleared, Host Access Control rules, Apache and PHP symlink hardening, Password Strength set | These are the settings cPanel itself tells you to fix |
On CSF: ConfigServer, the company behind CSF/LFD, closed on 31 August 2025 and released the code under GPLv3. cPanel now maintains a public fork for security and stability fixes and points cPanel servers at its own update mirrors. We install from that maintained source, never from an abandoned copy, and configure Imunify360 to coexist with it when both are present.
Performance tuning that fits the hardware
There is no single fast configuration. A 4 GB VPS hosting 10 WordPress sites and a 64 GB dedicated server running 300 reseller accounts need different PHP-FPM pools, different database buffers and different LiteSpeed worker counts. We size each setting to the RAM, CPU and workload you describe, document the values in the handover note, and explain in the cPanel optimization guide how to measure and adjust them later as the server fills up.
| Layer | What we tune |
|---|---|
| LiteSpeed / Apache | LiteSpeed Enterprise with worker and connection limits sized to CPU, or Apache MPM event with sensible MaxRequestWorkers |
| PHP | Only the versions you need, PHP-FPM enabled with pool limits per package, OPcache memory and validation settings |
| MySQL / MariaDB | innodb_buffer_pool_size and connection limits relative to RAM, slow query log enabled, MySQL Governor when CloudLinux is present |
| CloudLinux LVE | CPU, memory, IO and entry-process limits per package so one account cannot stall the server |
| Resources | Swap, file-descriptor and process limits reviewed, cron and backup windows moved off peak hours |
| Caching | LSCache enabled server-side (LiteSpeed) or the caching layer your sites will use, ready for the site-level plugin |
What we test before handing over root
Web server
HTTP and HTTPS respond on the hostname and a test domain; AutoSSL issues a certificate; LiteSpeed or Apache serves PHP and static files correctly.
PHP
Every installed PHP version runs under PHP-FPM, OPcache is active, the disabled-function list is in place, memory and upload limits match what you asked for.
Database
MySQL or MariaDB accepts connections, a test database is created and dropped through cPanel, the buffer pool and connection limits are confirmed.
DNS
Nameservers answer from outside the server, the hostname resolves both ways, the first zone is correct, and glue records are explained if you still need to set them.
Firewall
Only the agreed ports are reachable from the internet; LFD blocks a deliberate failed-login test; Imunify360 reports the server as protected when installed.
Services
WHM Service Status shows every enabled service running; unused ones are disabled; the mail service sends and receives a test message when mail is in scope.
Security
WHM Security Advisor shows no red items we left behind, SSH policy is verified from a second client, cPHulk and automatic updates are confirmed on.
Handover
A test account is created, checked and removed. You get the handover note, we remove our SSH key, and you change the root password.
Supported operating systems and servers
cPanel & WHM runs on the RHEL family and on Ubuntu LTS. Minimums from cPanel's own requirements: a 64-bit OS, 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended, 3 GB or more if you want ClamAV), 20 GB of disk (40 GB recommended), one static IPv4 address, and a hostname that is a real fully qualified domain name not used by any site the server will host.
| Operating system | Supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux OS 8 / 9 / 10 | Yes | Our default recommendation is AlmaLinux 9. AlmaLinux 10 needs cPanel 132 or later. |
| Rocky Linux 8 / 9 | Yes | Same RHEL family; behaves like AlmaLinux for cPanel. |
| CloudLinux 8 / 9 | Yes | Install it fresh or convert from AlmaLinux with your CloudLinux licence. |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | Yes | cPanel supports the current LTS only; PowerDNS is the only nameserver on Ubuntu. |
| CentOS 7, Ubuntu 22.04, Debian | No | Not supported for new cPanel installs. We will ask your provider for a supported image. |
| Windows | No | cPanel is Linux only. Plesk on Windows is a different service; ask us. |
Server types: KVM and other full-virtualisation VPS plans, cloud instances (Hetzner, OVH, Contabo, DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, local Pakistani providers) and dedicated servers, including our own VPS and dedicated servers. Container-based plans (OpenVZ, LXC) need checking first. DirectAdmin, Plesk or Webuzo instead of cPanel is available on request with the same scope; message us and we will confirm.
What you need to provide
- Root SSH access to a freshly installed, supported 64-bit Linux OS (see the table above). A KVM VPS, cloud instance or dedicated server from any provider works; it does not have to be ours.
- A registered domain for the hostname (for example srv1.yourdomain.com) that is not one of the domains the server will host, plus the domain you want to use for nameservers.
- The licences you want installed, or a note that you want us to supply them.
- A contact email for WHM alerts and the decisions we will ask you for: PHP versions, MySQL or MariaDB, whether mail will be served, reseller packages.
- Minimum 2 GB RAM and 20 GB disk for cPanel; we recommend 4 GB and 40 GB or more, and at least 3 GB RAM if you want ClamAV.
Not sure whether your server qualifies? Send us the provider, plan and OS on WhatsApp before paying and we will tell you. If the image your provider offers is not on the supported list, we will tell you which one to pick.
What is not included
A flat price only works if the scope is honest. These are the things people sometimes expect from “server setup” that are separate jobs, so you are not surprised later.
- The licences themselves (cPanel, LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, Imunify360, Softaculous, JetBackup). You bring them, or buy them from our licence store at reseller pricing.
- Reinstalling the operating system at your provider. We tell you exactly which image to pick and check it once it is up.
- Moving existing websites, emails or cPanel accounts onto the new server. That is our separate migration service.
- Ongoing monitoring, patching and support after handover. That is server management, sold monthly; the installation is one-time.
- Application work inside accounts: WordPress setup, plugin tuning, theme fixes, custom software compilation.
- DDoS mitigation, network-level firewalls or anything that lives at your provider rather than on the server.
- A server that already has sites on it or a half-finished cPanel install. That is a rebuild or a repair; message us and we will quote it honestly.
Why order server installation from Qazi.Host
The person doing it is a working sysadmin, not a ticket queue
Installations are done by our founder, a RHCSA and CCNA certified administrator with 14+ years of Linux and hosting infrastructure work, who runs the same stack on our own shared, reseller and dedicated servers.
We sell these licences, so we know the stacks
cPanel, LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, Imunify360, Softaculous and JetBackup are the products in our licence store. We install and configure them daily on customer servers and on our own.
Configured and tested, not just installed
A bare install is one command and a licence. The $50 covers the whole first day of work: configuration, security layer, tuning, testing and a written handover.
Works on any provider, no lock-in
Your server can be at Hetzner, OVH, Contabo, a Pakistani data centre or with us. We remove our key at handover and you keep full root.
Priced for Pakistan, available worldwide
Pay in PKR by JazzCash, EasyPaisa, SadaPay, NayaPay or bank transfer, or in USDT and other crypto from anywhere. Support is on WhatsApp in English, Urdu or Punjabi.
| What you get | Bare install (run the installer) | This service ($50) |
|---|---|---|
| cPanel & WHM installed, licence active | Yes | Yes |
| Hostname SSL, DNS, nameservers, WHM initial setup | Sometimes | Yes |
| PHP versions, PHP-FPM, OPcache, database tuned to RAM | No | Yes |
| CSF/LFD, cPHulk, SSH policy, Security Advisor cleared | No | Yes |
| LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, Imunify360, Softaculous configured | No | Yes, when licensed |
| Tested from outside, written handover note | No | Yes |
| Our access removed at handover | Varies | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
QHow long does a cPanel server installation take?
The cPanel installer itself runs for roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on the server. The full service, with LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, Imunify360, the firewall, hardening, tuning and testing, is several hours of hands-on work. We agree a start window with you when you order and keep you updated on WhatsApp while it runs.
QDo I need a cPanel licence before you start?
Yes, or the free 15-day trial that cPanel offers new installs. Most customers buy the licence from our store at reseller pricing and we activate it during the install. The same applies to LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, Imunify360 and Softaculous: we install whatever you are licensed for.
QCan you install cPanel on a VPS from another provider?
Yes. Any KVM VPS, cloud instance or dedicated server with root access and a supported OS works, whether it is at Hetzner, OVH, Contabo, a local Pakistani host or with us. Container-based VPS plans (OpenVZ, LXC) can be tricky; tell us what you have and we will check before you pay.
QWhich operating system should I pick for cPanel?
AlmaLinux 9 for almost everyone. It is the mainstream cPanel platform, the free replacement for CentOS, and every plugin we install is tested on it. Pick CloudLinux 9 if you will host many separate customers and want per-account limits. Pick Ubuntu 24.04 only if your own tooling needs it.
QIs LiteSpeed, CloudLinux or Imunify360 included in the $50?
Their installation and configuration is included; their licences are not. If your server has no such licences we simply skip those steps and install the standard cPanel stack with Apache, CSF and ModSecurity, which is a perfectly good production setup.
QWhat exactly do you configure that a basic install does not?
A basic install ends when WHM loads. We then set the hostname certificate, DNS and nameservers, packages, backups, PHP versions with PHP-FPM and OPcache, the database server, CSF/LFD rules, cPHulk, SSH policy, WHM Security Advisor items, automatic updates, and the CloudLinux, LiteSpeed, Imunify360 and Softaculous layers if licensed. Then we test every part and write it down for you.
QDo you keep access to my server after the installation?
No. We work from an SSH key that we remove at handover, and we ask you to change the root password once you have confirmed everything. If you later want ongoing management or monitoring, that is a separate monthly service and you grant access again for it.
QMy server already has websites on it. Can you still do this?
Not as a $50 installation, because the price assumes a fresh OS with nothing to preserve. A server with live accounts needs either a migration to a newly built server or a careful in-place repair. Message us with what is on it and we will quote the right job rather than force it into this one.
QCan I pay in Pakistani rupees?
Yes. The service is priced at $50 and the rupee amount shown on this page is calculated at the rate the site uses for all products. Pay by JazzCash, EasyPaisa, SadaPay, NayaPay, bank transfer, or in USDT and other crypto from outside Pakistan.
QDo you also manage or monitor the server afterwards?
Yes, as a separate monthly service: updates, monitoring, backup checks, security patching and troubleshooting. Installation, management and monitoring are three different things; our guide on cPanel server management and monitoring explains the difference so you only pay for what you need.
Guides: how we do the work, in detail
We wrote up the whole process so you can follow it yourself, check our work, or decide the service is worth $50 of your time. Each guide is written by the person who does the installs.
How to set up a cPanel server
The complete cPanel & WHM setup guide: requirements, hostname, DNS, installation, WHM configuration, PHP, database, security and production checks.
Read the guide →How to secure a cPanel server
SSH, CSF/LFD, cPHulk, WHM settings, CloudLinux, Imunify360, ModSecurity, updates, logs and monitoring, in the order that actually stops break-ins.
Read the guide →How to optimize a cPanel server
LiteSpeed, PHP-FPM, OPcache, MySQL tuning, CloudLinux limits, and how to measure before and after so you know what actually helped.
Read the guide →cPanel server management and monitoring
What to monitor, what maintenance a cPanel server needs every week and month, and the difference between installation, management and monitoring.
Read the guide →80+ Linux commands for WHM/cPanel servers
The SSH commands our admins use week after week: services, logs, mail queue, disk, MySQL, CSF and cPanel scripts.
Read the guide →Ready to have your server built properly?
Send us your provider, OS, RAM and the licences you hold. We confirm the server qualifies, agree a start window, and you pay $50 (about PKR 13,250) by JazzCash, EasyPaisa, bank transfer or crypto. Root comes back to you with a handover note.
Who does the work
Ahtsham Khan Qazi
Founder & CEO, Qazi.Host · RHCSA · CCNA · 14+ years in server administration
I build these servers myself, the same way I build the ones our shared and reseller customers run on. If something on this page is out of date because cPanel or CloudLinux changed, WhatsApp me and I will fix both the page and your server.
Read full bio →