web hosting

Top Three Control Panels to Consider When Choosing a Web Host

Selecting the right control panel for your web hosting account is imperative. This decision will affect the overall productivity of your online business. Depending on your goals, you’ll want to choose a control panel that is both user-friendly and feature packed, to ensure you get the most out of your web hosting experience. Choosing the wrong control panel can result in countless hours of frustration and confusion, so it is important that one reviews their options carefully before making a final decision.

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.

A Look at The Reseller Hosting Market via WHM Hosting

The most popular and widely used software tools are usually celebrated for good reason, mainly because they are able to address the needs of professionals and end-users over a broad range of segments.  When you find a certain tool that the user community is buzzing about, it typically means that the software is at least worth a closer look.  When it comes to the reseller market, WHM is one software tool you will hear a lot of people talking about.  This article will fill you in on why this program has been able to generate and maintain such a positive buzz.

WHM Overview

Web Host Manager or simply, WHM offers the reseller an easier way to manage several hosting accounts and run their business through various automated processes.  Often bundled with the popular cPanel control panel package, WHM has become one of the most preferred management tools for not only resellers, but web hosting providers all around the world.  If you were a webmaster before diving into the reseller market, you have probably at least head of cPanel, a powerful control panel that deserves all the praise it receives.  cPanel is easy to use with a ton of great features that appeal to the novice as well as the experienced webmaster or administrator.  The widespread use and notoriety of this dynamic automation software tool makes WHM just as popular by association.

Extensive Automation with WHM AutoPilot

A distinct advantage WHM has over other reseller management tools is its ability to integrate with WHM AutoPilot, another product created by the makers of cPanel.  WHM AutoPilot is a complete, out of the box web hosting management system that provides resellers with the ability to automate virtually every administrative task associated with their business.  Its most prolific features include a built-in billing management facility, profile system and convenient access to support.  WHM AutoPilot is one of the first in the business to enable resellers to create a remote order system in which a single installation can effectively manage multiple domains, allowing each to have its own branding and identity.  The aspect of centralized control is one of the biggest perks of using WHM as your reseller hosting software.

You Can’t Go Wrong with WHM

WHM is a tool that is only available to the reseller and server administrator.  And just as other control panels have separate versions of their reseller management software, this one is unique to the cPanel program.  Choosing a hosting account equipped with this software is a surefire way to make your job as a reseller much easier.  It also gives you the means to really market your business on “an easy to use platform” since your customers will be provided with the user-friendly end-user version of cPanel.  The management software is one of the most important factors that must be considered when choosing a reseller hosting account.  With WHM in your arsenal, you are well on your way to succeeding with your new online business.

Control Panel Customization with RVSkin

The highly customizable nature of cPanel gives it many advantages over other control panels.  Boasting ease of use and a rich set of features, cPanel offers benefits that can be extended to hosting providers, resellers and end-users alike.  One of its most underrated features is RVSkin, a unique third-party program that adds new meaning to customization.

What is RVSkin?

RVSkin is a popular add-on made to function with the cPanel and WHM software.  This multi-theme, multi-language tool comes packed with some amazing features and a user-friendliness that coincides perfectly with  the leading web hosting control panel.  RVSkin currently supports over 20 languages including English, Dutch, French, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Italian to name a few.  What many like about the software is that it allows you to easily brand your cPanel skin in a matter of minutes.  As a reseller, you can incorporate logos, links to your company website and more.

RVSkin Key Features

RVSkin is integrated with numerous features.  Some of the most noteworthy  include:

Themes: RVSkin gives you a selection of 14 themes for customizing your control panel. Furthermore, these themes can be modified by the reseller and end-user within their version of the control panel.

Reseller Tool: The reseller features in RVSkin gives server administrators the ability to decide what features are available in their clients’ control panels.  If you don’t want your resellers providing features such as shopping carts and databases, they can be easily disabled and made invisible to the user.  You can also control what level of RVSkin access resellers enjoy.

Skin Editor: Branding your skin is made easy with the Skin Editor.  Server administrators and resellers can control the look of client control panels with customization that drives the brand name home.  Aside from inserting links to your site, you can also customize the skin with links to your support department or any other areas who want customers to have direct access to.

Page Editor: The Page Editor feature allows you to easily create pages in many different languages within RVSkin.  It offers full support for HTML programming as well PHP and Python.  Once your pages have been created, they can then be added to the skin using the Add Body Links function, which lets you exclude pages from the certain packages or allocate them to different language settings.

Marketing Tools: RVSkin is integrated with a number of tools that can help hosting providers and resellers increase their revenue.  In a few easy clicks, you can make configurations that provide your customers with the content they need to view certain information or place orders all from their control panel.

Third-Party Integration – One of the best things about RVSkin is that works seamlessly with various add-ons.  The software can be fully integrated with popular third-party applications such as Modernbill, CPSkins Auto Installer and Fantastico.

RVSkin Availability

Not every company provides RVSkin to their customers.  However, every host and reseller that utilizes cPanel has the ability to do so.   This powerful customization tool is admired for its ease of use and often preferred over similar applications such as X Skins and others that come standard with cPanel.

Control Panel Options for Resellers

As a reseller, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is choosing a control panel.  When selecting the right software, you can save yourself a lot of time, money and frustration.  This article will give you an overview on some of the most popular control panels available for reseller hosting.

cPanel

cPanel makes a great choice for reselling because it is incredibly easy to use and loaded with features.  The standard cPanel reseller package comes with two separate applications: WHM and cPanel.  WHM (Web Host Manager) is the control panel used to create user accounts and web hosting packages.  Other features include the ability to modify plans, add and suspend sites, park domains, view bandwidth statistics and perform other administrative tasks.  Clients of the reseller are provided with the end-user version of cPanel to manage their own sites.

A cPanel reseller hosting package also includes an optional application called WHM Autopilot.  This program allows you to configure account creation and suspensions, email notifications and other automated functions.  WHM Autopilot can be seamlessly integrated with numerous payment gateways and includes a built-in helpdesk, invoice module and several administrative tools.

H-Sphere

H-Sphere is a cross-platform control panel that allows resellers to set up hosting plans on both Windows and Linux systems.  It provides the unique ability to manage sites on different servers from a single interface even though the control panel is actually on a separate server.  H-Sphere completely automates the management processing, allowing you to easily make configurations, process credit card payments, handle domain name registrations and send out email notifications.  This control panel also has a built-in helpdesk, a billing module and supports more than 20 payment gateways.

The advanced features and functionality of H-Sphere results in a steeper learning curve than other control panels.  For this reason, beginners may find this software a bit too complex for their needs.  On the other hand, more advanced users appreciate the flexibility and control H-Sphere offers.  Aside from the features mentioned, H-Sphere also comes with the SiteStudio website builder that allows end-users to create websites from a number of pre-designed themes.  This gives domain owners the ability to build professional sites regardless of their experience with FTP or HTML.

Plesk

The Plesk control panel is known as one of the most stable and secure on the market.  Resellers and end-users both admire the software’s clean interface, simple navigation and professional appearance.  Plesk offers control on four different levels: Server administrator, Client/Reseller, Domain owner and Mail user.  Each level gives users control of their particular level along with the level below them.  For instance, the server administrator can view information about the reseller, the reseller can view the details on their clients and so forth.

Plesk’s developer Swsoft, also offers Site Builder through the control panel, a program that provides end-users with an easy way to create their sites.  Site Builder has more than 300 templates in numerous categories, allowing reseller clients to create sites with no programming or FTP knowledge.  When combined with HSPcomplete, another Swsoft creation, Plesk delivers automation that allows you to process credit card payments, send email notifications and much more.

Why You Need a Good Control Panel

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.