How to Add a cPanel Server to WHMCS

In light of our recent announcement offering a free WHMCS license with select VPS packages, I’ve filmed a tutorial on how quick and easy it is to install WHMCS with just a couple of clicks.

Now, let’s take a deeper dive into an essential configuration: how to add a cPanel server to WHMCS so you can start provisioning web hosting services for your customers.

Prerequisites

Before getting started, make sure you have the following ready:

1. An active Plus, Turbo, or Business CloudShield VPS
2. WHMCS installed and licensed

While not required, it’s helpful to have an idea of the packages and pricing you’ll offer your customers. You can adjust these later as your business evolves, but for this tutorial, we’ll be setting up a basic package.

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Step 1: Access the Server Configuration in WHMCS

1. Login to your WHMCS admin area.

2. Navigate to System Settings by clicking the gear icon on the top-right menu.

3. In the System Settings menu, click Servers.

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Step 2: Create a Server Group

WHMCS uses server groups to organize your servers. These groups help WHMCS decide which servers will handle specific packages. As your business grows, you’ll need to add more groups to accommodate different products and services.

1. Click Create New Group.

2. For this demonstration, let’s name the group Web Hosting, indicating it will handle standard web hosting accounts. If you plan to offer Reseller Hosting in the future, you might create a separate group for that.

3. Set the Fill Type to the default, “Add to the least full server,” to ensure balanced distribution of customers across your servers.
4. Save Changes.

At this point, we haven’t added any servers yet, so let’s move on to the next step.

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Step 3: Add a Server

After creating the server group, you’ll be brought back to the Servers page, where you can now Add New Server.

1. Click Add New Server.

2. You will be presented with a form asking for details like hostname, IP address, and API token.

To fill this information in, head over to your NameHero client area in a new tab.

• Find the server’s Hostname/IP Address in your client area.
• Click the orange WHM logo to log in to Web Host Manager (WHM).
• In WHM, navigate to Manage API Tokens and click Generate Token.

Here’s how to generate the API token:

1. Name the token (e.g., WHMCS).
2. Set it to Never Expire.
3. Whitelist the IP address of your CloudShield VPS (make sure your WHMCS is installed on this server).

4. Check the option for Everything to ensure WHMCS can perform necessary tasks.

5. Click Save, then copy the token and store it securely (in a password manager, for example).

Return to WHMCS and enter the following details:

• Hostname: Found in your NameHero client area.
• Username: Use root.
• Leave the Password field empty and paste the API token you generated earlier.
• Click Test Connection.

If everything is set up correctly, you should see a confirmation message.

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Step 4: Finalize Server Settings

Now that the connection is successful, you’ll want to fill in some additional details:

1. Monthly Cost: Enter the monthly cost of the server (e.g., $67.57 for this example). This helps track your expenses and profits in WHMCS.
2. Datacenter/NOC: Specify where the server is located.
3. Number of Accounts: WHMCS sets the default to 200 accounts, but feel free to adjust this based on the number of clients you anticipate.

For the Nameservers, WHMCS will auto-populate the fields. If you’re not familiar with these settings, it’s best to leave them as they are.

The SSO Access Control allows administrators in WHMCS to use Single Sign-On (SSO) to access the server. In most cases, leaving the default settings here is fine.

Finally, click Save Changes to complete the server setup.

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Congratulations! You’re Ready to Start Selling

You’ve successfully added your first cPanel server to WHMCS! Now, you can create web hosting packages and start provisioning accounts for your customers.

In my next tutorial, I’ll cover how to set up packages, so you can start bringing customers on board and manage their services seamlessly.

Stay tuned!

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