root-level sysadmins without fake cPanel accounts [Case 54946, Case 54948]

[cPanelDavidG]

It was requested that cPanel & WHM support additional root-level accounts without the need for those accounts to be created as cPanel accounts with fake domains then promoted to reseller status.

Contributed by: United Hosting and Eleven2.

[monarobase]

Yes I defiantly would like this too. I believe there is already a feature request for this so I will not create a new one : this feature plus this ability to deny root login to WHM once new root users have been created would make a lot of sense.

[Kent Brockman]

Yep, I don't know where exactly, but I think there is a feature requesting user aliases. That could make this request work in case the alias applies to a root user.

[UH-Matt]

Adding heat to this (even though it was our suggestion)... Confuses a lot of our users when they see the dummy domain we picked for their WHM account in the list. Much better to seperate WHM users so they don't need a cPanel account with elevated privs.

[cPanelDavidG]

After talking with our Product Manager, I learned we have undocumented but officially supported functionality to accommodate this at present. However, this does require the use of SSH.

Here's how you can create a root-level sysadmin without creating a fake cPanel account:

1. Create a system user as you would on a plain Linux server (without cPanel)
2. Edit the /var/cpanel/resellers file, and add a line:

username:all

...where username is the username of the account you just created

That system user can now login to WHM and they will have full root-level permissions.

[cPanelDavidG]

I have received some communication from those desiring this functionality that this should be added to the WHM GUI. I am noting that here so others can comment.

[monarobase]

Great news, thanks for keeping us informed