It is clear to see why cPanel is the leading control panel software. The intuitive GUI results in ease of use while the rich set of features offers functionality that extends benefits to server administrators, resellers and end-users alike. Indeed, cPanel has many qualities and one of its greatest attributes is Fantastico.

What is Fantastico?

Fantastico is an extremely useful application that usually comes free in web hosting accounts powered by the cPanel control panel. Designed to run on Unix-like platforms, its purpose is to facilitate the simple installation of a wide range of popular scripts. These add-on programs are totally free and can literally be installed in a matter of minutes. The Fantastico advantage is all in the software and below are some of the categories you will find.

Blogs

The blog represents one of the very first social networking platforms and Fantastico gives you a wonderful variety to choose from. Both Nucleus and b2Evolution are included but the most notable of all has to be WordPress. Easily the most popular blogging application available, WordPress is widely supported by a large community and can be enhanced through a number of themes and templates. If you’re looking to delve into the Blogosphere, Fantastico has you covered.

Content Management

Content management systems provide webmasters with a more effective way to build and administer their websites. Even though most web hosting accounts come integrated site builders, these utilities fail in comparison to the power of a CMS. This type of software is ideal for running medium to large sized websites and has the ability to assign varying levels of administrative access and permissions. Some of today’s most popular community-based sites are running on content management systems. The CMS lineup you will find in Fantastico includes Drupal, Mambo, Tiki Wiki, XOOPS and Joomla among several others.

Customer Relations

Establishing trusting relationships with customers is vital to the success of any business. Fantastico betters the chance of keeping your customer base happy with applications like Help Center Live, osTicket, PHP Support Tickets, Support Services Manager and more. These programs give you the ability to create the ultimate support center where your customers can get assistance through support tickets, FAQs, video tutorials and downloadable documentation. Even if you can’t be around to answer the phone 24/7, such resources can assure that your customers are still able to get the help they need, when they need it.

E-commerce Tools

Fantastico has a little something for everyone, including those who desire to sell products and services online. You can set up a web-based storefront in no time with popular open-source programs such as Cube Cart, osCommerce and Zen Cart. Shopping cart software can get pretty expensive but these highly functional applications won’t cost you a thing with Fantastico.

These are just a few of numerous scripts that come bundled with Fantastico. Other programs include discussion boards, photo galleries, project management tools and website builders. Fantastico contorts to the novice, allowing those with little to no technical skills to instantly enhance their web presence. One could say that cPanel is a trendsetter as more control panels are being developed with application installers that mimic the abilities of Fantastico.

The number of control panels on the market keeps expanding into an even greater variety. Almost everyone is familiar with cPanel along with rivals such as Plesk and H-Sphere. One control panel you may not be familiar with is Webmin, a super-functional application that certainly warrants a closer look.

What is Webmin?

Webmin is a software tool designed to simply the process of managing Unix and Linux platforms. The program is compatible with virtually any web browser, permitting various administrative tasks through a cleanly designed, user-friendly interface. Webmin provides the ability to manage various aspects of the web hosting environment from setting up a web server and creating accounts to maintaining FTP and mail servers.

Webmin Features and Capabilities

The Webmin control panel allows you to do the following:

• Use NFS protocol to exports files and directories to other systems
• Set up quotas to control how much disk space is allocated to users
• Install, manage and delete software packages in formats such as RPM
• Modify the systems’ DNS settings, IP address and routing configuration
• Set up firewalls for added security or to provide LAN access to the internet
• Create and configure virtual servers on Apache
• Manage databases, tables and fields on MySQL or PostgreSQL database servers

These are just some of the capabilities offered by the Webmin software. Because it is accessed via a browser, you can login from any system connected to your own through a network. There is no difference between running Webmin locally or remotely. The software is built on a modular design, meaning each of its functions are contained in a module that can be installed or uninstalled independent of the rest of the application. This structure alone makes Webmin very distinctive of your average control panel.

Although Webmin is primarily used on the Linux platform, it also integrates with Unix flavors such as FreeBSD, HP/UX and Solaris. One of its greatest strengths is the ability to adjust its behavior and interface in accordance to the underlying platform. For example, Webmin can conceal the obvious differences between Linux and other Unix variants by presenting an interface that is either identical or quite similar regardless of what system you are using.

Webmin Disadvantages

Webmin offers many advantages but is not very useful on its own accord. This is because unlike cPanel which acts as a server, Webmin is merely a configuration tool and therefore, it depends on other applications to perform. For instance, in order to user the Apache module, the actual Apache web server application must be installed on the system. The good thing is that all of these servers and services it relies on are included standard with Unix-like distributions or can be freely downloaded and implemented.

Who Needs Webmin?

The Webmin control panel is designed for users with a familiarity of Linux commands but are not all that familiar with the intricacies of server administration. This software assumes that the user is familiar with basic networking concepts such as DNS servers, IP addresses and hostnames as well as the layout of the Unix file system. Those who possess these capabilities can enjoy everything from the power to set up FTP accounts and simple website management to root privileges and custom software installations.