Understanding Overselling and the cPanel & WHM Release Process

1. What Is Overselling in WHM?

Overselling allows WHM to limit resellers based on the actual resources their accounts use rather than the resources allocated to them. This feature gives resellers more flexibility when creating and managing cPanel accounts.

1.1 How Overselling Works

In WHM’s Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges interface, you can assign resource limits such as disk space and bandwidth. When overselling is enabled, the reseller can allocate more resources than their assigned limit, as long as the total used resources do not exceed the limit.

Example:

You allocate 500 MB to a reseller named Adam and enable overselling. Adam creates four accounts with 200 MB each. Although the total allocated amount is 800 MB, the accounts can continue functioning until they collectively use 500 MB. Adam cannot create new accounts after usage reaches the limit.

Warning:

We strongly recommend setting additional limits when enabling overselling, such as:

• Restricting which packages the reseller can use
• Limiting the number of accounts they can create

2. Overselling Disabled

If overselling is disabled, the reseller can only allocate resources up to their assigned limit. Actual usage does not matter—only allocated values.

Example:

You allocate 500 MB to Bob and disable overselling. Bob creates five accounts with 100 MB each. He cannot create additional accounts once the allocated total reaches 500 MB, regardless of actual usage.

3. Understanding cPanel Version Numbers

A cPanel & WHM version number contains three or four integers separated by periods. Each part has a specific meaning.

3.1 Version Structure

• Parent Value: Deprecated; appears in older systems and config files.
• Major Value: Indicates new features. Odd numbers = development (EDGE), even numbers = production.
• Minor Value: Always 0 for cPanel installations.
• Build Value: Identifies a unique build.

4. Release Versions and Lifecycle

cPanel publishes multiple versions across different architectures and tiers. Some versions are LTS (Long-Term Support), while others are short‑term releases.

Recent Releases:

• 110 (LTS) — March 2023 to December 2026
• 126 (LTS) — January 2025 to August 2026
• 132 — September 2025 to March 2026
• 134 (LTS) — January 2026 to August 2027

Important Notes:

• Automatic upgrades for RELEASE, STABLE, and LTS tiers are delayed by several business days.
• LTS servers upgrade to the next LTS version when available.
• New versions are not released on international holidays or weekends.

5. Release Tiers in cPanel

cPanel provides five public release tiers, each offering different stability and update frequency.

5.1 LTS

One version per year, supported with security and critical updates. No new features unless essential.

5.2 STABLE

Well‑tested and published less frequently than RELEASE.

5.3 RELEASE

Default tier for new installations. Fully tested and feature‑complete.

5.4 CURRENT

Release Candidate tier. Features may still be in development.

5.5 EDGE

Highly experimental. Updated frequently. Not recommended for production.

6. LTS Support Policies

LTS releases receive:

• Critical third‑party application updates
• EasyApache updates until EOL
• Backported patches when necessary

Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS)

Servers running CentOS 7 or CloudLinux 7 on version 110 receive critical OS and cPanel security updates until January 1, 2027.

7. Production Release Workflow

cPanel follows a structured release process:

• Complete development and testing
• Publish to EDGE and development tiers
• Publish to CURRENT
• Publish to RELEASE
• After maintenance, publish to STABLE and LTS

Development releases also include changes planned for the next production release.