How to Install JetBackup 5 on cPanel/WHM

JetBackup 5 is the leading third-party backup plugin for cPanel & WHM. Unlike cPanel's built-in backup, JetBackup supports multiple remote destinations simultaneously (Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, FTP, SFTP, Google Drive), granular per-account restores, and a polished UI that end-users can access directly from cPanel.

Why JetBackup Over cPanel's Built-in Backup?

• Restore individual files, databases, or emails — not just full accounts
• Support for S3, Backblaze B2, FTP, SFTP, Google Drive, Dropbox as destinations
• End-users can self-restore from cPanel without raising a ticket
• Incremental and full backup types with configurable retention
• Queue-based system — backups don't overload the server

Prerequisites

• cPanel/WHM server on AlmaLinux 8/9 or CloudLinux 8
• WHM root access
• A valid JetBackup licence (free trial available at jetbackup.com)
• Sufficient disk space for a local backup destination (optional)

Step 1 — Install JetBackup 5 via WHM

Run the official installer as root:

cd /usr/local/jetapps && curl -o jetbackup5.sh https://repo.jetlicense.com/centOS/install-jetbackup5 && sh jetbackup5.sh

If you don't have the jetapps directory yet:

curl https://repo.jetlicense.com/centOS/install-jetbackup5 | sh

Installation takes 2–5 minutes.

Step 2 — Access JetBackup in WHM

After installation, navigate in WHM to Plugins > JetBackup 5. You'll be prompted to enter your licence key from jetbackup.com.

Step 3 — Add a Backup Destination

Go to JetBackup 5 > Destinations > Add Destination. Common options:

Local Destination

• Type: Local Directory
• Path: /backup (make sure there's enough disk space)

Amazon S3 Destination

• Type: Amazon S3
• Enter your AWS Access Key, Secret Key, bucket name, and region
• Enable server-side encryption if needed

Step 4 — Create a Backup Job

Go to JetBackup 5 > Backup Jobs > Add Job and configure:

• Type: Full Backup or Incremental
• Schedule: Daily at 2:00 AM (recommended)
• Retention: Keep last 7 backups
• Accounts: All accounts or select specific ones
• Destination: The destination you created above
• Enable: Home Directory, Databases, Emails, DNS zones

Click Save — JetBackup will run the first backup at the scheduled time. You can also click Run Now to trigger an immediate backup.

Step 5 — Allow End-User Restores in cPanel

In JetBackup WHM settings, enable End-User Restore. Users will then see a JetBackup icon in their cPanel where they can restore files, databases, and emails themselves.

Restoring an Account (Admin)

In WHM > JetBackup 5 > Restore Queue, select the account, choose a backup date, and select what to restore (full account, files only, databases only). JetBackup queues and runs the restore without locking the server.

Conclusion

JetBackup 5 gives shared hosting servers enterprise-grade backup features. The combination of remote S3/B2 destinations, end-user self-service restores, and granular item-level recovery makes it far superior to cPanel's native backup for production environments.