As a reseller, it’s important to know how to perform administrative tasks on your reseller account using WHM.
Web Host Manager (WHM) refers to a program allowing access to the cPanel backend. Reseller accounts use the basic WHM while Virtual Private Servers and Dedicated Servers get the root WHM. This Web Host Manager maintains administrative control over the server and enables the host to manage accounts of clients. The WHM also acts as reseller control panel. However, resellers’ rights are limited compared to VPS as well as root user rights.
Functions of the Web Host Manager
The WHM provides a set of tools that can easily perform the following tasks:
- Manage and monitor websites including resetting of passwords
- Creation, suspension, and deletion of cPanel accounts
- Access in checking and changing the Domain Name System (DNS) zones
- Permission in verification of customer support requests through cPanel
- Permission in checking server information and status
- Create default page when coming up with new account
- Access to customised hosting and control panel with extensive branding
- Change client domain and user names
- Move between each cPanel on your account and access or modify anything that does not need Structured Query Language (SQL) access
WHM Reseller Panel
Reseller users become subordinates of server administrators. As mentioned earlier, reseller users are confined by the server administrator to features that have an effect on clients’ accounts but not the entire server. The reseller panel or WHM is where the resold accounts are managed. Resellers can also retrieve created accounts. Reseller privileges are fixed by the server admin. One server can have multiple resellers.
Meanwhile, the uppermost level is the root user. The server administrator maintains complete access to the server as well as absolute control over various WHM functions. It can adjust global server and customised settings for users with more restricted privileges. Root users can gain access to different levels of the WHM interface which include the reseller and end-user cPanel. Only one root user is allowed for every server.
Guide for Performing the Tasks
To begin with, you must become familiar with access levels provided by WHM and cPanel servers in managing reseller hosting accounts. There are three levels of access to the Control Panel:
- WHM (Administrative or Root level)
- cPanel (User-level access)
- Reseller (Users can create cPanel accounts under their control)
This tutorial will explain how resellers can set up cPanel accounts; administer allocation of resources by designating packages; and, allocating cPanel features in that package. The features consist of cPanel tools, utilities, and plugins such as AWStats or DNS Zone Editor.
AWStats is an open-source reporting tool for web analytics used in data analysis. These are intended for Internet services likes FTP servers, email, web, and streaming media. This tool evaluates server log files that produce HTML reports. DNS Zone Editor facilitates creation, editing, and deletion of service locators, Certificate Authority Authorization, text, and other records. Packages refer to resources including bandwidth limits and disk space usage assigned to cPanel accounts.
Create New Feature List
You can create or build the list with Features Manager.
- Log in to Reseller WHM as the user. There are three built-in features which are Default, Disabled, and Mail only.
- Navigate to WHM>>Packages>>Feature Manager. Add new Features List.
- Choose the list that will be assigned to packages. It is possible to set up multiple features for various packages.
- The new list is seen in the drop-down menu.
- Decide on features you want to add and save. You can edit using the Edit Features List option. Said list may be transferred to a new package. Otherwise, simply edit the current package.
Create New Package
You can build a new package and assign it to a cPanel account.
- Proceed to WHM>>Packages>>Add a Package. Specify the package name.
- Look at the list of resources for this specific package. You may perform edits depending on your needs.
- Find the Features List option by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.
- Click “Add” to add package after specifying the data.
- Revise existing packages by proceeding to WHM>>Packages>>Edit Package.
Create cPanel Account
Create a new cPanel account under the “From Reseller WHM.”
As reseller user you will own the cPanel account after logging into the WHM.
- Click WHM>>Account Functions>>Create New Account.
- Indicate the following details under Domain Information to create new account.
Domain – Primary Domain name of account
Username – Exclusive account username
Password – Choose strong password and confirm
Email – Identify the account’s admin email address
Package allocation and cPanel settings
- Choose your preferred package in the package section that will be designated to the cPanel account.
- Check the Tick Box to allow Common Gateway Interface (CGI) access for cPanel account. You can choose the cPanel theme from the drop-down menu. Select the default locale (system resource available through the app in locale-sensitive objects) from the drop-down as well. The CGI protocol runs guest books, forums, and interactive scripts on websites.
- For DNS settings, you can enable the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) records for email authentication. SPF prevents forgery of sender address in emails. DKIM allows senders to connect domain names with email messages. Creation of the cPanel account automatically builds DNS zone files. Checking the Tick Box adds the equivalent TXT record in the zone file. You may also use nameservers listed at the Domain Registrar as one of the settings. Check said option if the domain in the cPanel account uses external name servers.
- For the Mail Route Settings, you have the choice of Mail Exchanger used by email accounts in the cPanel.
There is an option to detect the configuration automatically specifically mail servers used by checking mail exchanger records (MX). This is a certified and confirmed resource record in the DNS specifying mail servers accepting email messages for the recipient’s domain.
Local Mail Exchanger is utilised if the mail server is used for email functions.
Backup Mail Exchanger makes mail servers as backup if several mail servers are used.
Remote Mail Exchanger is an option in case the remote mail server is used to send email messages.
- Click on the Create Button after pointing out the preferred settings in creating a new cPanel account.
Modifying Existing cPanel Account
- To see all the cPanel accounts, proceed to WHM>>Account Information>>List Accounts. This provides you with the list of all current cPanel accounts.
- Click the ‘+’ Button found in the LHS of the account’s domain name you want to view modification options.
- You are free to change the cPanel password (Disk Partition, Quota, and Plan) or allocated package from the pop-up window. Get more complete options by clicking on the Modify Account option.
Suggestion for Advanced Users
For advanced clients, the Web Host Manager is an ideal way of implementing server-wide configurations along with administration. The WHM has numerous tools and backs up sophisticated web apps for reseller hosting administrators in managing their dedicated servers. Administrators can have control over their servers as well as the core software through several clicks of the mouse. You can even install new modules and software programs to provide hosting administrators these two capabilities:
- Running custom scripts
- Setting up multiple accounts with different levels of access based on the requirements of customers
Combination with cPanel
The reseller hosting plan used with cPanel permits the server admin to build, suspend, or delete accounts without difficulty. It helps set up server access for every account. This access authorises account permission for retrieving valuable server information and changing server settings.
Accounts with specific features can be suspended if any user violates the terms and conditions of agreement. You may produce content and install display for new accounts. Emails are hosted on that server. The process of transferring accounts between multiple servers is not a difficult task. Server administrators are capable of migrating accounts of users to various cPanel accounts’ dedicated servers securely.
WHM can back up the reseller accounts for transfer and assist clients as well. Reseller management tasks may be assigned through the creation of multiple access levels to reseller consoles for various users. Reseller admin manages client setup as well as demo accounts.
WHMCS
The Web Host Manager Complete Solution is the fully-automated website and client billing solution providing a system for clients to order web hosting services, make payments, and submit the necessary tickets. It is provided free of charge together with most Premium Reseller accounts. WHMCS connects and coordinates with the hosting service.
Web hosting firms usually provide the Domain Application Programming Interface making it easier for clients to order their domains within the WHMCS setup. These hosts offer custom nameservers with glue records or nameserver glue that associates the Internet nameserver with an IP address. Clients can make use of this platform in setting up and pointing domain names to their hosting service.