You have two main options for setting up a cPanel web hosting server: 

• Using a Virtual Machine (VM): You can install a virtualization platform like VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V on your PC and then create a virtual machine to set up your cPanel web hosting server. The advantage of using a virtual machine is that it provides isolation from your host operating system, which means any changes or issues within the virtual machine won’t affect your main PC. It also allows you to run multiple virtual servers simultaneously if needed. 
• Using Your PC as a Physical Server: Alternatively, you can set up your PC as a physical server by installing the necessary server software directly on your PC’s hardware. This approach means you won’t have the isolation benefits of a virtual machine, and any changes made to the server configuration will directly affect your PC’s operating system. 

The choice between using a virtual machine or setting up your PC as a physical server depends on your specific needs and preferences: 

Advantages of Using a Virtual Machine: 

• Isolation: VMs provide a sandboxed environment, isolating the server from your main PC, which is useful for testing and minimizing potential conflicts. 
• Flexibility: You can easily create snapshots of VMs, making it easy to revert to a previous state if something goes wrong. 
• Resource Management: VMs allow you to allocate specific resources (CPU, RAM, disk space) to the virtual server, which can be useful for optimizing performance. 

Advantages of Using Your PC as a Physical Server: 

• Simplified Setup: If you’re not familiar with virtualization, setting up your PC as a physical server might be more straightforward. 
• Direct Access: Since it’s running directly on your PC’s hardware, you have direct access to all the system resources without any virtualization overhead. 

If you’re new to web hosting and server management, starting with a virtual machine might be a better approach, as it provides more flexibility and a safer testing environment. However, if you’re experienced and understand the risks of running a server directly on your PC, you can choose the physical server route. 

Keep in mind that running a web hosting server requires technical knowledge and considerations for security, maintenance, and performance. Additionally, if you plan to make your website accessible to the public, you’ll need to ensure your ISP allows hosting servers on residential connections and be aware of potential bandwidth limitations. 

Lastly, if you’re planning to host websites for clients or as a business, it’s generally recommended to use a reputable hosting provider that specializes in web hosting, as they offer better infrastructure, support, and security for hosting multiple websites.