ServerBrief

How to create a hosting package in WHM

Define hosting plans in WHM with sensible disk, bandwidth, email and database limits, choose features and the cPanel theme, and move accounts between packages.

2–3 minutes
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A package is a hosting plan in WHMWHM WebHost Manager: the administrator side of cPanel, used by whoever runs the server to create and manage hosting accounts. More about WHM →: a named set of limits and options, such as 5 GB of disk, 10 mailboxes and 5 databases. Every account is created on a package, and changing the package later updates the account’s limits in one step.

Open Packages » Add a Package. Name it, set Resources (disk, bandwidthBandwidth How much data your website is allowed to send to visitors each month. Every page view uses a little; images and video use the most. More about Bandwidth →, email accounts, databases, domains), choose the Feature List and cPanelcPanel The most popular hosting control panel: a website where you manage your email, files, databases and domains with point-and-click tools instead of commands. More about cPanel → Theme, and click Add. Move an existing account to it with Account Functions » Upgrade/Downgrade an Account.

Why use packages

  • Consistency. Every customer on “Starter” has the same limits, so support and billing stay simple.
  • One-step changes. Editing a package updates every account on it.
  • Billing integration. Billing systems such as WHMCS create accounts by package name, so the names must match.

1. Name and resources

WHM Add a Package form with the package name, disk space quota, monthly bandwidth and max email accounts fields highlighted
Packages » Add a Package, Resources section.
  1. Package Name: short and clear, such as Starter, Business or Agency. Resellers’ packages get their username as a prefix automatically.
  2. Disk Space Quota (MB): total for files, databases and email. 5000 is 5 GB.
  3. Monthly Bandwidth Limit (MB): data sent to visitors each month. 50000 is about 50 GB.
  4. Max Email Accounts: mailboxes allowed.

The rest of the list:

LimitTypical small-business valueNotes
Max FTP Accounts2 to 5Extra FTP logins for developers
Max SQL Databases5WordPress needs one per site
Max Sub Domains10Includes staging copies
Max Parked Domains2Aliases for the main domain
Max Addon Domains0 to 2Separate websites in the same account
Maximum Hourly Email by Domain Relayed200 to 500Lower limits contain damage from a hacked form
Max Quota per Email Address1024 to 5120Stops one mailbox filling the account

Unlimited is available for most limits, but it removes the guardrails. On a shared server, one account with unlimited email or databases can slow everyone. Set real numbers and raise them on request.

2. Settings and extensions

WHM Add a Package settings section with options for dedicated IP, shell access, CGI access, theme, feature list and locale, plus package extensions
The Settings section and Package Extensions.
  • Dedicated IP: gives each account its own IP addressIP address The number address of a device on the internet, like 203.0.113.10. Computers use it to find each other, the way post uses street addresses. More about IP address →. Rarely needed now that certificates work on shared IPs.
  • Shell Access: SSHSSH A secure way to type commands on a server from your own computer, as if you were sitting at it. More about SSH → access to the account. Off by default; enable only for customers who need it, ideally with the jailed shell.
  • CGI Access: lets accounts run CGI scripts. Usually left on.
  • cPanel Theme: Jupiter.
  • Feature List: which cPanel tools the account sees. default shows everything installed. Create restricted lists in Packages » Feature Manager, for example one without Shell Access or Softaculous.
  • Package Extensions, such as LVE Settings on CloudLinux servers, set extra per-plan limits: CPU, memory and entry processes. These are what produce the Resource Usage limits customers see.

Click Add. The package is now available in Create a New Account.

Move an account to another package

WHM Upgrade/Downgrade an Account page showing the current package and a list of available packages
Account Functions » Upgrade/Downgrade an Account.

Choose the account, then select the new package and click Upgrade/Downgrade. The account’s limits change immediately. Downgrading below what an account already uses, such as a smaller disk quota than its files take, does not delete anything, but the account cannot add more until it is under the limit.

Edit or delete a package

Packages » Edit a Package changes a package’s limits for every account on it. Delete a Package only works when no accounts use it; move them first.

Something out of date? Software changes. If a step no longer works, tell us and we will check it and update the page.

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