Dedicated server monitoring: uptime and alerts

A dedicated server running multiple client accounts needs proactive monitoring. A problem that goes undetected for hours can affect dozens of sites. Set up monitoring that alerts you before clients notice.

WHM server status

If you have cPanel/WHM, go to WHM → Server Status for a quick overview of running services, CPU load, RAM, disk, and network. WHM also has Service Manager to see and control all managed services (Apache, MySQL, Exim, etc.).

Set up service monitoring under WHM → Service Configuration → Service Manager. Check "Monitor" for each service-cPanel's chkservd daemon will restart crashed services automatically.

External uptime monitoring

Add your server's main domain(s) to an external monitor-this checks from outside your network and alerts you if the server becomes unreachable:

• UptimeRobot (free, 50 monitors)-set up HTTP monitors for each main site
• Add an alert contact (email, SMS, Slack) so you're notified within minutes of downtime

UnderShield monitoring

UnderShield is UnderHost's server monitoring layer for eligible Cloud VPS and dedicated servers. On dedicated servers covered by UnderHost Server Management, UnderShield is installed by default so our staff can see health signals such as uptime, CPU, RAM, disk usage, network activity, and agent check-ins sooner.

For self-managed dedicated servers, UnderShield is optional and can be requested during ordering or through support when available. It provides visibility and reporting, but it does not by itself turn an unmanaged server into a managed service.

Netdata real-time dashboard

Netdata provides a comprehensive real-time dashboard showing CPU, RAM, disk I/O, network, MySQL queries, Apache connections, and much more. Install on AlmaLinux:

wget -O /tmp/netdata-kickstart.sh https://get.netdata.cloud/kickstart.sh
sh /tmp/netdata-kickstart.sh

Access at http://your-server-ip:19999. Restrict access to port 19999 in your firewall so only your IP can reach the dashboard.

Log reports with logwatch

Logwatch sends a daily email summary of log activity-failed SSH attempts, Apache errors, MySQL issues, disk warnings:

# AlmaLinux
dnf install logwatch -y

# Ubuntu
apt install logwatch -y

# Test report (sends to stdout)
logwatch --output stdout --detail low

Configure the email recipient in /etc/logwatch/conf/logwatch.conf: set MailTo = your@email.com. Logwatch runs automatically via cron daily.

Setting up email alerts

WHM sends email notifications for critical events. Configure them under WHM → Contact Manager and WHM → Tweak Settings → Notifications. Set alerts for:

• Service failure (chkservd)
• Disk usage above 85%
• MySQL failure
• Network load spikes

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