Hello helpful experts!

So I just installed a fresh copy of the latest CPANEL on a freshly formatted Centos 5.4 server, I've installed this on other servers before and never had this problem. When I access the server from my browser and go to server-url:2086, I get the authentication box, but it won't accept my root login. I've tried changing the root password via console with the "passwd" command, but it still won't let me login. I am at my wits end here. Please help.

Is there any firewall installed in the server? I recommend that you just run.
iptables -F
make sure to also run
/etc/init.d/iptables save

And give a try.

check the cpanel error log /usr/local/cpanel/error_log and check if there is any errors there

Do you have a dedicated server or a vps? Did you contact your server provider about this issue?

Receiving the authentication window means this isn't an iptables issue. If you were blocked from port 2086, you wouldn't even get that far. Alternatively, you could try https://server-ip:2087 but that will likely yield the same results if this isn't a firewall issue.

However, entering correct credentials (remember, both the username "root" and your root password are case-sensitive) and being denied access sounds like brute force protection has been activated. You may want to investigate /usr/local/cpanel/logs/cphulkd.log to see if that is the case.

Do you have a valid cpanel license? An invalid/expired cPanel will also not let you to login to your WHM control panel. Verify your license here http://www.cpanel.net/apps/verify/

Your ment to goto https://ip:2087 for the first run

Receiving the authentication window means this isn't an iptables issue. If you were blocked from port 2086, you wouldn't even get that far. Alternatively, you could try https://server-ip:2087 but that will likely yield the same results if this isn't a firewall issue.

However, entering correct credentials (remember, both the username "root" and your root password are case-sensitive) and being denied access sounds like brute force protection has been activated. You may want to investigate /usr/local/cpanel/logs/cphulkd.log to see if that is the case.

If that doesn't work, reinstall cPanel since you have nothing to lose. Although I've never had an issue like this before and have installed cPanel dozens of times at least.

Your ment to goto https://ip:2087 for the first run

Actually, I have had this not work before due to the fact the certificate had not yet been generated. I always use 2086 for the first run. (No offense intended and I could be wrong :)

Change the password via root and then restart cPanel - if it still doesn't work, reinstall cPanel.

Actually, I have had this not work before due to the fact the certificate had not yet been generated. I always use 2086 for the first run. (No offense intended and I could be wrong :)

Change the password via root and then restart cPanel - if it still doesn't work, reinstall cPanel.

I always get the certifcate error but just allowed it and then it goes to cpanel setup. Is there firewall anything enabled on the server? Try stopping all csf/apf/firewall services then try

Do you have a valid cpanel license? An invalid/expired cPanel will also not let you to login to your WHM control panel. Verify your license:


I'd the same problem and this thread solved it within a minute.
The cPHulk blocked a lot of hackers and seemed to have closed down.

So this is definitely a step you should take first.
1) Make sure running this command as root on the server gives the IP that you expect: lynx -dump ......showip.cgi
2) Run the following as root on the server: /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt


Thanks for the tip.