CentOS Web Panel for Small Business: Free Alternative to Expensive Hosting Control Panels

What is CentOS used for?

CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System) is a free, community-built Linux distribution historically derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Businesses have used CentOS widely for servers that host websites, databases, email, DNS, and control panels.

Important lifecycle note:CentOS 7 reached End-of-Life on 30 June 2024, so new deployments should consider RHEL-compatible successors such as AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux.
 

What is a control panel? What is a web panel?

A web hosting control panel (or “web panel”) is a browser-based dashboard that lets you manage a server without using the command line for every task. Typical features include:

• Creating sites and virtual hosts, managing files and SSL/TLS
• Managing databases, email accounts, FTP/SFTP users
• DNS and nameserver configuration
• Backups, monitoring, logs, firewalls, and package updates

Control Web Panel (CWP)—formerly CentOS Web Panel—is one such option designed for RHEL-compatible distros and small-business hosting needs. Homepage: control-webpanel.com
 

Is CentOS still free to use? How much does CentOS cost?

Yes—CentOS was free, and its successors (CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux) remain free to use. There is no OS license fee. Your costs are server/hosting, domain, bandwidth, backups, and optional paid support.

Is CWP free? What does CWP Pro cost?

CWP has a free edition and a low-cost CWP Pro tier. Current stated pricing on the official site is about $1.49/month or $11.99/year for Pro, with additional support bundles available. (Partner/NOC tiers are also listed here.)

What are the requirements for CentOS Web Panel (CWP)?

CWP requires a fresh minimal install of a supported OS plus basic server resources. The vendor lists (excerpt):

• Fresh minimal install; proper hostname (FQDN) and public IP
• 64-bit OS; at least 1 GB RAM (2–4 GB recommended), ≥10 GB disk
• Supported OS families are RHEL-compatible; legacy pages reference CentOS 6/7 and note CentOS 8 “not supported yet”

See the vendor page for details: CWP System Requirements. Given CentOS 7 EOL, many users deploy CWP on AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux—confirm current support on the CWP site before installing.

How to see the control panel in Linux (CWP access)?

After installation, access the admin UI in your browser using the server IP and panel ports:

• http://SERVER-IP:2030/ (admin GUI, no SSL)
• https://SERVER-IP:2031/ (admin GUI over SSL)

The official instructions show these URLs after install: CWP Installation Instructions. You may need to open these ports in your firewall.

How secure is CentOS / CWP?

Linux security depends on proper configuration, timely patching, least-privilege access, and hardening. CWP includes security tools (firewall configuration, service controls, and a CWP Secure Kernel for supported OS versions). Start at the vendor docs and changelog:

• CWP homepage
• CWP changelog

Best practice: keep the OS and panel up to date, restrict SSH, enable a firewall/WAF, use strong TLS, and back up regularly.

 

How to check web service in CentOS/CWP

From the terminal (examples will vary by stack):

• systemctl status httpdorsystemctl status nginx — web server status
• systemctl status php-fpm — PHP-FPM status
• curl -I http://localhost — check HTTP response headers
• ss -tulpen | grep -E ':80|:443|:2030|:2031' — confirm listening ports

In the panel, use the Service Status/Monitor pages. Example guides: InMotion’s install note (ports 2030/2031).

What is the difference between CentOS (Linux) and Windows?

• Licensing: Windows Server requires licenses; CentOS/RHEL-compatible distros are free to use (support optional).
• Stack fit: Linux is the default for Apache/Nginx, PHP, MySQL/PostgreSQL; Windows is common for .NET/IIS/SQL Server.
• Performance/footprint: Linux can be very lightweight and efficient for web workloads.
• Admin model: Linux emphasizes shells, automation, and package managers; Windows emphasizes GUI tools and the Microsoft ecosystem.

How do I remove CentOS Web Panel?

There is no official uninstaller. The CWP wiki and community posts explain that removal generally requires reinstalling the OS to return the server to a clean state.

• Official wiki: How to uninstall CWP
• Example community note: AccuWebHosting KB (mentions no uninstaller)

Recommendation: test CWP on a non-production VM first; take full snapshots/backups before installing on a live server.

What is the difference between Ubuntu and CentOS desktop?

• Audience & releases: Ubuntu targets desktops and servers with frequent releases and newer packages; CentOS (and successors) focus on server-grade stability and long lifecycles.
• Package managers: Ubuntu uses apt; CentOS/RHEL compatibles use yum or dnf.
• Use case: For everyday desktop use, Ubuntu offers broader out-of-the-box support; for conservative server environments, AlmaLinux/Rocky (as CentOS successors) are popular.

Getting started (quick path)

1. Pick a supported OS (e.g., AlmaLinux/Rocky) and deploy a fresh minimal server.
2. Follow the vendor install steps: CWP Installation Instructions.
3. Open panel ports 2030/2031 in your firewall, then log in via the URL shown post-install.
4. Create a hosting package, set nameservers, add your domain, and issue SSL.

Prefer a simpler, fully managed route? Consider Plesk-based hosting where SSL, email, DNS and updates are bundled: EuroDNS Plesk Web Hosting. You can also start with Managed WordPress if your site runs on WordPress.


 

Useful references (live as of today):CWP homepage • CWP system requirements • CWP Pro pricing • Installation instructions • CentOS 7 EOL (Red Hat)