Installation Guide – cPanel DNSOnly® Installation

1. Introduction to cPanel DNSOnly

cPanel DNSOnly is a lightweight and free version of cPanel designed exclusively for managing DNS services. It allows you to build a reliable and scalable DNS Cluster to improve domain performance, redundancy, and global availability.

2. System Requirements

Before installing cPanel DNSOnly, ensure your server meets the following requirements:

• The server must meet the operating system’s official system requirements.
• The server must not contain any previous content or configurations.
• Ports 53, 953, and 2087 must be open.
• Port 25 must be open if you want the server to send email notifications.
• Your DNS Cluster must follow the official cPanel cluster configuration guidelines.
• If your cluster uses DNSSEC, all servers must run PowerDNS.

3. How to Install cPanel DNSOnly

Follow the steps below to install cPanel DNSOnly on your server:

Step 1: Navigate to the Home Directory

Move to the /home directory:

cd /home

Step 2: Download the Installation File

Run the following command to download the latest installer from WebPros International, LLC:

curl -o latest-dnsonly -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest-dnsonly

Step 3: Run the Installer

Execute the installer using this command:

sh latest-dnsonly

4. Accessing the cPanel DNSOnly Interface

After installation, follow these steps to log in:

• Open your browser and go to:
  https://IP:2087
  Replace IP with your server’s actual IP address or domain name.
• Enter root as the username.
• Enter your root password.
• Click Log in.

5. DNSSEC Support in cPanel DNSOnly

Warning: If your DNS Cluster contains domains using DNSSEC, all servers in the cluster must run PowerDNS.

cPanel & WHM fully supports DNSSEC. A DNS resolver compares the DNSSEC record with the DS record stored at the domain registrar. If both match, the record is considered valid.

Managing DNSSEC Keys

You can create, manage, or delete DNSSEC keys from the Zone Editor interface:

cPanel » Home » Domains » Zone Editor

To manually synchronize or revoke active DNSSEC keys in a DNS Cluster, run the following script as root:

/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/dnssec-cluster-keys

Conclusion

Installing cPanel DNSOnly is an excellent solution for building a secure, fast, and scalable DNS Cluster. By meeting the system requirements, following the installation steps, and properly configuring DNSSEC, you can ensure high availability and strong DNS security for your infrastructure.