Things to check before running cPanel ELevate on an inherited CentOS 7 VPS?

Francisco Orta

• May 07, 2026 22:23
• Edited

Hello everyone,

I currently have a VPS with the following setup:

• OS: CentOS v7.9.2009 STANDARD kvm
• cPanel Version: 110.0.112

I know that cPanel & WHM version 110 is the last version supporting CentOS 7, so I’m considering using cPanel ELevate to migrate to AlmaLinux 8.

My main concern is that I did not originally build or configure this VPS. I inherited it from another administrator, so I do not fully know everything that may be customized internally.

So far, I’ve mostly handled basic administration tasks such as:

• Firewall management
• WP Toolkit
• Checking/fixing mail errors
• Mail relay configuration
• General basic maintenance

But beyond that, I have not deeply modified or audited the server configuration.

Before running `cpanel elevate`, I would like to ask:

1. What should I absolutely verify before starting the upgrade?
2. Are there common legacy configurations that usually cause issues during ELevate?
3. How risky is it to run ELevate on a server with an unknown admin history?
4. Would you strongly recommend taking a full VPS snapshot/backup beforehand?
5. Have you experienced issues with mail services, Apache/Nginx, MySQL, or custom configurations after upgrading?

Any advice, best practices, or pre-check recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

• 

  cPRex Jurassic Moderator

  • May 08, 2026 14:54

  Hey there!  cPanel ELevate includes the "--check" option, which will check the system for you before you attempt to run ELevate.  You can find details on this here:

  https://cpanel.github.io/elevate/blockers/

  I'll go through and answer the rest of those questions in order to ensure I don't miss anything:

  Q1 - What should I absolutely verify before starting the upgrade?
  A1 - The --check script will confirm any blockers on the system, and you'll want to resolve all those before you run ELevate

  Q2 - Are there common legacy configurations that usually cause issues during ELevate?
  A2 - If there are, --check will find them.  If you know that you're using old MySQL or PHP versions, you'll want to plan ahead and how you'll handle those sites.  

  Q3 - How risky is it to run ELevate on a server with an unknown admin history?
  A3 - I wouldn't say this is risky at all.  A vast majority of servers have been running for years, and it's unlikely detailed notes have been kept about everything that has happened to them in that time.

  Q4 - Would you strongly recommend taking a full VPS snapshot/backup beforehand?
  A4 - I would do both, if possible.

  Q5 - Have you experienced issues with mail services, Apache/Nginx, MySQL, or custom configurations after upgrading?
  A5 - I'm sure some users have, but I don't have any widespread reports saying "this specific thing is going to break."  ELevate has been out for some time now and is generally very stable.

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