When Do I Need Root Access?

When do I need root access?

There are many different features found in Web Host Manager (WHM) that are useful in maintaining your dedicated server. However, not all of them are available to the default user you were given when you signed up. Determining what requires root access can be complicated. We take the guesswork out of that with the chart below. It lists the features found in the WHM, and whether or not you need root access to use it. The list order follows the default listing of categories found in the left hand menu of WHM. Keep in mind, if you’re not logged in as root, you will not see all the options below.

Server Configurations

FeatureRequires Root Access
Basic cPanel & WHM SetupNo
Change Root PasswordYes
Configure cPanel CronJobsYes
Initial Quota SetupYes
Server TimeYes
Statistics Software ConfigurationYes
Tweak SettingsYes
Update PreferencesYes

Support

FeatureRequires Root Access
Grant cPanel Support AccessYes
Legacy Configure Customer Contact 
Support CenterYes

Networking Setup

FeatureRequires Root Access
Change HostnameYes
Resolver ConfigurationYes

Security Center

FeatureRequires Root Access
Apache mod_userdir TweakYes
Compiler AccessYes
Configure Security PoliciesYes
cPHulk Brute Force ProtectionYes
Host Access ControlYes
Manage External Authentications 
Manage root’s SSH KeysYes
Manage Wheel Group UsersYes
ModSecurity ConfigurationYes
ModSecurity ToolsYes
ModSecurity VendorsYes
Password Strength ConfigurationYes
PHP open_basedir TweakYes
Security AdvisorYes
Security QuestionsYes
Shell Fork Bomb ProtectionYes
SMTP RestrictionsYes
SSH Password Authentication TweakYes
Traceroute Enable/DisableYes
Two-Factor Authentication 

Server Contacts

FeatureRequires Root Access
Contact ManagerYes
Edit System Mail PreferencesYes

Reseller Management

FeatureRequires Root Access
Change Ownership of an AccountYes
Change Ownership of Multiple AccountsYes
Edit Reseller Nameservers and PrivilegesYes
Email all ResellersYes
Manage Reseller’s IP DelegationYes
Manage Reseller’s Shared IPYes
Reseller CenterYes
Reset ResellersYes
Show Reseller AccountsYes
View Reseller Usage and Manage Account StatusYes

Service Configuration

FeatureRequires Root Access
Apache ConfigurationYes
Bandmin PasswordYes
Configure PHP and sUEXECYes
cPanel Log Rotation ConfigurationYes
cPanel Web Disk ConfigurationYes
cPanel Web Services ConfigurationYes
Exim Configuration ManagerYes
FTP Server ConfigurationYes
FTP Server SelectionYes
Mailserver ConfigurationYes
Mailserver SelectionYes
Manage Service SSL CertificatesYes
Nameserver SelectionYes
PHP Configuration EditorYes
Service ManagerYes

Locales

FeatureRequires Root Access
Configure Application Locales 
Copy a Locale 
Delete a Locale 
Edit a Locale 
Locale XML Download 
Locale XML Upload 
View Available Locales 

Backups

FeatureRequires Root Access
Backup ConfigurationYes
Backup RestorationYes
Backup User SelectionYes
Configuration File RollbackYes
Legacy Backup ConfigurationYes
Legacy Restore BackupsYes
Legacy Restore Multiple BackupsYes
Restore a Full Backup/cpmove fileYes

Clusters

FeatureRequires Root Access
Configuration CenterYes
DNS ClusterYes
Remote Access Key 

System Reboot

FeatureRequires Root Access
Forceful Server RebootYes
Graceful Server RebootYes

Server Status

FeatureRequires Root Access
Apache StatusYes
Daily Process LogYes
Server Information 
Server Status 

Account Information

FeatureRequires Root Access
List Accounts 
List Parked DomainsYes
List Subdomains 
List Suspended Accounts 
Search Accounts 
Show Accounts Over Quota 
View Bandwidth Usage 

Account Functions

FeatureRequires Root Access
Change Site’s IP AddressYes
Create a New Account 
Email All UsersYes
Force Password Change 
Limit Bandwidth Usage 
Manage Account Suspension 
Manage Demo Mode 
Manage Shell AccessYes
Modify an Account 
Modify Suspended Account Page 
Password Modification 
Quota Modification 
Raw Apache Log DownloadYes
Raw FTP Log DownloadYes
Rearrange an Account 
Reset Account Bandwidth LimitYes
Show Active and Inactive AccountsYes
Skeleton Directory 
Terminate an Account 
Unsuspend Bandwidth ExceedersYes
Upgrade/Downgrade an Account 
Web Template Editor 

Multi Account Functions

FeatureRequires Root Access
Change Multiple Sites’ IP AddressesYes
Modify/Upgrade Multiple Accounts 
Terminate Multiple Accounts 

Transfers

FeatureRequires Root Access
Convert Addon Domain to Account 
Copy an Account From Another ServerYes
Copy and Account From Another Server With an Account PasswordYes
Copy Multiple Accounts/Packages From Another ServerYes
Review Transfers and RestoresYes
Transfer ToolYes

Themes

FeatureRequires Root Access
Change WHM Theme 
Theme ManagerYes

Packages

FeatureRequires Root Access
Add a Package 
Edit a Package 
Delete a Package 
Feature Manager 

DNS Functions

FeatureRequires Root Access
Add a DNS Zone 
Add an Entry for Your HostnameYes
Delete a DNS ZoneYes
Edit a DNS ZoneYes
Edit MX Entry 
Edit Zone Templates 
NS Record ReportYes
Park a DomainYes
Perform a DNS CleanupYes
Reset a DNS ZoneYes
Set Zone Time To Live (TTL)Yes
Setup/Edit Domain ForwardingYes
Synchronize DNS RecordsYes

SQL Services

FeatureRequires Root Access
Additional MySQL Access HostsYes
Change MySQL User PasswordYes
Database Map ToolYes
Manage Database UsersYes
Manage DatabasesYes
Manage MySQL ProfilesYes
MySQL Root PasswordYes
phpMyAdminYes
Repair a MySQL DatabaseYes
Show MySQL ProcessesYes

IP Functions

FeatureRequires Root Access
Add a New IP AddressYes
Assign IPv6 AddressYes
Change a Site’s AddressYes
Configure Remote Service IPsYes
IP Migration WizardYes
IPv6 RangesYes
Rebuild the IP Address PoolYes
Show IP Address UsageYes
Show or Delete Current IP AddressesYes
Show/Edit Reserved IPsYes

Software

FeatureRequires Root Access
EasyApache 3Yes
EasyApache 4Yes
Install a Perl ModuleYes
Install an RPMYes
Module InstallersYes
MySQL/MariaDB UpgradeYes
Rebuild RPM DatabaseYes
System UpdateYes
Update Server SoftwareYes

Email

FeatureRequires Root Access
GreylistingYes
Mail Delivery Reports 
Mail Queue ManagerYes
Mail Troubleshooter 
Repair Mailbox PermissionsYes
Spamd Startup ConfigurationYes
View Mail Statistics SummaryYes
View RelayersYes
View Sent SummaryYes

System Health

FeatureRequires Root Access
Background Process KillerYes
Process ManagerYes
Show Current Disk UsageYes
Show Current Running ProcessesYes

cPanel

FeatureRequires Root Access
Branding 
Change Log 
Install cPAddons Site SoftwareYes
Manage cPAddons Site SoftwareYes
Manage PluginsYes
Modify cPanel & WHM News 
Reset a Mailman PasswordYes
Synchronize FTP Passwords 
Upgrade to Latest VersionYes
x3 Branding 

SSL/TLS

FeatureRequires Root Access
Generate an SSL Certificate and Signing Request 
Install an SSL Certificate on a Domain 
Manage SSL Hosts 
Purchase and Install an SSL CertificateYes
SSL Storage Manager 

Market

FeatureRequires Root Access
Market Provider Manager 

Restart Services

FeatureRequires Root Access
DNS Server (BIND/NSD/MyDNS) 
FTP Server (ProFTPd/PureFTPd) 
HTTP Server (Apache) 
IMAP Server 
Mail Server (Exim) 
Mailing List Manager (Mailman) 
SQL Server (MySQL) 
SSH Server (OpenSSH) 

Development

FeatureRequires Root Access
x3 Plugin File GeneratorYes
Apps Manage by AppConfigYes
cPanel Development Forum 
cPanel Plugin File GeneratorYes
Manage HooksYes
Software Development Kit 

Plugins

FeatureRequires Root Access
Add IP to Firewall 
Google Apps WizardYes
Softaculous – Instant Installs 

At this point, you should understand what functions within WHM require root access. If you need root access, please review our article on how to request root access.

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