Which Control Panel?

[ukultra]

Hi,
I'd welcome a few views, pros & cons on control panel choice.
cpanel, Direct Admin, Interworkx, Plesk.

From the point of view of me the admin and the end user.

Not too worried about what programs can be installed with each (ie fantastico). I'd sooner go for the best control panel rather than be attracted by what scripts can be auto-installed by the end user.

Cheers for looking.
Colin

[rainboy]

Colin,

its all about taste, and system resources, i am a big fan of Cpanel with the rvskin module, at it has a great backend for the server admin (WHM) which is very powerfull and makes system tasks very easy. And RVskin gives the whole interface a much better look. But Cpanel/whm is using a lot of resources.

If fantastico isnt something you want to offer, and you are able to administer the box more from the ssh sessions, maybe another control-panel is suitable for you.

Good luck in your choice!

Kindest regards,
Patrick

[the_ancient]

If fantastico isnt something you want to offer, and you are able to administer the box more from the ssh sessions, maybe another control-panel is suitable for you.

other control panels come with script installers, or a person can make there own, IMO fantastico is not that fanstatic

[rainboy]

other control panels come with script installers, or a person can make there own, IMO fantastico is not that fanstatic

Sure they do, and no fantastico as it is now, is not fantastic, hope fantastico 3 will be better. But i always see many request of fantastico which is only available for cpanel till now, so if you do not choose for fantastico, any other configuration panel will be a solution. Except that i understand WHM makes it much easier on the sys-admin as other control panels.

So the pro's for cpanel would be:
- WHM (very complete to do sys-admin tasks)
- Fantastico (if needed, you can offer a lot of scripts in one click)
- Customisation of templates
- Not just control-panel, but a complete server setup

and certainly a con:
- uses many system resources
- Fantastico isn't so great (as it is now)

maybe a lot more pro's or con's , others can add but there are many other threads already about this, maybe a search would give you already what you want to know.

Kindest regards,
Patrick

[ukultra]

Cheers all!
Do like cpanel, but was put off by other posts I've seen in the past about it being a bit of a hog. Guess its a trade off hog/useability.

The only reason I object to fantastico is that it's just an installer and the way I see it is most people designing a site will know how to install anyway.

Ok, I guess that might be pushing it a little, and it's true many do take a keen interest in its availability. If I knew how to create my own I would, at least then you have a little more control of the programs available.

Would need some sort of CP myself as I'm not 100% on running a server.

Cheers for now...
Colin

[the_ancient]

i always see many request of fantastico which is only available for cpanel

When people requect fanstastico they are wanting a Script Auto-Installer. Fanstatico is just a famous brand of script installer.

For example If I ask for a Band-Aid I dont really want the Johnson and Johnson Brand of Bandages, I just want any bandage, Band-Aid is merely a Well known brand, if I ask for a Kleenex I want a Facial Tissue it could be the kleenex brand or not

[JPC-Nick]

Direct Admin is my personal favorite, when combined with installatron its just as god as cPanel/Fantasco in my opinion

But cPanel does offer Cpanel Game Server for free
http://cpgs.cpanel.net

[Smithjp]

If you go with my opinion, I will prioritize the control panels as:

From Administrator point of view:

1. cPanel
2. InterWorx
3. DirectAdmin
4. Plesk

From End user point of view:

1. cPanel
2. InterWorx
3. Plesk
4. DirectAdmin

cPanel is the first choice if you want to have a complete hosting panel. I agree with rainboy saying that

"Not just control-panel, but a complete server setup"

It provides alot of features for the users to manage their websites and the servers. For administration point of view it provides scripts that can be used to fix/upgrade installed applications.It provides a clean setup and you don't have to rely on cPanel. Most of the applications can be upgraded easily.

The first thing that I like about InterWorx is its cool interface . From end user perspective, it provides limited features but that are almost enough to manage the websites.It is not resource hungry and a light control panel and you can have it on VPS Discovery plan. For administration point of view, it is also easy to manage, fix and upgrade the installed applications.

Directadmin is a very light control panel with very limited features. If you don't need much features and need a simple control panel that can run your websites then go for it. Its three access levels are somewhat confusing at start.From administration point of view, it also provides few scripts and the installed applications are easy to upgrade.

Last but not the least Plesk, it provides a cool interface to the end user and is a light control panel. It is easy to manage for end users and the interface is quite easy to use. But installations/upgradations of installed applications are quite complicated in it and really sometimes it will give a tough time to upgrade any installed application. Mostly you have to rely on SwSoft that when they officialy support the latest version so that it can be installed on it.

[the_ancient]

What does cPanel Offer than Interworx does not, that SHOULD be in a Hosting Control Panel....

Keep In Mind that this is suppose to be a HOSTING control panel, it should control and set up the back end Hosting Services like Email, mySQL, etc and nothing more

[Smithjp]

I'm also referring to the Hosting control panel that should only provides features to manage the website.Interworx doesn't allow to add addon/multihosted domains that is the feature that should be supported by a control panel. It also doesn't allow to create email accounts on parked domains that I think is a feature that most of the clients require. There are number of other features too that cPanel provides and InterWorx doesn't.

[Saint]

If your looking for the control panel that is most universal, and does majority of what customers want, I would personally reccomend cPanel.

I have been a long time user of the software, and have seen what it can truely do, and what it's going to be able to do in the future. Whether its for dedicated servers, reseller hosting, or shared hosting, it's the ideal solution in my opinion.

Plesk has been around for some time, and has the reputation of being a clean control panel, but it does not have anywhere near the capability that cpanel has.

Directadmin, i've used this personally on personal machines, but nothing major so wouldn't know what to input on this.

Interworx I have only tampered with for some time, but I still have to give kudos to cPanel 100%.

[the_ancient]

I'm also referring to the Hosting control panel that should only provides features to manage the website.Interworx doesn't allow to add addon/multihosted domains that is the feature that should be supported by a control panel. It also doesn't allow to create email accounts on parked domains that I think is a feature that most of the clients require. There are number of other features too that cPanel provides and InterWorx doesn't.

ALL of which will be in version 3

[JPC-Nick]

If your looking for the control panel that is most universal, and does majority of what customers want, I would personally reccomend cPanel.

I have been a long time user of the software, and have seen what it can truely do, and what it's going to be able to do in the future. Whether its for dedicated servers, reseller hosting, or shared hosting, it's the ideal solution in my opinion.

Plesk has been around for some time, and has the reputation of being a clean control panel, but it does not have anywhere near the capability that cpanel has.

Directadmin is a free control panel, i've used this personally on personal machines that I did not want a full control panel on, wouldn't reccomend it for business use.

Interworx I have only tampered with for some time, but I still have to give kudos to cPanel 100%.

Definatly cPanel wins but I would have to say Direct Admin is the most user friendly its very easy to lean

[the_ancient]

Man, here I thought Jag Staff was smart........

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