Install CentOS Web Panel

CWP is tied to RHEL-family distributions and its naming is misleading. What to install it on, and why CyberPanel or aaPanel is usually the better choice.

Install CentOS Web Panel (CWP), a free control panel for RHEL-family Linux distributions. Applies to VPS and dedicated servers.

This is an unmanaged installation. WebGee supports the server and the network; CWP, its updates and its security are yours. See What server management includes.

Consider the alternatives first

CWP works, but it is worth knowing what you are choosing:

The name is misleading. CentOS Linux is discontinued. CWP now targets AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, and it does not support Debian or Ubuntu at all.
It is RHEL-family only. If you prefer Debian or Ubuntu, CWP is not an option — aaPanel supports both.
Its interface is dated compared with CyberPanel or aaPanel, and it has historically had a poorer security record.

Choose CWP if you specifically want a cPanel-like layout on a RHEL-family server and are comfortable maintaining it. Otherwise CyberPanel or aaPanel is an easier starting point.

Before you begin

A clean server — CWP must be installed on a fresh system and cannot be added to one already running web software. See Rebuild your server.
AlmaLinux 8 or 9, or Rocky Linux 8 or 9.
Root access — see Connect over SSH.
At least 1 GB of memory, and more if you enable the mail stack.
A hostname set correctly, as a fully qualified name such as server1.example.com. CWP's installer checks this and fails without it.

Install

As root:

cd /usr/local/src
wget https://centos-webpanel.com/cwp-el8-latest
sh cwp-el8-latest

Use cwp-el9-latest on AlmaLinux 9 or Rocky 9.

Installation takes 30–60 minutes and reboots the server when it finishes.

The installer prints the panel URL and root credentials. Save them.

First steps

Sign in at https://your-server-ip:2031.
Change the root password.
Set the panel hostname and issue a certificate for it.
Create your first account under User Accounts → New Account.

Secure it before going live

Restrict the panel ports — 2030–2031, and 2082–2087 — to your own IP.
Keep it updated. CWP has had serious vulnerabilities; running an old version on a public IP is a genuine risk.
Set reverse DNS before sending mail — see Networking and reverse DNS.