cPanel updates cause server instablility

We switched our Linux server hosting to a virtual server solution.  Two different servers host the majority of our sites and over the past year and a half each server has had one period of unavailability. Turns out the problem was caused by a cPanel update each time. 

While updates are good, getting them unexpectedly is bad. Our philosophy is server updates are treated just like application releases - they are planned.

 Verify your  Server Configuration >> Update Preferences for these settings:

  • cPanel/WHM Updates = Manual Updates Only (RELEASE tree) [our best practice setting]
  • cPanel Package Updates = Automatic
  • Security Package Updates = Automatic

The usual symptom of a cPanel update issue is library files get deleted.  Here's a handy reference to the cPanel releases:

http://httpupdate.cpanel.net/