Web hosts use what is called a web hosting control panel in order to run their business. Whether to sign on actual clients, or to segment one’s server, these panels vary in degree of learning curve, licensing fees, and functionality. There are a number to choose from, so the decision won’t be easy.
One of the better paid packages is cPanel. This package has long been in development, and is a time-tested software package that is popular among professionals. This is because cPanel offers the best of both worlds: all the nitty and gritty features advanced users need, but still sports a simple interface that almost anyone can learn within a day or two. The licensing fees are the only drawback to cPanel.
The benefit of choosing Webmin over cPanel is the fact that it is a free solution. Since it is open source, it is also widely and indefinitely supported by the community. This Unix based platform may not be as robust as cPanel, but for the price it is hard to beat. Modules are easy to install, and custom modifications to the system are easily done.
It’s good to see that some web hosting panels are working in modern features into their inner core. An example would be with GNUPanel, which allows hosting managers to accept online payment processors automatically. Other packages such as cPanel may be able to do this with third party software, but it isn’t built into the system. GNUPanel is based on PHP 5, so it’s also a rather mainstream and easy to pick up code base. GNUPanel supports many features cPanel does, such as one-click installation of Joomla!
Perhaps one of the few true competitors to cPanel in terms of licensed panels is Plesk. Plesk is said to be more user friendly because of its interface, but the true decision should be left up to the end user. Plesk is very comparable to cPanel otherwise: being able to do just about anything equally as well, with the same sense of security. The interface and licensing fees are the two main deciding factors for new web hosting managers.
InterWorx is a unique web hosting control panel, in that it is able to support multiple servers at once. It specializes in load balancing in a cluster server environment, so that high-traffic websites can still function despite intensive server usage. InterWorx is a proprietary system, but has competitive pricing that allows users to pay by the month, quarterly, or annually. Paying more for a custom installation or custom support options is also available to those who need a little extra from their web hosting control panel.
Final Thoughts
There are many control panels to pick from. Whether you need a specific price, server environment, or feature set- there are free demonstrations available from all reputable panel developers. Take the time to try out each one and make a solid decision on who to pick.
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