FAQ: Updating Your System

For WHM version 11.38

How do I update...

Apache?

The EasyApache (Apache Update) feature is responsible for updating Apache (along with other applications and libraries). Apache will not update automatically when you run /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp.

Here's where you can find and use EasyApache:

Whenever you run EasyApache, you are prompted to select the version of Apache you wish to use. If you choose a new version number, EasyApache will update Apache accordingly. It may be important to check back frequently as new Apache builds become available.

For more information on using EasyApache, read our EasyApache documentation.

What's the difference between the EasyApache interfaces in the browser and the command line?

The only difference is that the command line provides more flexible, powerful functionality. For example, by running /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/easyapache --build you can skip the configuration steps and build Apache immediately.

For a full list of command line arguments, run /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/easyapache --help

MySQL?

To update MySQL, run /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/mysqlup from the command line.

To change the MySQL version, go to Home>> Software >> MySQL Upgrade in WHM.

If I manually update MySQL, will it work with cPanel & WHM?

Yes, but you need to disable MySQL updates on the Update Preferences screen:

1. Go to Home >> Server Configuration >> Update Preferences.
2. Under cPanel Package Updates >> mysqld, click Never.
3. Click Save at the bottom of the page.

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

Perl modules?

When you run /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp, WHM runs /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/checkperlmodules, which updates your Perl modules.

PHP?

Updating PHP used by Apache

To update the PHP instance used by Apache, run /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/phpup from the command line.

To change the PHP version used by Apache, access EasyApache, either at Home >> Software >> EasyApache (Apache Update) in WHM, or /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/easyapache on the command line.

Updating PHP used by cPanel

To update the PHP instance used by cPanel, run /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/makecpphp from the command line.

If I install a custom instance of PHP, will it work with cPanel & WHM?

There may be compatibility problems with any software you choose to install manually. For that reason, we only support PHP instances that we supply with cPanel & WHM.

PHP extensions and applications?

Updating PHP extensions

You can update PHP extensions provided by WHM using EasyApache (/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/easyapache).

You will have to manually update PHP extensions that you have installed manually.

Updating PHP applications

WHM will update any applications it provides (such as phpMyAdmin) when /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp runs.

You can use the WHM Manage cPAddons screen to update cPAddons that you have installed.

RPMs?

RPMs and other modules that are installed with cPanel are automatically updated via /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp.

If you have installed RPMs that are not included with cPanel & WHM's default installation, you will need to update these manually. These RPMs and packages will only receive an update if you have added them to the YUM repository.

Warning: Third-party repositories can cause problems with cPanel, as well as problems with updates from the OS repository. Please be aware of the risks before you use a third-party repository.

Ruby Gems?

You will have to manually update any RubyGems you have installed.

When you run /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/installruby, WHM will install only required modules. It will update these modules when /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp runs.

cPaddons – How are they updated?

You can manage specific configuration options for your cPAddons using the Manage cPAddons feature located at Home >> cPanel >> Manage cPAddons in your WHM interface. This feature will allow you to choose which cPAddons you wish to update automatically.

These cPAddons are updated by a cronjob that runs nightly. This cronjob updates the cPAddon repository for the entire server.

cPanel & WHM update script – What does the script (/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp) do?

This script handles most of the updates on your cPanel & WHM system. You can run this script in 2 ways:

• On the command line, by entering /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp as the root user.
• In WHM, using the Upgrade to Latest Version feature at Home >> cPanel >> Upgrade to Latest Version.

In addition to updating cPanel & WHM, this script also updates most of the software on your system by calling a number of other scripts within the /usr/local/cpanel/scripts directory. /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/upcp also runs:

Update Server Software – What does this feature update?

The Update Server Software feature manages software dependencies (provided by the operating system) that cPanel requires.

Here's where you can find and use this feature:

Update System Software – What does this feature update?

The Update System Software feature keeps your operating system up-to-date. This feature will also update any package (handled by YUM) of which your system is aware. Essentially, this feature is the same as calling yum update as the root user on a command line.

Here's where you can find and use this feature:

WHM Update Preferences – What does "automatic" mean on the WHM Update Preferences screen?

Automatic updates occur every night at midnight. For more information about Update Preferences, see our Update Preferences documentation.

yum update – What does this command do?

YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) is an open-source command line package management utility for Linux. When you run yum update from the command line without specifying a package, all of the packages contained within your system's repository are updated. YUM will also make sure that all dependencies are satisfied.

Release tiers — What are they? Which one is right for me?

For an explanation of our release tiers, please read cPanel & WHM Versions and Release Process.