Overview

The cPanel DNSONLY™ software allows you to run a dedicated physical nameserver. It is the simplest version of cPanel & WHM and only replicates DNS zones to your other servers.

To install DNSONLY, follow the instructions in our Installation Guide documentation.

The cPanel DNSONLY software requires a free license, which the server automatically obtains during installation. 

Access cPanel DNSONLY

To access the cPanel DNSONLY interface, perform the following steps:

  1. Navigate to https://IP:2087 in your preferred browser. 

    In this address, IP represents your server's IP address. If you have a domain name that resolves to the server, you can use it in place of the IP address.


  2. Enter root in the Username text box.
  3. Enter your password in the Password text box.
  4. Click Log in.

The cPanel DNSONLY Home interface

You can access the following interfaces from the cPanel DNSONLY Home interface:

Section nameInterfacesDescription
Server ConfigurationBasic WebHost Manager Setup

This interface allows you to change basic WHM options.

SupportCreate Support TicketThis interface allows you to create a cPanel support ticket.
Grant cPanel Support AccessThis interface allows you to grant cPanel support access to your server.
Security Center

cPHulk Brute Force Protection

This interface allows you to configure cPHulk.

The cPHulk service provides protection for your server against brute force attacks.

Host Access Control

This interface allows you to deny access to services by IP address.

Manage root's SSH Keys

This interface allows you to manage your server's SSH keys and add or import new SSH keys to your server.

SSH Password Authorization Tweak

This interface allows you to disable the use of passwords for SSH authentication.
Server ContactsContact ManagerThis interface defines how cPanel & WHM sends alert notifications for server and account events.
Edit System Mail Preferences

This interface allows you to define how your server handles mail for the following system mail addresses:

  • root
  • nobody
  • cpanel
Service ConfigurationManage Service SSL Certificates

This interface allows you to manage the SSL certificates for the services that exist on your server.

cPanel, Inc. does not offer free cPanel-signed hostname certificates for cPanel DNSONLY servers.


Nameserver Selection

This interface allows you to select BIND, PowerDNS, or MyDNS as your nameserver software or to disable the nameserver.

We recommend that you do not start your nameservers unless you plan to use them.


Service ManagerThis interface allows you to select which daemons to enable and which of the enabled daemons to monitor.
Clusters

DNS Cluster

This interface allows you to configure a DNS cluster.

The DNS Cluster feature allows visitors to reach websites on your server more quickly after the web server comes back online.

Remote Access Key

This interface allows you to generate a remote access key.

Use the Remote Access Key feature for automatic account creation scripts, external billing software, and to allow servers in your DNS cluster to exchange records.

DNS Functions

Synchronize DNS Records

This interface allows you to reconcile differences in zone files between servers in a DNS cluster.

Use this interface if some servers in your DNS cluster give outdated responses to DNS queries. This interface includes features to compare zone files among servers, recognize the most up-to-date zone files, and update the servers in the DNS cluster.

DevelopmentManage API Tokens

This interface allows you to create, list, and revoke API tokens. You can use an API token to authenticate with WHM’s remote API.

Users on cPanel DNSONLY systems can access the following privileges:

  • All Features
  • Add DNS Zones
  • Basic System Information
  • Basic WHM Functions
  • Change Password
  • Create User Session
  • DNS Clustering
  • Manage API Tokens
  • Manage DNS Records
  • Manage Styles
  • Nameserver Configuration
  • Remove DNS Zones
  • Restart Services
  • SSL Information
  • SSL Site Management
  • View Server Information
  • View Server Status




IP Functions

Add a New IP Address

This interface allows you to add an IP address to your IP address pool.

Configure Remote Service IPs

This interface allows you to specify remote mail server and remote nameserver IP addresses.

Show or Delete Current IP Addresses

This interface allows you to view or delete your server's bound IP addresses.

You cannot delete an IP address in active use.


cPanel

Change Log

This interface allows you to view published builds of cPanel & WHM software.

The change log documents updates to the cPanel & WHM software that include fixes, enhancements, and patches.

Manage PluginsThis interface allows you to add and remove plugins that exist on your server.
Upgrade to Latest VersionThis interface allows you to update your cPanel & WHM software to the most recent build available on your server's Release Tier.
Restart Services

DNS Server

To restart the DNS server service, click DNS Server.

SQL Server (MySQL)

To restart the SQL (MySQL) server service, click SQL Server (MySQL).

SSH Server (OpenSSH)

To restart the SSH server service, click SSH Server (OpenSSH).



Additional documentation