A web hosting control panel is simply software that is installed onto the web host’s server that is designed to give you control of web hosting features. Through the web hosting control panel users are able to access and use all the fancy features the web hosts advertise on the features page. Control panels give web hosting users administrative access to set up email accounts, FTP accounts, add subdomains, add databases, manage files and more.

When making the decision to host your site on a dedicated server, you need to prepare for an entirely different level of complexity. Unlike a shared server where the web hosting company takes care of all the management tasks, you are essentially on your own and responsible for making sure your site stays operating. There are several factors that need to be considered but one of the most important of all is the control panel software.

The control panel a company offers can make your web hosting experience a smooth one or extremely frustrating. Keep in mind that every provider has their own preference, preferences in which you may be forced to accept upon signing up with them. What is the primary significance of control panels? The answer is simple – power. A control panel gives you the freedom to control the features of your web hosting account. It allows you to access all the essentials such as your domains, email and FTP accounts, files, databases and much more. When it comes to dedicated server hosting, the control panel is what will enable you to create the best site possible by putting the administrative power in your hands.

Available Control Panels

With so many programs available, choosing one for your dedicated server can be a grueling process. The best way to make this determination is to know what you are looking to achieve and what a particular control panel has to offer. In general, control panels are designed for specific platforms or operating systems, which usually boils down to Windows, Linux or Unix. Some of the most popular options include cPanel, Plesk, Ensim, Hostopia, Sphera and vDeck, all of which are very reliable.

If you are new to the dedicated server environment then you want a control panel that is intuitive and easy to use. However, if you already have a bit of experience, you may prefer something that offers more power and flexibility. Programs such as cPanel and vDeck are very popular and extremely easy to use while control panels like Ensim tend to be more functional and suited for advanced users. If you want something that offers the best of both worlds, Plesk might be a good option as it is both user-friendly and highly functional.

Choosing a Control Panel

One way to find a control panel suited for your dedicated server is to play around with a few demo versions. Many companies will provide you with temporary login credentials to get a feel of the software before making a decision. By doing so, you will experience a number of different platforms and are more likely find a control panel that works best for your requirements. Always remember that any program has a learning curve and will take some time getting used to. Because each control panel has its own set of features and capabilities, you should choose a program that matches your skill level. When basing a control panel on your personal needs, its functionality and your abilities, you will be able to find one that is just right for your dedicated server.

VPS hosting has taken off over the last few years and with its popularity stems greater demands. In this environment, the average management tools usually do not cut it, rather this only present a new level of complexity. One critical area providers can’t afford to slack in is the control panel. And with more people moving up to VPS hosting, it is no surprise that the leading control panel software would step up to meet the challenge.

A new version of cPanel was released earlier this year, a product specifically designed for the VPS platform. Aptly named as cPanel VPS Optimized, this version comes with numerous improvements, optimized to consume a minimal amount of memory when the program is idle and not in use. The new control panel offers many of the features you will find on the standard cPanel but is finely tuned for VPS hosting. This optimization allows web hosting companies and end-users to comfortably host multiple domains per server as more memory will be available.

There have been many tests to rate the performance of the new cPanel. In one particular test, a virtual private server with 500 MB RAM showed that the standard cPanel installation left 248 MB RAM free, even when the program is idle and not being used. This means that cPanel claimed more than half the memory on the server. The VPS version showed that when idle, cPanel uses no more than 90 MB RAM and leaving around 495 RAM to be used by other programs and services.

The developers of cPanel were able to optimize the control panel and ensure lower memory consumption by reconfiguring the Apache component associated with it. The Apache server application is what serves the web pages from the virtual private server to the people who wish to view them. While Apache is known to be a memory hog, the VPS version of cPanel was tweaked to keep things running at the same speed without consuming too many resources. By reducing the amount of memory cPanel and its neighboring programs utilize, VPS hosts are able to effectively allocate their servers and offer a more affordable hosting solution.

Aside from the performance tuneup, the new cPanel still provides a simple user interface with an array of great features. With this program, you can handle various tasks that cannot be performed with standard versions. From creating email accounts and password protecting your directories to uploading files and installing software, it can all be done without using the command line. The VPS version supports a number of add-ons which allows you to customize the appearance, enhance functionality and incorporate custom applications. Combining extensive system management and an intuitive GUI, the new cPanel offers the flexibility you need to succeed in VPS hosting.

cPanel VPS Optimized is currently only available in Edge, Current and Release versions. This control panel is however, available through partners and distributors who offer cPanel VPS licenses with their web hosting packages. Because the program is still in testing stage, experts recommend getting hands on with a demo version before using it on a live VPS hosting account.

Regardless of the company, every web host offers some type of control panel. This software application is what allows a webmaster to manage and control all the essential aspects of their web hosting account. You generally get administrative control over your domains, email accounts, databases and web stats among other features. While the functionality varies among programs, most control panels are designed with user-friendliness in mind, allowing you to manage just about everything from a centralized interface. A good program will give you the ability to manage your account with ease regardless of technical experience.

The main objective of a control panel is to enrich the webmaster’s experience by providing a number of tools that dramatically reduce administrative challenges. One of the most widely used control panels on the market is cPanel and its counterpart WHM (Web Host Manager). Both are incredibly easy to use, offering a Graphical User Interface with icons well designed on the main page. cPanel comes integrated with a variety of features and tools that allow you to control various aspects of your web hosting account and even provides details on bandwidth and other vital statistics.

Similar to most technologies related to the web hosting arena, control panels have evolved tremendously over the years. Aside from the basic functionality such as creating email accounts and adding domains, most of today’s software offer the ability to transfer files via FTP, database management, marketing tools and backup utilities. The average control panel typically comes included with pre-designed templates and software that allows you to build your entire site. Other advanced functionality that has become common is the inclusion of application installers. For example, cPanel is integrated with Fantastico which enables the easy one-click installation of additional software such as WordPress, Cube Cart and Joomla.

There are several factors that must be considered when looking for web host and the control panel is one of the most important of all. Although the software for you will largely depend on your personal requirements, a good control panel should offer the following qualities:

Interface: The control panel interface is the main page and the first thing you will see upon logging into your account. Look for a program that has all the essential features located on the interface as this will make your management tasks much easier.

Platform: In the web hosting world, platform simply refers to the operating system installed on the web host’s server. The platform is crucial as control panels tend to be designed for one system or another.

Features: Control panels are all about features. The more features you get, the greater level of control you will have over your website.

There are numerous control panels on the market and taking the time to choose a good one is extremely important. If you would like to get more hands on, look for a web host that offers a demo version so you can test out the control panel for yourself.

The control panel has become a common fixture in the web hosting arena. Not only does this special software allow the end-user to control their account, but it also lets the web hosting administrator control all of the websites on the server. The number of control panels is increasing rapidly and many are specific to different hosting environments. This article will go over three control panels that are commonly used in VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting: HSPcomplete, Plesk and cPanel.

HSPcomplete

With HSPcomplete, you can manage your entire VPS hosting account from a single login interface. The software is based on a template, making it lightweight and incredibly easy to use. Despite the simplicity, it does come integrated with some pretty nice features. HSPcomplete is very reliable but lacks the functionality required to be successful with reseller accounts.

Plesk

Another template-based control panel, Plesk has won numerous awards for its performance in the shared and VPS hosting environment. Unlike HSPcomplete, it is also makes a viable option for reseller hosting. This control panel is fast, feature-rich and reliable, offering benefits to users on the administrator and domain level. If want to give your customers a powerful control panel, Plesk is the answer.

cPanel/WHM

The award-winning cPanel is the leading control panel software. Many web hosts and end-users prefer this application because of its straightforward, feature-rich interface. The GUI is designed in a manner that allows even inexperienced users to thrive with a VPS account. Because cPanel is primarily based on icons and not templates as the control panels mentioned above, it generally takes up more disk space and resources.

Recommendations

If you are still having a difficult time deciding which control panel to choose for your VPS account, the following details may help. Both Plesk and HSPcomplete are created by software company Swsoft, the same people who developed Virtuozzo, the virtualization technology installed on most VPS hosting accounts. These control panels are sure to give you excellent performance as they only leave a small footprint in the Virtuozzo software. This is because the programs are based on a single template running on the physical node instead on the virtual private server.

The cPanel/WHM (Web Host Manager) package never makes a bad choice for the simple fact that it is so easy to use. However, the size of the software and design that fits a great number of icons on the interface makes it a bit slower than other control panels. You can certainly get by with cPanel on a VPS, but you may not get the performance a control panel like Plesk will provide.

Some customers go to a VPS hosting provider having done their research and know what control they want and others have no clue. Whether its in a virtualized environment or typical hosting arrangement, the right control panel all boils down to personal preference. If you have no familiarity with control panel software, your best bet would to check out a live demo and try to determine which program you feel comfortable with.

If you need a control panel program for your server, it is important to know that the options span much further than commercial versions such as cPanel and Plesk. In fact, there are some free control panels on the market that make excellent choices for a dedicated server. The options discussed in this article will be GNUPanel, SysCP and Webmin.

GNUPanel

A relatively new option, the GNUPanel is an application scripted in the PHP5 programming language and designed to run on the Debian distribution of Linux. The standout features of this software include domain and FTP management, mail management and database administration. This control panel lets you control popular applications such as the Apache web server as well packages like PHP and MySQL among others. The software also enables the automatic installation of various third-party programs including Joomla, phpBB, osCommerce and Wordpress among others. Hence the name, GNUPanel has an open-source license under the GPL. Although this control panel is currently restricted to the Debian platform, its developers say the application is currently being designed to support other operating systems.

SysCP

The SysCP control panel allows you to manage your web space, mail, CGI scripts, DNS settings, create custom error pages, view statistics and more. The features integrated into the software provide you with the ability to control a wide variety of applications including Apache, BIND, Courier and ProFTPD. While there are numerous modules built-in into the control panel, there are even more extensions available for download that enable you to administer other aspects of the server. Some of the third-party modules for SysCP include tools that allow you to manage applications such as Fetchmail and SpamAssassin, perform backups of your critical data and more. This control panel supports five major Unix-like distributions with the most notable being Debian, Gentoo, FreeBSD, OpenSuSe and Ubuntu. Under the GNU GPL, SysCP can be freely distributed and modified. Before installing SysCP, be sure to check for compatibility as it supports certain versions of the afore mentioned operating systems.

Webmin

The Webmin control panel is becoming an increasingly popular option for dedicated server customers. This software is incredibly easy to use and loaded with a number of features, which are primarily modules that provide the ability to administer the server. It comes standard with modules for Apache and BIND, a BSD firewall, bandwidth monitoring, a cron job manager and much more. Aside from the built-in modules, Webmin supports a variety of third-party extensions that can be downloaded from the web. It also gives you the option to develop your modules. Webmin currently supports more than 80 different operating systems including Unix, FreeBDS and several variations of Linux. Because it is under the GNU GPL as open-source software, many developers from all over the world have contributed to the code and improved the software. The most recent versions of Webmin have been released under a license similar to that of BSD, basically meaning that it can be freely distributed and modified for both commercial and non-commercial use.

These days, the average web hosting company has thousands of websites to maintain and even more customers to keep happy. Manually performing all of the required tasks across multiple web servers is prohibitively costly and in many environments, impossible. Being that web hosting is such a demanding operation, even seemingly trivial processes such as creating email accounts would be overwhelming difficult. This is where control panels and automation come into play. With a quality control panel application, hosting providers can get an efficient handle on server administration while their customers can manage virtually every aspect of their own websites without intervention from the host.

Control panel software is designed to automate various aspects of server administration, taking the pain out of intensive manual labor. Some of the most notable include creating email accounts, SQL databases, access control and facilitating software installations among other administrative functions. Most of these programs work by providing each domain and website owner with a unique access ID, which gives them access to the user interface of the control panel. When the user logs in to their hosting account via the software, they are then able to perform a number of different server administration tasks based on the available features, resources and access permissions. A good control panel will not only allow you to accomplish server administration with relative ease, but also monitor your resource usage, view server logs and manage your files right on the software.

Commercial vs. Custom Control Panels

When it comes to control panel applications, web hosting firms generally have two options. They can choose to purchase an out of the box commercial solution, or build their own custom software in-house. A large number of companies have elected to build their own software programs due to their proprietary hardware infrastructure, assured compatibility and to elude the often expensive licenses that come along with commercial products. On the other hand, developing custom automation software in-house can prove to be both time consuming and expensive. Most importantly, it could result in a much steeper learning curve for the hosting provider’s customers. Therefore, most companies utilizing generic software and hardware components are better suited for out of the box commercial solutions as they typically offer the utmost in convenience for the end customer. These type of control panels eliminate the cost and complexities of designing the application and also cut down on technical support as customers will be less likely to rely on assistance from the host.