You shouldn’t have to become a Linux command master to manage multiple websites. For efficiency without complexity, you have a powerful, server-level dashboard to manage your entire hosting environment with WHM, ideal for agencies, resellers, and freelancers.
WHM (Web Host Manager) is a server-level hosting control panel used with cPanel, and is very popular on VPS, dedicated, and reseller hosting environments.
With WHM, unlike shared hosting, where you manage only one site, you can manage several sites, client accounts, and client projects, all from one streamlined interface. WHM includes separate accounts, custom DNS and nameservers, email management, SSL installation, automated backups, control over allocated resources, and tools for system security.
For freelancers, small agencies, and small to medium-sized businesses with a handful of client websites to manage, WHM offers scalable control and management. It is far more efficient than shared hosting. Advanced server capabilities are at your fingertips with the dashboard for managing client systems, performance, uptime, and security, without deep command line experience.
This guide will analyze WHM in more detail, showing what it is, who it’s for, the main benefits, the main downsides, and how to get started using it safely.
Key Takeaways
- While WHM has the server-level control, cPanel is used to manage individual sites.
- Ideal for VPS, dedicated, and reseller hosting, especially for multi-site management and client hosting.
- Has features that let you set up accounts, control DNS and nameservers, set resource caps, manage email, add SSL, tweak backups, and security.
- Great scalability and flexibility, but entails substantial upkeep, license control, and proper security.
- With good management of WHM, you can minimize admin tasks and enhance isolation, security, performance, and operational efficiency in multi-site environments.
WHM converts server management from the command line into a point-and-click experience, which is a huge improvement for those running many sites or serving a large client base.
What WHM Is – Definition & Role
WHM (WebHost Manager) is the administrative control panel used to manage servers that host multiple websites or user accounts. It works hand-in-hand with cPanel: WHM controls the server and all accounts, while cPanel controls each individual website and user space.
You would usually find WHM on Linux VPS, Dedicated servers, or on reseller hosting, which is where the user has more control than in traditional shared hosting. With WHM, you can manage the whole server from one preset control panel and manage all the cPanel accounts.
Analogy: WHM is like a building’s controls that monitor the power, security, and utilities, while the cPanel is like an apartment in a building with locks, settings, and people.
WHM vs cPanel
The best way to get a grip on WHM is to compare it to cPanel.
- cPanel allows you to control a single website or hosting account. Using this tool, you can control files, databases, domains, email, backup, and apps. Use cPanel when you are hosting or managing one website. (Wikipedia)
- WHM is a server-level dashboard to manage multiple cPanel accounts and set their resource limits. Also, it is used to manage DNS, nameservers, SSL installation, security configuration, and backup automation. When you have lots of sites to host, want to control clients, or resell hosting to others, then using WHM matches your needs.
Many hosting companies fix cPanel + WHM together as bundled VPS, dedicated servers, and reseller packages. Therefore, this pairing has been the industry standard for multi-site hosting.
Key Features & Capabilities of WHM
If you want to run many sites, then WHM gives you tools at the server level to do so. Here is what it lets you do:
Account Management
Make, pause, and delete cPanel sites, with the ability to make host plans that have limits ( disk, bandwidth, mail space, features).
Use case: A firm can give each client their own plan and make sure they have the space they need.
DNS Management
Handle DNS zones and custom nameservers for all the sites you host, including A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records.
Use case: A single person who owns many sites can control all their site’ DNS from one place instead of logging into many registrars.
Security
Put in and take out SSL/TLS certs, set up brute-force guards, firewalls, and other site blocks to keep sites from interacting with each other.
Use case: A user who resells hosting can keep each client safe from harm by having their own space.
Backups
Schedule full or part backups automatically, at the site or server level, and use the backups to get sites back if they go down.
Use case: A firm that owns many sites can go back to one site at a time if needed, and keep all the others safe.
Monitoring
Watch the server for how busy it is, how much memory and disk it has, and the sites it is working on.
Use case: A user with busy sites can make sure the server has enough bandwidth and memory when needed.
Client Management
Gives each client space and access to each site.
Use case: A firm that owns many sites can keep each site safe and separate.
Who Should Use WHM?
WHM is built for anyone with more than one site and a need to do more at the server level. Here is who will use it best:
Freelancers: People who are working on many sites now or will soon, like developers or freelancers
Example: A firm that works on 10 sites can control each site, make sure each site has access to the SSL, and backups.
Agencies: Groups that sell hosting or have many sites in one plan
Example: A small site builder that owns five sites can keep each site safe and separate, and make it easy to do backups.
Reseller Hosting: Resellers who resell under a brand name
Example: When reselling hosting, WHM will let you give each client their own space, plan, and logins.
Businesses: Big companies with a large number of websites.
Example: Companies that run many regional sites, microsites, or portals can keep them safe in their own space while all run from one place.
Security requirement: Users who want to keep each site safe and avoid getting slowed down.
Example: WHM will keep each site isolated and better able to stay in good shape with good flow and speed.
Benefits
With WHM, or by using it, freelancers, groups, and companies that run many sites can do it with ease and full control. Here is what you should take into mind:
Control of Hosting Account:
WHM helps you manage each site, each cPanel, and settings for each site from one place. You would need it if you run a lot of sites or want more control of each site.
Isolation Between Websites:
All sites run in their own space, so they are safer, faster, and less likely to slow down one site and hurt the others.
Flexible:
Make your own plans, set disk and bandwidth limits, give IPs, take care of email, add SSL, and set up DNS for each site.
Scalability:
Adding another site or client site is a few clicks, so you do not need to buy a new server for each new site or new client.
Built-in:
WHM lets you sell hosting with your own name, access for each client, and use your own plans.
Trade-Offs
Hosting requirement:
WHM is not good for people just starting out who have one site. It is best for freelancers, groups, and companies that own more sites and plan to own more over time.
Responsibility:
Unlike shared hosting, you do the back-ups, updates, and monitor your own server.
Resource Demands:
A WHM server needs a lot of RAM, a CPU processor, and fast enough storage like NVMe if you have a lot of server accounts that are isolated from each other.
Cost:
cPanel/WHM charges you by the account or by the server.
Learning:
WHM is much easier than setting up a Linux server by yourself, but it is still easy to misconfigure, and everything you do can affect all the accounts you host.
Should you choose WHM or normal shared hosting, it depends on how many sites you run or plan to run soon, and how much control you want. The best way to decide is by reading this guide and understanding how it can help you decide.
You run more than one website or think you will soon.
WHM when:
- You work with many clients and want the sites in their own cPanel accounts.
- You need server control like DNS. Some sites may need many IP addresses, some may need an SSL, some may need more space, or your site may have different or more strict security rules.
- You plan to resell hosting or sell it with your own website design.
- Site separations, you may want different PHP versions, main email accounts, or have tighter security.
- It can grow so you can keep adding new sites or your clients’ sites in minutes.
- You only have one small website, like a blog or portfolio, or a small business website.
- You don’t need root control or server control, and just want simple, easy-to-use controls on your server.
- You don’t have time to do updates and monitors; they will do it for you.
- You have a small budget and don’t need multiple accounts.
- You want simple and not flexible planning, or you want to run multiple sites or clients in the future.
Getting Started with WHM – Beginner Checklist
Below is a simple overview of how you set up your new WHM services for new first-time users. It takes you step by step from getting access to your WHM control to creating accounts, configuring DNS, and setting backups and data security on the server.
- Check Server Requirements
Make sure your server or VPS is using a Linux OS that is receiving support and is compatible with WHM, which is mainly based on cPanel version, such as Alma, Rocky, or CloudLinux.
- Install WHM/cPanel
- Those with a server or VPS should install it through the hosting or instance provider or server installer.
- Those with resell or managed hosting should have WHM already installed and ready to go; no install needed.
- Log In
- Access WHM https://your-server-ip:2087 or https://yourdomain.com/whm.
- Log in with your root (VPS/dedicated) or reseller account.
- Complete the setup wizard.
- Add a Contact Email
Go to Server Contacts and add an email address for notifications:
- Disk space warnings
- Security alerts
- Backups notifications
- Failed servers or services alerts
This will give you a head start and make sure you get emails when there are issues with the server before customers start calling you.
- Create Hosting Packages
Set limits and features for your accounts:
- Disk space
- Bandwidth
- Email accounts
- Databases
- Features (php version selector, SSH, cron jobs)
Packages can make it faster and easier to add a new site or account.
- Create cPanel Accounts
- Go to Create a New Account.
- Enter the domain username, password, and package.
Each cPanel account is for one site, which is isolated from other accounts, making it a safer way to run reseller hosting.
- Configure DNS
- Set up your own nameservers (ns1.yourdomain.com / ns2.yourdomain.com) if you want each site to have its own name servers.
- Change each site’s DNS zone to make sure each record, like A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records, is right.
- Update the nameservers at your domain name registration site.
- Automatic Backups
- Go to Backup Settings.
- Turn on full account backup files and databases.
- Choose how often to back up (daily, weekly).
- Save backups either on the server or use third parties like FTP, S3, or a remote server.
Having backups will protect you from user errors, malware, or hardware failure.
- Basic Security Settings
- Turn on protection from brute-force attacks with cPHulk.
- Set up firewalls and other security policies.
- Install or fix SSL/TLS certificates for each account.
- Turn on system and software updates.
These options will save your server and make it more stable.
- Regular Monitoring
Check your WHM control panel for:
- How much is the CPU working?
- How much RAM is used?
- How much space is left on the server?
- The load average (how busy the server is)
- Click on the services like Apache, MySQL, Exim, and others to see if they are up and doing well.
Getting early warning signs is how you make sure the server doesn’t crash and cause a serious problem.
Basic Security Settings
Check your WHM control panel for:
- How much is the CPU working?
- How much RAM is used?
- How much space is left on the server?
- The load average (how busy the server is)
- Click on the services like Apache, MySQL, Exim, and others to see if they are up and doing well.
Getting early warning signs is how you make sure the server doesn’t crash and cause a serious problem.
How UltaHost Supports WHM-Based Hosting
UltaHost is made to help make WHM hosting simple, fast, and right, more so for agent freelancers and resellers who have more than one or two sites. UltaHost doesn’t add things to make WHM hard; it keeps the infrastructure and helps you have a smooth start.
Built for WHM
UltaHost does offer hosting solutions that will support a WHM installation, and also allow you to run it any way you want, including VPS, VDS, dedicated servers, and reseller plans too.
Every plan will give you the server level control that WHM needs for when you add more clients and more sites you can add as much or as little as you want for when you do have more clients and sites.
Fast, Reliable Infrastructure
WHM works well on a server that is fast and stable; that’s what UltaHost is made for.
You get:
- NVMe SSD to make accounts faster to be created, to help with backups, and also to make sure cPanel works the way you want it to.
- 99.9% uptime, so you can get to your dashboard and keep your sites up and running smoothly.
- Free DDoS protects WHM and all accounts from any sort of traffic-based attacks.
With these kinds of protections, WHM will work great even if you have dozens of accounts.
Free Migration
Getting into a WHM environment can be scary, but UltaHost has the tech to make for a smooth start for you. They can help you:
- Migrate your accounts and sites to the new server.
- Make your DNS zones and nameservers set up right.
- Make DiDE packages and determine how many sites or accounts will fit on each.
- Make sure each cPanel is isolated and set up correctly.
You will have less risk and be able to start working with customers right away.
24/7 Human Support
WHM will give you power, but UltaHost has the right techs who will help you at any time.
Their support team can help with:
- Getting WHM installed and set up the right way.
- Make sure your security is good with firewalls and brute-force protection for logins.
- Making your backup tools work right and making restores easy.
- Watching all your sites and ensuring all of the accounts are doing right.
- Fixing account and server issues if any come up.
If you are new to running a server, that can be very helpful to have.
Scalable Hosting
As you get more customers and sites with WHM, you can easily upgrade your server right there and not have to move anything away. It makes it easy for you to grow and keeps your costs predictable and your sites up and running fast at all times.
FAQs
What is WHM used for?
WHM is a kind of server control panel that you use to manage VPS dedicated or reseller plans that come with high costs. You can make new cPanel accounts, make DNS zones, and set up limits and rules for resources used if you need to. You can see how your server is doing, its performance, install SSLs, and manage user data all from one place.
Do I need WHM if I only host one site?
You do not need it if you just have one site, for which a normal cPanel account or shared hosting plan will work better and cost less. You will get the best out of WHM if you have more than one site, or you have customers you want to host, or want to keep your accounts separate, or have special server needs, or you know your hosting needs are going to get bigger.
Is WHM difficult to learn for non-technical users?
Basic things you will do, like making new accounts, setting up DNS, and making sure your sites are safe with SSL, are simple and work well for a beginner. If you start to get more advanced stuff like firewalls, service configs, and PHP handlers, you have to be careful about what you do. You should have good support from your host if you are new to this kind of work.
Does WHM guarantee server security?
WHM has tools for security: SSL/TLS, brute force protection, firewall configuration, etc.
But security also depends on the hosting provider keeping your server updated and safe, checking for bad files, and making sure you are protected from the network too. WHM is part of a way to keep your server safe, but it is not the only way you have to do your part, too.
What are the costs associated with WHM?
Usually, you will use WHM on a VPSVDS or dedicated server that costs more than shared hosting. It is also true that cPanel/WHM costs more per month, and it can cost more the more accounts you create. It can cost more when you need more resources like RAM or CPU, you use more NVMe storage, and that will cost more to host.
Can WHM hosting scale easily as I grow?
Yes, WHM is made to grow in size. You can make as many cPanel accounts as you need, manage them, give them resources, and so on, and add more domains or customers any time you want, and upgrade your server when your workload is faster. But the best part is for the people who want to have an agency reseller or business that they know will grow.
