Back Up and Restore Exim Configuration in WHM

WHM’s Exim Configuration Manager can back up and restore Exim settings. It does not back up mailbox messages or provide an automatic safe clone of every mail-service dependency. This guide combines the overlapping configuration-backup and restore procedures.

Back up before changing mail configuration

1. Use an authorized administrator account over HTTPS and open WHM > Service Configuration > Exim Configuration Manager.
2. Open Backup and choose Download or Save on Server, as available.
3. Select Run Backup, inspect completion and retain a protected independent copy with the server/version and capture date.

Configuration can contain sensitive relay details, hostnames or authentication material. Do not share archives in public tickets or treat a server-only copy as independent recovery storage. Keep a separate record of external dependencies such as DNS, relay entitlement, certificates and network access.

Restore only a suitable configuration backup

First preserve the current configuration and plan a controlled recovery window. Review source/destination compatibility and custom routes/ACLs. A backup from another server may contain the wrong IPs, credentials, paths or assumptions; do not apply it across a fleet without review.

In Restore, select the trusted local archive through Choose File and Upload, or use Restore beside the intended server-stored file. The documented local backup format is normally tar.gz. Confirm the selected artifact before proceeding: this restores settings, not a harmless file preview.

Do not confuse restore with reset

The Reset tab has distinct actions, some of which can remove custom configuration or ACLs. Do not use those as interchangeable alternatives to a known backup, and do not disable filtering or security checks merely to get delivery working. cPanel recommends its configuration interfaces instead of direct edits to generated Exim files.

Verify the service and policy

Inspect configuration validity and private logs, then run authorized test deliveries for intended local, outbound and relay routes. Check TLS/authentication and confirm that unauthorized relay remains denied. Contain any test messages and verify expected custom filtering; a successful restore message alone does not prove safe mail flow.

Reference: cPanel Exim Configuration Manager, backup, restore and reset scope.

Reviewed October 15, 2026. Documentation review; no Exim setting, ACL, mailbox, relay credential or delivery was changed or tested.