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I need to add a domain/IP record to my hosts file on a CentOS box running WHM/cPanel, so that a domain which has no public DNS is routed to the correct IP address.

I've done this on my macbook but I'm unsure of the process on cPanel.

When I nano /etc/hosts I see the following:

# Automatically generated by OnApp (2.3.1)
127.0.0.1               localhost
1.2.3.4                 s1.mydomain.com

So - if the contents of this file are automatically generated:

  • Is it safe to edit this file manually - or will cPanel wipe my changes during updates etc?
  • Does WHM/cPanel have an GUI for adding hosts records?
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  • Do you have a root account? otherwise you can't.
    – Simon Hayter
    Aug 7, 2015 at 9:46
  • Yeah I have root and can edit and save the file. I'd just be keen to know if cPanel will overwrite the changes if OnApp generates the file again
    – JamesG
    Aug 7, 2015 at 15:11
  • Good question. There is not much information on this, and no GUI plugin for WHM/cPanel for direct hosts file mitigation. Have you tried experimenting though? For example, add a line in /etc/hosts, then change/add a nameserver in DNS Functions » NS Record Report or mess with DNS Functions » Add an A Entry for Your Hostname (or other spots) to see if your manual changes are wiped out or preserved. Going on a limb, i think you're safe to edit it, however as LaVar Burton says, "But you don't have to take my word for it...." (insert cPanel expert opinion in next comment hah)
    – dhaupin
    Aug 7, 2015 at 15:14

3 Answers 3

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It is perfectly acceptable to update /etc/hosts in cPanel/WHM.

As a rule of thumb, incase of an update which may change the file (unlikely, cPanel doesn't tend to touch it after the initial install phase) run this command to take a backup.

# cp /etc/hosts /etc/hosts.bak

This will copy your hosts file to a new file in your etc directory called hosts.bak which you can rename to hosts again at anytime incase you need to revert any changes.

At current, cPanel does not provide a GUI for updating your hosts file however, if this is a feature that you feel will benefit others, you can submit a feature request where others can vote on and discuss your request.

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Yes, you can safely add entries to the hosts file. The only thing you might need to consider is that the entries may be erased if you update WHM/Cpanel.

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I use this feature routinely to speed up development.

My hosts file from line 4 and on looks like this so we all know which areas are something we can edit without worrying about the server generated stuff - we never touch those first few lines!

###START{CUSTOM_HOSTS_SPOOF}
10.1.1.2        clientdomain1.example www.clientdomain1.example
10.1.1.2        clientdomain2.example www.clientdomain2.example
10.1.1.2        clientdomain3.example www.clientdomain3.example
10.1.1.2        clientdomain4.example www.clientdomain4.example
###END{BRIXWORK_HOSTS_SPOOF}
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