How to Update Your System

Valid for versions 102 through the latest version

Version:

102


Last modified: February 22, 2024

Overview

This document describes the steps to update various parts of your cPanel & WHM server.

Update cPanel and WHM

We strongly recommend that you regularly update cPanel & WHM on all of your servers. WHM displays the server’s current version in the upper right corner of the interface.

In the WHM interface

To update cPanel & WHM via the interface, use WHM’s Upgrade to Latest Version interface (WHM » Home » cPanel » Upgrade to Latest Version).

Note:

Manually

Note:

You can run the /usr/local/cpanel/cpanel -V command to verify the current cPanel & WHM version.

To update cPanel & WHM from the command line, use the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp script as the root user. This script handles most of the updates on your cPanel & WHM system.

This script also calls a number of other scripts within the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts directory to update most of the software on your system. The /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp script also runs the following scripts:

  • /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/updates-packages — Updates system software. You can run this script instead of the yum update command.

  • /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/sysup — Updates required operating system (OS) software dependencies.

Update Apache

Important:

EasyApache 4 updates Apache®, as well as other applications and libraries. We strongly recommend that you run EasyApache when a new Apache build becomes available.

To update EasyApache via the interface, click Run System Update in WHM’s EasyApache 4 interface (WHM » Home » Software » EasyApache 4).

Update software and services

You can update many services and third-party software through both the WHM interface and manually.

cPAddons

To update cPAddons, use WHM’s Manage cPAddons Site Software interface (WHM » Home » cPanel » Manage cPAddons Site Software).

Note:

This feature allows you to select the cPAddons that you wish to update automatically.

MySQL

Warning:

Compatibility problems may exist with any software that you choose to install manually. For that reason, we only support MySQL® versions that we supply with cPanel & WHM.

To update MySQL via the interface, use WHM’s MySQL/MariaDB Upgrade interface (WHM » Home » SQL Services » MySQL/MariaDB Upgrade).

Operating system kernels

Note:

After you update the kernel, you must reboot your server.

To update the kernel:

  • Via the interface, select the Include kernel packages checkbox when you update your system with WHM’s System Update interface (WHM » Home » Software » System Update).
  • Manually, run the yum update command.

Perl

Warning:
  • We strongly recommend that you allow your operating system’s distribution to control updates to both the system and cPanel Perl installations. Do not customize either Perl installation.

  • WebPros International, LLC does not support updates of Perl beyond the operating system’s or cPanel’s distribution.

  • We also do not support Perl downgrades. Your system will return Perl to the currently-supported version during the next system update.

  • Neither your system Perl or cPanel-included Perl are likely to become corrupt. However, if you suspect that either instance of Perl is corrupt, a greater system issue may exist on your server. We recommend that you open a cPanel support ticket.

You can use the following methods to update Perl and Perl modules:

  • Run the yum update command.

  • Run the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp script, which causes WHM to run the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/check_cpanel_pkgs script, which updates Perl.

  • Run the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/update_local_rpm_versions script to update custom modules.

Note:

Instances of Perl on your server rely on packages for installation and maintenance.

PHP

You can use the following methods to update the Apache or system PHP installations:

Apache PHP

To update Apache’s PHP via the interface, use WHM’s EasyApache 4 interface (WHM » Home » Software » EasyApache 4).

System PHP

To update the system PHP manually, run the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp script.

PHP extensions and applications

Important:

You must manually update any PHP extensions that you installed manually.

To update extensions and applications:

  • Via the interface, use WHM’s EasyApache 4 interface (WHM » Home » Software » EasyApache 4).
  • Manually, run the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp script.
Note:

To update cPAddons that you have installed, use WHM’s Manage cPAddons Site Software interface (WHM » Home » cPanel » Manage cPAddons Site Software).

Packages

Warning:

Third-party repositories can cause problems with cPanel & WHM and updates from the OS repository. Be aware of the risks before you use a third-party repository.

To update packages, run the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp script.

Note:

You must manually update any manually-installed packages that cPanel & WHM’s default installation does not include. These packages will only receive an update if you have added them to the system repository.

Ruby Gems

Warning:

In cPanel & WHM version 66, we deprecated the legacy Ruby codebase and plan to remove it in a future release. This legacy Ruby codebase includes Ruby Gems.

When you install Ruby, cPanel & WHM only installs the required modules. To update these modules, run the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp script.

Additional Documentation