SitePad is installed once per server by the root administrator. After that, every cPanel account with access sees the SitePad Website Builder icon. This guide is for server owners on VPS or dedicated servers; MdmHost shared, reseller and master reseller customers already have SitePad available and do not need to install anything.
Before you start
- Root SSH access to a cPanel/WHM server and a recent backup or snapshot.
- A SitePad licence for the server's IP, unless you only use the features of the free tier. Check current plans and limits on sitepad.com.
- Softaculous installed is recommended, since SitePad is made by the same company and shares its licensing portal.
- Outbound HTTPS from the server to SitePad's download servers.
Run the installer
- Log in as root over SSH.
- Download the installer from the URL given in SitePad's official installation documentation for cPanel, make it executable and run it. The pattern is:
wget -O install.sh https://files.sitepad.com/install.sh && chmod 0755 install.sh && ./install.sh- Wait for the installer to finish. It registers a WHM plugin and a cPanel icon.
- Always compare the command with the vendor's current documentation before running it; never run installer URLs from untrusted sources.
Open the admin panel
In WHM go to Plugins → SitePad. The admin panel shows the licence status, the installed version and settings. If the licence is not detected, use the panel's option to refresh it, and make sure the licence is issued to the server's main IP.
Key settings
| Area | What to configure |
|---|---|
| General settings | Branding name, default language, support contact shown to users |
| Themes | Which theme categories are offered; disable themes you do not want customers to use |
| Plans / limits | Number of sites or pages per user, mapped to hosting packages |
| Updates | Automatic updates of SitePad and its theme library |
| Sender address for form notifications |
Control access per package
To offer SitePad only on some plans, open WHM → Packages → Feature Manager, edit the feature list used by each package and tick or untick the SitePad feature. Accounts on packages without it no longer see the icon. Apply limits in SitePad's plan settings if you want lower tiers to build fewer sites.
Test as a customer
- Create or use a test cPanel account with a test domain.
- Open cPanel → Software → SitePad Website Builder, create a site and publish it.
- Submit a contact form and confirm the notification email arrives.
Keep it updated
Enable automatic updates in the admin panel, or update from it manually after reading the changelog. Updates bring new themes and security fixes. Re-check the cPanel icon after major cPanel upgrades.
Troubleshooting
- Icon missing in cPanel: the feature is disabled in the account's feature list, or the installer did not finish. Re-run the installer and check Feature Manager.
- "Licence invalid": the licence is bound to another IP, or the server cannot reach the licensing server. Check outbound firewall rules in CSF or Imunify360.
- Publishing fails for users: the account's disk quota is full or the target folder has wrong ownership.
- Form mails not delivered: check the server's Exim logs and the sender address's SPF and DKIM.