How to disable Direct Root Login in cpanel server



First you need to add new admin user

1,adduser admin

2,passwd admin

Please keep admin password

3, vi /etc/group

Make sure admin user wheel settings

wheel:x:10:root,admin


1. Copy and paste this line to edit the file for SSH logins

vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

2. Find the line
Protocol 2, 1

3. Uncomment it and change it to look like
Protocol 2

4. Next, find the line
PermitRootLogin yes

5. Uncomment it and make it look like PermitRootLogin no

6. Save the file Ctrl+X then Y then enter

7. Now you can restart SSH
/etc/rc.d/init.d/sshd restart


SSH into your server as 'admin' and gain root access by su
  • 1 Users Found This Useful
Was this answer helpful?