How to Use Server Profiles in cPanel & WHM

1. What Are Server Profiles?

Server Profiles in cPanel & WHM allow you to configure a server to perform specific functions such as mail hosting, DNS services, or full web hosting. Each profile enables or disables a set of roles that control which services run on the server. For example, the Mail profile disables most non-mail services so the server can focus on email delivery and management.

You can manage profiles through the WHM interface:

WHM » Server Configuration » Server Profile

When a profile is applied, WHM hides certain interfaces and blocks related API functions. This feature does not prevent you from manually installing software, but customizing the profile system itself is not supported and may cause unexpected behavior.

Important Note

The system uses values from dynamicui.conf to determine which features appear in the interface. Modifying this file is not supported and may break WHM functionality.

2. Server Profiles and Licensing

Your cPanel license may determine which profile your server can use. For example, a cPanel Solo license allows only one cPanel user regardless of the selected profile. DNS licenses also enforce the DNS profile automatically.

3. Understanding Roles

Roles are collections of services that provide specific functionality. A server profile is essentially a combination of enabled, disabled, and optional roles.

Important: If a role disables a service, all related modules and functions are also disabled. When a profile enables a service, WHM automatically enables monitoring for that service unless you disable it in Service Manager.

Available Roles

• Calendars and Contacts: Enables CalDAV and CardDAV via cpdavd
• DNS: Allows DNS zone creation and editing using bind, named, or powerdns
• File Storage: Enables File Manager and Git Version Control
• FTP: Provides FTP access via pureftp or proftpd
• Local Mail: Controls local mail delivery using exim and dovecot
• MySQL Client: Automatically enabled based on MySQL configuration
• MySQL/MariaDB: Enables database management via mysql
• PostgreSQL: Enables PostgreSQL if installed
• Receive Mail: Allows receiving mail using dovecot, imap, pop, and related services
• Relay Mail: Allows mail relay via exim
• Send Mail: Enables outbound mail delivery
• Spam Filter: Enables Apache SpamAssassin via spamd
• Webmail: Enables webmail interfaces
• Web Disk: Enables WebDAV access via cpdavd
• Web Server: Enables website hosting via httpd

4. Disabled Web Server Role

If a profile disables the Web Server role, the system applies two restrictions:

• You cannot enable CGI Access when creating new accounts.
• The cpsrvd daemon takes over ports 80 and 443 to ensure features like AutoSSL and Mailman continue working.

To prevent cpsrvd from serving ports 80 and 443, enable the following setting:

WHM » Server Configuration » Tweak Settings

5. Available Server Profiles

5.1 Standard Profile

The Standard profile enables all roles and services. It is the default for full cPanel & WHM licenses.

5.2 DNS Profile

The DNS profile enables DNS services only. It is automatically applied when using a DNS license.

Key characteristics:

• DNS role enabled
• Most other roles disabled
• Does not convert the server into DNSOnly

5.3 Mail Profile

The Mail profile configures the server to handle email services only. The web server is disabled, but cpsrvd still handles ports 80 and 443 for AutoSSL and other dependencies.

• Local Mail, Send Mail, Receive Mail enabled
• Web Server disabled
• Webmail enabled

5.4 Database Profile

The Database profile is experimental and not recommended for production. It configures the server to host only database services.

• MySQL/MariaDB enabled
• Most other roles disabled
• Web server disabled

6. The cphttpd Service

On profiles that disable the web server, the system uses cphttpd to provide hostname SSL certificates and support AutoSSL. This service listens on ports 80 and 443 to ensure SSL validation continues to function.

Conclusion

Server Profiles allow administrators to optimize servers for specific workloads such as DNS hosting, mail hosting, or full web hosting. By understanding how roles and services interact, you can deploy more efficient and stable server environments while avoiding unsupported customizations.