A Perl module is a discrete component of software for the Perl programming language. Perl is supported on all of our shared/reseller servers. However, unfortunately, when you try to install a Perl module in the cPanel Install Perl modules section, you will face this error:
Most Perl modules are written in Perl, some use XS (they are written in C) so they require a C compiler. However, C compiler is disabled on all of our shared servers as it is a high security threat.
Still, it is possible to install any Perl module via the command line without C compiler enabled. You can do it using the SSH connection, the guide on how to access your account via SSH can be found here.
We will use the cpan command to install Perl modules. You can find the full list of available CPAN modules in the official documentation.
1. After opening the command console, you need to type cpan. This way, you will access the cpan console:
2. The syntax is the following:
install module::name
For example, we will install the Date::Calc Perl module:
3. Most likely, you will see this error message at the end:
Cpan is configured to provide one setting to Makefile.PL, and Makefile.PL is picking up a conflicting setting from the environment.
Cpan Prefix is pre-configured as PREFIX=/home/USER/perl/usr
However, our servers’ environment is configured to use /home/USER/perl5
As such, simply tell cpan to stop specifying PREFIX. From within the cpan shell, run these commands:
o conf mbuildpl_arg ''
o conf commit
o conf make_arg ''
o conf commit
4. Now feel free to run install module::name once again. In case you see an error like below, you need to delete the previous failed build and try again:
In our example, the error shows directory /home/nctests/.cpan/build/Date-Calc-6.4-hsg6j9
You can access it via the cPanel File Manager or using an FTP client and delete it:
5. This is a successful installation log:
Modules may have dependencies on other modules (almost always on CPAN) and cannot be installed without them (or without a specific version of them).
Sometimes, the installation will ask to install a module (or a few ones), which has/have a dependence.
6. After the installation do not forget to type exit in the cpan console to close it and remove the lock file:
Otherwise, you may see this message after attempting to open it again:
After Shall I try to run in downgraded mode? (Y/n), type n and follow the instructions. You need to kill a running cpan process and remote the lock file manually:
7. Finally, you can open the Install Perl modules option in cPanel and check for a new installed module:
We hope that this article will help you installing Perl modules on our servers.
That's it!