To modify cPanel and WHM news messages, access the Modify cPanel & WHM News feature in WHM, where you can create custom announcements for your users and resellers. This feature lets you display tailored messages in different areas of the cPanel and WHM interfaces, helping you communicate important updates, maintenance schedules, or service announcements directly to your hosting clients.
What is the cPanel & WHM News Feature?
The cPanel & WHM News feature allows server administrators to display custom messages throughout the cPanel and WHM interfaces. These messages appear in designated news sections where users and resellers can easily view them. This tool is particularly useful for web hosting providers who need to communicate system updates, scheduled maintenance, policy changes, or general announcements to their customers.
With this feature, you can target different audiences with specific messages, ensuring that the right information reaches the right users. OBHost clients with WHM access can use this feature to maintain clear communication with their hosting customers.
How to Set Up Custom News Messages
To configure custom messages for your users and resellers, follow these steps:
- Log into your WHM interface and navigate to the Modify cPanel & WHM News section
- In the first text box, enter a message for all cPanel users on your server. This message will appear to every user accessing their cPanel interface
- In the second text box, enter a message specifically for subordinate resellers with WHM accounts. They can view this by clicking the News link at the top of their WHM interface
- In the third text box, add a message for user accounts you do not own. This includes resellers who own their own accounts and their customers
- In the fourth text box, enter a message for users and accounts that you directly own. Note that resellers who own their accounts and their subordinate users will not see this particular message
- Click Save News to publish your updates across the appropriate interfaces
The interface supports HTML formatting, so you can use tags like <br> for line breaks and other HTML elements to enhance message readability and structure.
Reseller News Configuration
If you are a reseller and want to edit the News section for your own cPanel users, you need specific privileges. Navigate to the Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges interface in WHM (WHM > Home > Resellers > Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges) and ensure the News Modification checkbox is selected for your reseller account.
This permission allows resellers to manage their own custom announcements without affecting messages set by the root administrator, creating a hierarchy of communication that maintains proper information flow throughout the hosting environment.
Troubleshooting News Display Issues
If your custom messages are not appearing correctly or you experience problems with the news feature, the issue may be related to cached data. To resolve this, connect to your server via SSH and run the following command to remove the cache file:
rm -f /var/cpanel/objcache/whmnews
After removing the cache file, the system will regenerate it with your updated news content. This typically resolves display issues or delays in news updates appearing across cPanel and WHM interfaces.
Best Practices for News Messages
When creating news messages for your hosting clients, keep these tips in mind:
- Keep messages clear and concise to ensure users read them completely
- Use HTML formatting to improve readability with line breaks and emphasis
- Update news regularly to keep information current and relevant
- Include specific dates for time-sensitive announcements like maintenance windows
- Use the targeted message boxes appropriately to avoid confusion between user groups
- Test your messages by viewing them from different user account types
Effective communication through the news feature helps reduce support inquiries by proactively informing users about system changes, known issues, or upcoming events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can resellers create their own custom news messages for their clients?
Yes, resellers can create custom news messages if they have the News Modification privilege enabled in their reseller account settings. The root administrator must grant this permission through the Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges interface in WHM. Once enabled, resellers can access the same news modification feature to communicate with their own customers independently.
What HTML tags are supported in news messages?
The news feature supports standard HTML formatting tags including <br> for line breaks, <p> for paragraphs, <strong> and <em> for text emphasis, and <a> for hyperlinks. You can use these tags to format your messages for better readability and structure, making important announcements more visually appealing and easier to understand.
How quickly do news updates appear after saving changes?
News updates typically appear immediately after you save them, though caching may occasionally cause a brief delay. If updates do not appear within a few minutes, users may need to refresh their browser or you may need to clear the cache file using the command provided in the troubleshooting section. The system refreshes cached news content periodically to ensure updates propagate across all interfaces.
Can I schedule news messages to appear at specific times?
The standard cPanel & WHM News feature does not include built-in scheduling functionality. Messages appear immediately when saved and remain visible until you manually change or remove them. To manage time-sensitive announcements, you need to manually update the news sections at the appropriate times or consider adding dated information within the message content itself to indicate when announcements are relevant.
Need assistance configuring your cPanel & WHM news messages or have questions about server management? The OBHost support team is available 24/7 to help. Visit our contact page or email us at support@obhost.org for technical assistance.
