How to Change IP Address of a Site in WHM?
introduction
One important detail related to your hosting server is the IP address of your website. In case this address is leaked, this may pose a risk to the security of your server. Hence, changing the IP addresses of a site on a regular basis is a safe security practice. This is a tutorial for WHM (Web Host Manager) root users. It assists them in changing the IP address assigned to a single site on their server.
Why Change a Site’s IP Address?
The changing of the IP address of a site has two primary uses. To begin with, it is a security measure. In case the old IP address was targeted or compromised, one of the new IP addresses can be assigned to minimize the risk of future attack. Second, you may be required to give a site a unique IP address. This is commonly needed to support certain services, like hosting an SSL-secured website with outdated security requirements.
How to Change the IP Address of a Site
This is done through root access and is done with a basic tool in the Account Functions section. To give the site a new IP address, follow these steps.
Log in to WHM Root Account
First of all, you should get into your WHM panel. Use the full root account user name and password. This will give you the necessary permissions to have control over account settings.
Click on the Account Functions Option
After being logged in, go to the Account Functions option in the main navigation menu. To use the tools for managing individual accounts, click this option.
‘Change Site’s IP Address’
In the section of Account Functions, select the Change Site’s IP Address. This will open the panel on which you will control the change.
Select New IP and Change
The Change Site’s IP Address panel will open. It will display information such as the Current Address of the site and any Current Sub/Parked Domains.
New Address: Find the section marked New Address. Select a new available IP address from its dropdown list.
Click Change: Click the Change button in order to send the request.
This is all you are required to do in order to change the IP address of a site successfully in your WHM server.
Note:
DNS Propagation Impact: The re-assignment of the IP address will show the site offline to some of the visitors around the world. This is due to the fact that the DNS (Domain Name System) takes time to spread to all the name servers on the Internet.
Best Time to Change: It is highly advised that you change the IP address when the traffic on your site is minimal. This minimizes the impact of the temporary service interruption caused by propagation.
Unique IP: You can also apply the same procedure and provide a unique IP address to a site. This comes in handy, especially where the sites need a dedicated IP for an SSL certificate setup.
Conclusion
Changing the IP address of a site in WHM is a simple administrative function. The Change Site’s IP Address tool allows for a quick update of the network identity of the site. It is important to keep in mind that the temporary effect of DNS propagation can be expected, and schedule the change accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main benefit of changing a site’s IP address?
The main advantage is that it renders the site difficult to spam. In case the previous IP had been breached, allocating a new IP would block out access to outside attackers who may have been using the old IP.
How long does the DNS propagation process usually take?
The time for DNS propagation can vary greatly. It often takes a few minutes to a few hours, but in rare cases, it can take up to 48 hours for the change to fully update everywhere.
What does WHM show in the ‘Current Sub/Parked Domains’ section?
In this section, all the other domain names (subdomains and parked domains) that are now linked to the primary site are displayed. These domains will also be changed to the new IP address.
Can I use this feature to change the IP address of a primary domain?
Yes, the feature is specifically used in changing the IP address of the primary domain related to a cPanel account.
Where do I find the Change Site’s IP Address tool in WHM?
The tool is available by logging in to WHM. Next, go to the option of Account Functions in the main navigation menu.
