Feature Request: WHM/CPanel access on port 80

[maverick]

I know that this issue has been brought before on a number of occassions on this forum - although with little satisfactory resolution.

I'm starting to think that CPanel/WHM's non-standard port usage is becoming more and more of a problem. We have now come across two independent ISPs that inhibit access to irregular ports - we're talking about normal dial-up/ADSL service providers - not corporate internet access. Needlesstosay, this creates a huge amount of confusion for both us and the clients involved and a lot of hassle to get the ISP to change their ways.

I don't think it will be long before more mainstream ISPs start blocking traffic to non-standard ports as a matter of course. It seems that it is seen as a responsible security measure in today's "security-aware" day and age. Wireless access hot spots etc also by and large inhibit access to anything outside of port 80 and the other common ports.

My understanding of the rationale behind the non-standard port usage of CPanel/WHM is that access can still be made to the server without Apache being up. This is useful for us as hosts, but I don't see that this does has any value to our clients.

If CPanel/WHM is to remain a viable platform - i.e. one where our clients don't have to wrestle with their ISPs to access their control panels and are able to access their control panel from any internet connection, then a readily accessible fallback system needs to be implemented to provide access through port 80.

What does everybody else think? Nick et al. - can it be done?

Mav.

cPanel.net Support Ticket Number:

[Curious Too]

Originally posted by maverick
I know that this issue has been brought before on a number of occassions on this forum - although with little satisfactory resolution.

I'm starting to think that CPanel/WHM's non-standard port usage is becoming more and more of a problem. We have now come across two independent ISPs that inhibit access to irregular ports - we're talking about normal dial-up/ADSL service providers - not corporate internet access. Needlesstosay, this creates a huge amount of confusion for both us and the clients involved and a lot of hassle to get the ISP to change their ways.

I don't think it will be long before more mainstream ISPs start blocking traffic to non-standard ports as a matter of course. It seems that it is seen as a responsible security measure in today's "security-aware" day and age. Wireless access hot spots etc also by and large inhibit access to anything outside of port 80 and the other common ports.

My understanding of the rationale behind the non-standard port usage of CPanel/WHM is that access can still be made to the server without Apache being up. This is useful for us as hosts, but I don't see that this does has any value to our clients.

If CPanel/WHM is to remain a viable platform - i.e. one where our clients don't have to wrestle with their ISPs to access their control panels and are able to access their control panel from any internet connection, then a readily accessible fallback system needs to be implemented to provide access through port 80.

What does everybody else think? Nick et al. - can it be done?

Mav.

cPanel.net Support Ticket Number:

It's not a problem with the vast majority of my users. Those who can't access cPanel on port 2082/2083 have installed CGI-Proxy with no problems.

cPanel.net Support Ticket Number:

[maverick]

We have tried cgi-proxy and although it does work, it is tortuously slow for loading CPanel - it takes several minutes to load the login page using Xskin. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?? (anyone?)

We only have a small proportion of clients that are inconvenienced at the moment (perhaps 2%). But my guess is that this number is only going to go up. It would be nice to see an elegant, integrated solution.

Mav.

cPanel.net Support Ticket Number:

[projectandrew]

You could also use the script on cpanelproxy.net.

For future reference:

FAQ: Can I change the ports cPanel & WHM uses?
http://unofficial-support.com/node/view/47