Compatibility

Perhaps one of the most notable features of Plesk is it’s unique ability to work with both Window and Linux operating systems. Plesk is also compatible with virtually any server environment and thrives in the VPS server environment. Plesk can also be used with any web hosting account, letting users take their control panel with them when they decide to change web hosts. Plesk also includes a language pack that lets users customize the software using their own language, making it a multilingual control panel as well. This compatibility truly makes Plesk a suitable option for any user, regardless of their nationality or system/server configuration.

Reselling

Another unique feature of Plesk is the ability to customize the look and feel of the control panel for re-branding and reselling. Users can change the color of the control panel and many other options, and then rename it and resell it under a different name. Of course to do this, you’ll need to purchase the appropriate Plesk plan, but it is a feasible and plausible way to make extra money with your control panel, especially if you’re already reselling hosting packages.

Stability

Plesk is also one of the most stable control panels, protecting your site from hackers, server crashes, and dreaded downtime. Using Plesk gives you the ability to relax knowing that you control panel is secure and therefore the administrative interface of your site is protected. Plesk’s performance also adds to the stability of the program, as each feature can be learned with ease and use to it’s maximum capabilities by even the most novice user. Plesk also has integrated troubleshooting features that automatically catch and repair errors within the administrative system, ensuring maximum reliability.

Site Builder

The patented Plesk site builder includes a variety of extremely useful tools that let you create, edit and organize your web pages with ease. The entire control panel is fully expandable and can be enhanced with the few clicks of the mouse and the addition of a few web applications, although the default settings are more than capable of carrying out complex tasks. The site builder itself is extremely simple to use, due to it’s user-friendly five step wizard that walks users through the process of creating a web page with ease.

Although many people prefer solutions such as cPanel, Plesk has proven itself as a worthy competitor time and time again. If you’re using dual operating systems, or if you just need a highly capable control panel solution, then I would highly recommend Plesk.

Control panels are by far one of the most important components in the website production and maintenance process, so it is important to know what you’re looking for when selecting your control panel. For this reason we’ve compiled a short list of the most important attributes that absolutely must be compared during the selection process. The following aspects should not be overlooked when deciding which control panel would best suite your needs.

User-Friendliness

The most important attribute a control panel can have us usability. Regardless of how many fancy features the control panel has, if the user cannot use these features then they are worthless, Therefore it is important to consider your skill level in the website management field, and research the simplicity of  all prospective control panels before deciding on your final choice. Many control panels are designed for different purposes, some for business and some for casual websites. It is important to remember that the simplicity of the software should hold precedence over the amount of features it offers, especially for novice users.

Appearance

Another factor that will greatly determine your ability to use the control panel effectively is the look and feel of the user interface. This aspect contributes greatly to the aforementioned attribute of usability, and should not be overlooked. For this reason, considering an open source control panel with modifiable themes may be advisable.

Flexibility

Once you’ve narrowed your list down to a few control panels that are easy to use and visually appealing, then you’ll want to start comparing the various options offered by the software. Having a plethora of options available for website management is crucial in the long term, especially as your site expands and the traffic increases. Therefore it is important to make sure the control panel has key features such as effective database management, email access management, and FTP account management.

Platform

Before selecting a control panel, make sure it is compatible with your operating system and your server environment. Failing to carry out this simple step could result in a lot of unnecessary hassle. If you frequently use various platforms then you may want to choose a control panel that has cross compatibility, like Plesk.

Performance

Last but most definitely not least, is performance. Even with a long list of features, a control panel must be able to carry out those features efficiently without slowing down. If the control panel is slow in the least bit, your productivity will suffer. In regards to performance, it is important to make sure you read plenty of user reviews before deciding upon a particular control panel.

Plesk and Shared Hosting

Due to it’s multi-level user interface, Plesk is a suitable administrative tool for shared hosting users.   Plesk simplifies the task of managing multiple domains through a fully customizable interface specially designed for detailed hosting tasks. Even novice users with no technical training have the ability to  manage and create user accounts on their server.  Plesk also allows webmasters to manage their  domains without needing the support of a server administrator, ultimately saving support costs for the web hosting provider. Plesk’s simplicity and power offers benefits to both the end user and the web hosting provider, providing administrative tools for small and complex tasks alike.

Plesk and VPS Hosting

Plesk is also being used increasingly in the virtual private server environment, due to it’s compact size combined with it’s comprehensive functionality and efficacy. One of the most beneficial features of Plesk for the virtual server user is that it can be used with a third-party software called Virtuozzo.  Virtuozzo lets administrators make use of the templates and interfaces of several control panel’s simultaneously, giving Plesk users the ability to benefit from other control panel features outside of the Plesk software. This software combination is a priceless advantage on a virtual platform such as VPS. Using Plesk with Virtuozzo has been proven to increase the investment returns of web hosting service providers while also accommodating the needs of the end user.

Plesk and Dedicated Hosting

Plesk’s modular design and RPM installation gives dedicated hosting providers the ability to offer an effective administrative tool to the more technical savvy group as well. Plesk is also a very expandable software that can be modified using various third-party applications, making it perfect for users with plenty of dedicated server space and innovation. Webmasters have access to a particularly interesting  feature known as XML-API, an integrated interface that fully automates the overseeing process, while also facilitating the use of the various third-party applications. Integrated software development kits such as XML-API and other back-end utilities gives end-users and hosting providers the ability to  enhance their products and services using Plesk.

Whether you have a dedicated or shared server, Plesk offers advantageous features that can greatly increase the productivity of your online business. The compatibility of Plesk with multiple operating systems and server environments has made it a top contender for the best control panel available.

InterWorx control panel is known as a cluster control panel, in other words it is capable of administrating several servers at once, although it can also be used to manage a single server as well.  InterWorx is also optimal for a dedicated server environment, and its multi-leveled user interface is simple to learn, yet very powerful. The software was originally designed to accommodate the administration needs of users with multiple servers, however over time the developers included simpler features for novice users. Both resellers and end-users can benefit equally from this software, as the server space allotted is not restricted on either end.  There are two main interfaces within the InterWorx software: the  SiteWorx (domain/reseller administration module),  and NodeWorx (server administration module)

Ease of Use

Although InterWorx is capable of handling complex administration tasks, it’s learning curve is relatively simple, even for novice users. It’s simplicity is compounded by the easy to use tool guide located in plain view on the main navigational page. In comparison to other control panels, InterWorx  is very easy to learn, and all of the features can be figured out by simply experimenting with the software.

Multiple Domains

Increasing web presence by owning multiple domains has become very popular in recent years, and InterWorxs realizes the demand for a control panel that can handle unlimited domains. In fact, InterWorks gives users the ability to build multiple websites from a single interface with the use of FTP, SSH and secure databases.  All of your domains receive email account administration and HTML directories. The only thing you need to worry about is the amount of disk space your web hosting provider offers.

Installation Application – ScriptWorx

InterWorx also includes an application called ScriptWorx, which allows you to install virtually any third party application with ease. These applications can greatly enhance the quality and functionality of your website by offering shopping carts, content, blogs, media galleries and more. Some of the applications will also greatly boost your marketing efforts, thereby increasing your business productivity. Since InterWorx is an open source software, developers can also use the integrated ScriptWorx tool to write their own scripts which can then be integrated into th software. This make InterWorx a very appealing control panel to programmers and developers.  Included in the software is an update utility which gives programmers regular updates on new programming languages and scripts.

Compact Yet Powerful

Since InterWorx is scripted in PHP and powered by MySQL, it is a very compact yet powerful program. In fact, the control panel uses less resources than a single Apache server.  InterWorx also includes a load balancing utility that allows the software to run quietly and efficiently in the background without disrupting any other functions on your operating system.

The Simplicity of Plesk

Plesk is  suitable solution for the shared hosting environment because it incorporates the functionality of a mutli-tiered administrative interface with the simplicity of a single module. Web hosts find these features particularly useful because they can manage the demands of infinite domains within a single  management interface. Even the most novice administrators can create and manage accounts on the server with ease, which decreases the need for customer service on behalf of the web hosting provider. Both the user and the host benefit from this simplicity, as the user can also perform administrative tasks without the aid of a server administrator. Plesk’s expandability and unlimited control make it a perfect solution for the shared hosting environment.

The Complexity of Plesk

A simple installation and segregated modular interface make Plesk an easy to use software that can be used form the start by users with absolutely no experience. With such an incredible design, one would assume that the price of Plesk would exceed the budget of most small businesses. However, the affordability of Plesk is another reason why it is suitable for users of the dedicated hosting environment. Dedicated hosting is typically more expensive than other hosting services, so it is relieving to find an affordable control panel that can accommodate the administrative needs of a dedicated server. Plesk also lets you put all of your server space to use, by giving you the ability to expand the software through the simple installation of unlimited third party applications. Although Plesk does not cost an exuberant amount, it does provide a plethora of features for high end users and large corporations.

The Flexibility of Plesk

Users of Virtual Private Servers also see Plesk as a viable solution because it is a compact software that doesn’t use a lot of system resources. Plesk also gives you the ability to change the design of the control panel itself with a software called Vitruozzo. This software lets users incorporate unlimited design templates into Plesk’s administrative interface, making the control panel completely customizable. Many users find that this visual adaptability decreases Plesk’s learning curve substantially.

It’s customizable nature, combined with it’s supreme compatibility with multiple operating systems and hosting environments, make Plesk a capable server management solution for almost any company.

SysCP

Although SysCP is a free control panel, it still carries all of the important functions of an expensive control panel, giving webmasters the ability to create CGI scripts, adjust DNS settings, create custom error messages/pages, view website statistics and so much more. You’ll also have access to turn-key control over third-party applications such as BIND, Apache, ProFTPD and Courier. SysCP comes with all of these features automatically integrated within the software, but even more impressive is the overwhelming amount of extensions available for download that will enhance your administrative capabilities even further. The features of this control panel are practically endless, and after a few hours of using it you will wonder why the developer’s are not charging an exuberant fee for it’s services. This free control panel makes it to the top of the list because of it’s ever expanding nature and it’s compatibility with almost every operating system.

Webmin

Webmin has been receiving a lot of attention lately from users with dedicated hosting packages. It’s administrative capabilities, combined with a sleek user-friendly interface make it a favorite amongst many novice users. Among other notable features, it comes fully integrated with modules for cron job management, BIND, bandwidth monitoring, firewall administration, and Apache.  Like other control panels, there are a wide variety of compatible extensions and plugins available that can enhance your server administration experience. One interesting feature of Webmin is that you have the option to create your own modules and extensions. Webmin is also amazing when it comes to compatibility, because it supports nearly every operating system on the market today. The primary reason why Webmin has become so successful is because it is an open-source software, allowing independent developers and programmers to improve the control panel continuously. These modifications have resulted in a truly superb control panel software.

GNUPanel

GNUPanel is a new Linux-based control panel that is scripted in PHP5 programming language.   Among the more notable features of this software are FTP/domain management, database administration and email management.  Like the other free control panels discussed in this article, with GNUPanle you’ll have the ability to control and install third-party applications such as phpBB, Joomla,  Wordpress and osCommerce.  Even though this control panel is an open-source software, it is not compatible with many operating systems, which is why it is last on the list.

1. Making a new live chat feature available on the company website: www.cpanel.net

2. Revamping its online discussion forums and dispatching technical support experts to monitor them on a full-time basis.

3. Providing technical support 24/7 via phone.

Once upon a time, cPanel’s main outlet for technical support was its web-based ticket system.  While efficient for the most part, this system was only available to customers during daytime business hours.  As we all know, technical problems have no schedule and tend to arise at the most untimeliest of moments.  That has all changed now as cPanel’s tremendous growth has forced the company to make drastic improvements in the support area.

Sean Richards, Technical Support Manager at cPanel, explained that because the software provider’s client base is growing so fast, expanding the technical support team only makes sense.  He hinted that it is the only way to provide its customers with the around the clock assistance they deserve.  Customers have also benefited from the increased size of cPanel’s technical support team.  Richards said that by adding a number of talented technical experts and seasoned veterans, expanding support for migrations, bug review, and direct API issues has been much easier.  He noted that enhanced support in many other keys will be critical for the upcoming year of 2010.

As we noted earlier, cPanel has also added live chat to its support system, a feature that can be accessed directly from the company website.  This new feature allows any existing customers or prospects to reach the customer service team directly from their web browser.  The staff provides immediate responds to matters concerning billing and sales questions in near real-time.  The cPanel live chat feature is available during normal daytime business hours.

The online discussion forums have always been one of cPanel’s most popular support outlets.  Even this channel has received a major overhaul.  Richards commented that customers looking for help will find the layout of the new support forum far more useful.  Among the enhancements is a designated area for users who would like to make feature requests, as well as improved access for mobile devices.  According to Richards, PDA and smart phone users can experience these enhancements from their mobile devices by visiting the cpanel forum at http://m.forums.cpanel.net.  In addition, an expert from the cPanel support team is now assigned to forums to address customer questions and concerns.  cPanel is hoping this will help the community by speeding up the response time on technical issues.

While cPanel has made improvements, its around the clock support system is still not without flaw.  The price for telephone support is based on a nominal fee per incident.  Fortunately, this fee covers however many calls it takes to resolve the problem at hand.

Web-cp

An open-source solution, Web-cp is a derivative of Web://cp and picks up right where that project left off.  It utilizes a four layer module system that supports server, reseller, domain and email management, which is becoming standard functionality in many premium control panels.  And just like the original project, Web-cp is written in the PHP language so it should not put much, if any, additional stress on the server.  This control panel makes it a great option for the server that lacks power but still needs to run a great deal of add-on software components.

VHCS

VHCS is another free open-source control panel that makes a viable alternative to cPanel.  The feature list for this panel is impressive, consisting of support for server and domain management as well as extensive reseller capabilities.  VHCS is compatible with a nice selection of Linux distributions, including Debian, CentOS, SUSE and Fedora.  Perhaps the most unique aspect of this control panel is the fact that the software is written in a collection of compiled and interpreted languages, which gives it common capabilities and a little edge as well.  Its graphical user interface is written in PHP for web page support, its back-end daemon is written in C, and the engine is written in Perl to enable streamlined system management.  On the surface, VHCS seems to be a worthy free alternative to the mighty cPanel.

Webmin

Webmin is a free control panel distributed under an open-source license.  It is heavy on Perl programming and Spam Assassin in addition to several other applications one would expect from a good cPanel competitor.  Webmin also has additional counterparts that are also free, most notably, Usermin and Virtualmin.  Usermin is a more stripped down version that allows users to manage their webmail while Virtual Min, which comes in a free and paid version, is the control panel designed for resellers.  Boasting robust features such as cluster server management, Webmin is currently one of the most popular free alternatives to cPanel.

Considerations

When looking for a cPanel alternative, keep in mind that price is not necessarily the most important factor.  Whether you are out for something that is open or closed source, the product should be easy to use, well supported, and most importantly, efficient for your needs.  And while cPanel may not be able to suit every requirement, remember that it is number one for a reason.

Compatibility

Cube Panel supports all three major operating systems; Windows, Linux and Unix. This is a very important feature because even the famed cPanel is not capable of this!  Even though Plesk is compatible with all three of these operating systems as well, it is not nearly as efficient as Cube Panel in it’s basic functions.  This attribute is listed first because it alone puts Cube Panel ahead of nearly every other control panel.

Simplicity Combined With Power

Even though Cube Panel is loaded with incredible features, it is also extremely easy to use, with a maximum learning curve of only a few hours. The user-interface is lined with simple navigational screens that make using this control panel a breeze even to the most novice users. Almost every feature you would need is located conveniently on the main page. You can also find crucial domain statistics to the left in a well designed statistic panel. Even though Cube Panel licenses cost $100, they are so confident in their control panel that they allow user to trial the Lite version for free. This free version is still highly capable of carrying out all of the basic functions of an efficient control panel.

Domain Statistics and Options

There are two main domain option categories; Domain Limits and Domain Permissions. The Domain Limits category concerns all of the options that regard your the limits placed on your domain at any given time. Here you’ll find information like how much free disk space you have, how many email accounts you can have, and how much bandwidth your account has been allotted.  On the other hand, the Domain Permissions area displays information concerning your hosting account, such as the kind of programming support available to you, and your FTP access details. Both of these features allow you to monitor the status of your hosting account, so it will be easy to recognize when an upgrade is needed.

Easy Backups

Of course backing up your data is very important to the existence of your website, and Cube Panel makes doing so very easy. Cube Panel contains an integrated backup utility that when used regularly will prevent you from ever having to worry about losing data due to unforeseen events. Backing up data in Cube Panel is as easy as clicking the “backup data” button.  After you have clicked the “backup data” button you can then select from a list of options that will allow you to make a one time backup or arrange for weekly/monthly backups to occur automatically.

The features above make Cube Panel a formidable contender for the best control panel on the market today, and it would not be surprising to see it competing with cPanel in the near future.

This article will allow one to make the most informed decision possible, by providing a detailed summary of the top three web hosting control panels .

cPanel

cPanel is likely the most common control panel used today. It’s popularity can be attributed to its user-friendly interface and wide array of features.  The standard cPanel account comes equipped with two different hosting interfaces that make it ideal for managing an online business. These two interfaces are the WHM and cPanel itself.  WHM (Web Host Manager), is the software used to create new hosting accounts and packages.  The WHM is used to perform various management functions, such as adding/spending customer accounts, monitoring resource usage, changing passwords, parking domains, and installing SSL certificates . One of the biggest advantages of a cPanel account is the included  third-party application “Fantastico” that allows one to enhance their site’s overall quality by incorporating a wide array of useful add-on applications.

H-Sphere

H-Sphere is a highly versatile control panel that supports both Windows and Linux platforms. This control panel lets administrators manage several different servers from one computer.  H-Sphere behaves much like a server itself, offering a variety of turn-key features like payment processing, account configuration,  domain name registration and email notification.  It also includes support for more than twenty payment gateways, and it even comes with a built-in billing module. Since H-sphere is equipped with  so many useful features it is often considered much less user-friendly than most of the other control panels available. Although the overall design of H-sphere gives it a steep learning curve,  this control panel can still be mastered with very little foreknown knowledge in PHP, HTML, or FTP.

Plesk

Plesk is well-renowned as one of the most secure and stable control panels on the market today.  Many of it’s users appreciate it’s easy-to-learn navigation, well designed interface, and overall appearance in general.  Plesk offers a variety of beneficial features, including an automated application installer that is much like Fantastico. Plesk also comes equipped with a site builder and a powerful spam filter, Spam Assassin.  This particular control panel also works well with other solutions offered by its developer; SWsoft. The most notable application that Plesk integrates well with is HSP. HSP fully automates the process of administrative tasks such as payment processing and email notification.

Regardless of which control panel you decide to use, all of the control panels mentioned here are a viable solutions for all of your web hosting tasks.