How Your Server Manages Domains, Virtual Hosts, Server Type Detection, Interface Locks, and WHM Keyboard Shortcuts

1. How cPanel Handles Domains and Virtual Hosts

Virtual hosts, or vhosts, allow a server to host multiple domains on a single IP address. This enables users to receive different content from different hostnames even when they share the same IP.

1.1 Simplified Hosting Workflow

• The user requests content from a hostname such as example.com.
• The hostname resolves to an IP address.
• The user connects to that IP and retrieves the content.

1.2 How Virtual Hosting Actually Works

Multiple hostnames can resolve to the same IP. To ensure the correct content is served, the browser includes the hostname in the HTTP request. This allows the server to maintain multiple virtual hosts on a single IP.

1.3 How cPanel Manages Virtual Hosts

Each cPanel account includes one primary vhost containing:

• The primary domain
• The www. version of the primary domain

1.4 Domain Types in cPanel

Aliases

A hostname that serves the same content as the primary domain. Example:

anotherexample.com → example.com

Subdomains

Hostnames like sub.example.com that exist on separate virtual hosts.

Addon Domains

Independent domains that cPanel maps through a subdomain and alias combination.

1.5 SSL‑Encrypted Content

For SSL content, cPanel creates a separate vhost with SSL parameters. Both SSL and non‑SSL vhosts share the same document root.

Important: Each vhost supports only one SSL certificate.

2. Identify Server Type (cPanel or WP Squared)

You can determine whether your server runs cPanel & WHM or WP Squared using the /usr/local/cpanel/server.type file.

Command:

readlink /usr/local/cpanel/server.type

Possible Outputs:

• cpanel — The server runs cPanel & WHM
• wp2 — The server runs WP Squared

3. Interface Lock Scripts in WHM

The Interface Lock System prevents users from modifying certain features during cPanel & WHM upgrades. Locks can be global or user‑specific.

3.1 Lock Names

• UpdateHostname — Prevents hostname changes during updates
• User‑level locks — Restrict access to Horde and CalDAV/CardDAV

3.2 Available Scripts

Check if an interface is locked:

/usr/local/cpanel/bin/is_interface_locked

Lock an interface:

/usr/local/cpanel/bin/lock_interface

Unlock an interface:

/usr/local/cpanel/bin/unlock_interface

Warning: Only use these scripts when instructed by cPanel Support.

4. Keyboard Shortcuts in WHM

WHM includes keyboard shortcuts to help administrators navigate the interface more efficiently.

4.1 Global Shortcuts

• Shift + 8 — Toggle Expand/Collapse All
• Ctrl + / — Move cursor to Search box

4.2 Left Navigation Menu Shortcuts

• ↑ — Move up
• ↓ — Move down
• ← — Collapse category (LTR)
• → — Expand category (LTR)
• Enter — Expand/collapse or open item
• Tab — Move down
• Shift + Tab — Move up

4.3 Enabling Tab Navigation on macOS

Instructions are available for Firefox, Safari, and Chrome to enable full keyboard navigation.