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How to Rebuild userdata Files

Overview

Warning:

Do not perform the steps in this document unless you are certain that your server’s userdata files are corrupt or do not exist. You should only perform these steps when no other method will resolve the issue.

In certain circumstances, your server’s userdata files (the files that the /var/cpanel/userdata/ directory contains for each account) may become corrupt, or may not exist. If this occurs, use the methods in this document to attempt to rebuild these files.

The method that you use depends on whether a valid httpd.conf file exists on your server:

Note:

The steps below assume that you have already logged in to your server via SSH as the root user.

Rebuild userdata files

Rebuild from a valid file

Warning:

These steps require that a valid httpd.conf file exists on your server. If one does not exist, rebuild userdata files from a recent backup instead.

Move the corrupt userdata directory to a new location.
Create a new userdata directory.
Run the userdata_update script to rebuild userdata files for all of your accounts.
Run the fix_userdata_perms script to validate the userdata permissions settings.
Run the updateuserdatacache script to update the system's cache.
Rebuild Apache.
Restart Apache.

Rebuild from a recent backup

Warning:

These steps rebuild userdata files from a recent backup. If a valid httpd.conf file exists on your server, we strongly recommend that you rebuild from this file instead.

Copy the corrupt userdata directory to a new location.
Create and navigate to a new directory in the root directory.
Extract the contents of your backup file to the new directory.
Run the updateuserdatacache script to update the system's cache.
Rebuild Apache.
Restart Apache.

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