Use a WHM API token to connect the server whose DNS zones you intend to manage. A cPanel account token and a WHM token serve different APIs; use the WHM credential prepared for this provider connection.

Prepare the intended permissions

Install PD Modules, connect the account holding your licence, then install PD cPanel DNS from the Store and allow the staff role that needs it. In WHM, open Development → Manage API Tokens and prepare a named token with the administrator-approved privileges for your intended features.

Ordinary DNS work needs zone/record access. Creation can also require access to the server’s shared IP; account discovery and clustered/account-owned zones can need account-list and cPanel-API access. Optional forwarding and DNSSEC have additional requirements. Use the actual refused operation to identify a missing permission rather than giving every integration unrestricted access.

cPanel’s WHM API token guide explains privilege, expiry and source-address controls. Keep the once-shown token private.

Add the provider

1. Open cPanel DNS → Providers → Add a provider.
2. Enter a recognisable name and the intended WHM hostname, port and username.
3. Use the prepared secure WHM endpoint, normally HTTPS on port 2087.
4. Enter the WHM API token in its credential field.
5. Run Test connection, inspect its result and add the provider after it passes.
6. Review a known zone and its records before enabling customer edits.

The test lists zones. A pass confirms that read operation, not every record write, account attachment, forwarding or signing action. A reseller connection can legitimately see fewer zones than a server-wide administrator.

Diagnose connection failures

Check the exact hostname, port, username, current token and intended permissions. Use a hostname matching the server’s valid certificate; switching to an unrelated IP or bypassing certificate validation is not a certificate repair. Ask the server administrator to confirm reachability from your billing server. Keep tokens and full account exports out of support attachments.

See the PD cPanel DNS WHMCS guide for related tasks, or explore the module.