How to install and manage Python Versions with CloudLinux via WHM

WHM and the CloudLinux Python Selector make it much simpler to manage several Python environments on a single server. This tutorial focuses on setting up Python web applications in cPanel, managing multiple Python versions, and installing the Python Selector in WHM. You can deploy apps using frameworks like Flask, Django, or FastAPI, assign distinct Python versions to each user, and create isolated virtual environments with CloudLinux with CageFS and alt-python-virtualenv. This tutorial covers everything you need for optimized Python hosting on CloudLinux, whether you’re using WHM to enable the Python Selector or cPanel to set up a Python application.

Why Use the Python Selector on CloudLinux?

• With the Python Selector, you can:
• Run several Python versions concurrently.
• Create separate virtual environments.
• Utilize well-known frameworks such as FastAPI, Flask, or Django.
• Increase security by using isolation based on CageFS.

Make sure your VPS server meets the following requirements:

Make sure your system meets the following requirements:

• CloudLinux OS is installed on your WHM server
• A valid CloudLinux license
• WHM root access
• CageFS enabled
• EasyApache 4 installed

Install required Python packages. 

Step 1: Install the Python selector package:

SSH into your server as root:
yum groupinstall alt-python -y
yum install lvemanager lve-utils cagefs alt-python-virtualenv ea-apache24-mod-passenger -y

Step 2: Update and Restart services
cagefsctl –force-update
/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/restartsrv_cpsrvd

Enable Python selector in WHM:

Step 1: Log in to WHM

Step 2: Navigate to
CloudLinux → LVE Manager → Options tab

Step 3: Enable the following
Python selector
Verify that the “Hide Python App in the web interface” option is not selected.

Set Python version for users:

You can assign a version of Python by using the command line:
cl-selector –select python –version 3.10 –user yourusername

Create a Python app via cPanel:

Steps to Create a Python App via cPanel

• Log in to cPanel.
• Go to software > Setup Python app
• Choose the Python version (example: Python 3.11)
• Define the app directory and URI
• Click Setup
• Activate the virtual environment using the provided SSH command.
• Use pip install to add dependencies

Troubleshooting Python Selector Issues

⚠️ Problem	✅ Solution
🔧 Python Selector Not Visible	Run cagefsctl --remount-all and restart lvemanager.
🔄 Incorrect Python Version	Use the cl-selector CLI tool to switch to the correct version.
🚫 App Not Starting	Check the error logs inside the app’s virtual environment for any startup failures.
📦 Dependency Issues	Ensure that alt-python-virtualenv is installed and up-to-date.

Final Tips for Hosting Python Apps on WHM:

• Prefer LTS versions of Python (3.10, 3.11)
• Use CageFS for isolated environments
• Keep your packages and alt-python versions updated
• Restart the app after changes to dependencies or files

With WHM and CloudLinux Python Selector, it is simple and safe to handle multiple versions of Python. Install isolated virtual environments in cPanel, designate Python 3.9, 3.10, or 3.11 for each user with cl-selector, and host applications with Django, Flask, or FastAPI. Supported by CageFS and alt-python-virtualenv, our CloudLinux VPS Hosting is completely optimized for new Python web applications.