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Every Web host provides you with one, and if you do a lot of work on your Web
site it could be something you curse or something you get to adore every single
day.
A control panel is like the brain behind your Web site’s body. It gives
you one place to look at to do everything you would ever need to do to your
Web hosting account. You can create E-mail accounts, create FTP accounts, track
statistical information and so much more.
Did you know that there are different types of control panels though? I do
not think anybody can argue with the fact that the most popular control panel
software out there today is cPanel. There are other options out there though.
Some might be better, some might be worse.
You shouldn't judge the quality of your Web host by the control panel they
offer alone. It is an important piece to the Web hosting puzzle.
cPanel (www.cpanel.net)
The folks at the cPanel Web site say, "cPanel is designed for the end users
of your system and allows them to control everything from adding / removing
email accounts to administering MySQL databases." The fact of the matter
is though that they do that and so much more. Most often used on Redhat Linux
based systems, cPanel provides support for over ten different flavors of Linux.
There is no Windows or OSX versions yet however. Their interface is clean, with
more options and features (www.cpanel.net/features-cpanel.html) than you could
shake a stick at. It is easy to see why they are the number one control panel
used today. They do have several competitors though, chomping at the bit to
take their space on the top of the mountain. cPanel used to have a demo control
panel up for folks to test drive, however I could not find a trace of it on
the cPanel Web site anymore.
Mitch's Score: 5/5
Plesk (www.sw-soft.com)
Plesk is available for both Linux and Windows Web hosting servers. This alone
gives them a little advantage over cPanel. Their interface looks much like Windows
XP. You have all the soft colors and big icons that you would ever need. I have
to give them credit though, because it does look great. They have all the basic
features that cPanel has as well. Take Plesk for a test drive and see what you
think! www.sw-soft.com/en/products/plesk75reloaded/demo/
Mitch's Score: 5/5
H-Sphere (www.psoft.net/)
Created by Positive Software, H-Sphere is yet another pretty control panel that
you might have access to. It too provides support for Windows and Linux based
machines. From complete automation to key functionalities (psoft.net/promo/),
it has many features. Compared with Plesk and cPanel it leaves you with wanting
a little more. Perhaps in the next few versions it will be able to catch up.
The organization inside the H-Sphere is not that great either. Take H-Sphere
for a test drive and see what you think! www.psoft.net/h_sphere_demo_page.html
Mitch's Score: 3/5
Ensim (www.ensim.com)
Ensim is yet another control panel that provides support for flavors of Windows
and Linux alike. They say that it is for the management of any type of Web site.
That is good to know. If they had a dislike for Web sites about the dead parrot
sketch from Monty Python, I might be a little mad. The interface is pretty enough,
but it comes a little short compared with the options in some other clients.
Take Ensim for a test drive and see what you think! www.ensim.com/products/pro/linux/lhindex.html
Mitch's Score: 4/5
DirectAdmin (www.directadmin.com)
DirectAdmin claims to be the control panel that is the easiest to use. They
do have many features (www.directadmin.com/features.html) that the other control
panels boast about. It appears though that they only support a few flavors of
Linux. No Windows support yet. The interface is very pretty and organized, but
lacks when it comes to some of the extra features that cPanel or Plesk could
provide. Take DirectAdmin for a test drive and see what you think! www.directadmin.com/demo.html
Mitch's Score: 4/5
Interworx (www.interworx.info)
Interworx is another Linux only control panel. There is nothing wrong with this,
because there are many more Linux based Web hosting servers out there today.
Just by looking through their Web master level features interworx.info/iworx-cp/features.php,
I would say they deserve to be ranked at the top. One thing that I really like
from them is their site usage snapshot. It gives you a chart to look at, right
off the bat to see your upstreams and downstreams. The interface is clean, and
everything is organized well. Take Interworx for a test drive and see what you
think! interworx.info/demos.php
Mitch's Score: 5/5
Helm (www.webhostautomation.com/products/helm)
Now we have seen a lot of different Linux only control panels, but what about
a Windows only one? That is one thing that Helm provides to the end consumer.
There are many customer features (www.webhostautomation.com/products/helm/customers.aspx)
to go on and on about, but how does it feel once you get on the inside? It has
the standard pretty interface, nothing new there. These control panels are built
to be used over and over, so they have to be easy on the eyes. One thing that
did get my attention is the ability to see your billing information inside the
control panel. That is very nice indeed. Take Helm for a test drive and see
what you think! www.webhostautomation.com/products/helm/demo.aspx
Mitch's Score: 4/5
Hosting Accelerator (www.hostingaccelerator.com)
Hosting Accelerator is another Windows Web hosting server control panel. The
end user features www.hostingaccelerator.com/Products/HostingAccelerator/Features/End-Users.aspx
are very standard, and lacks of any shock and awe you might have seen with other
clients out there. The interface on this control panel though is way too busy.
It looks as if they through organization out the proverbial window. Seeing how
much stuff you can shove in front of may face is not a good way to make a first
impression. For a geek, this might be nice. For somebody new to Web hosting
though, this is frightening. Take Hosting Accelerator for a test drive and see
what you think! www.hostingaccelerator.com/Products/HostingAccelerator/Online_Demo/
Mitch's Score: 3/5
InsPanel (www.inspanel.com)
Yet another Windows only Web hosting server control panel, InsPanel hopes to
offer a new look at the idea. There are many features www.inspediumsoft.com/inspanel_features.php
to be listed, but none of them stick out at me like a sore thumb. The control
panel is well organized, with everything in it's place. An average product,
but remember there is nothing wrong with that! Take InsPanel for a test drive
and see what you think! demo.inspanel.com:9000/
Mitch's Score: 4/5
CWIPanel (www.cwipanel.com)
CWIPanel has a message on their front page saying that you can "unleash
the power of your Windows server!" Now can you really? Let us have a look.
The list of features www.cwipanel.com/features.asp look much like the other
Windows only control panels. However they did not have a control panel demo
for me to look at, so there really is not much else to be said. From what I've
seen though they look to be about average as it goes for Windows server management.
Mitch's Score: 4/5
Hands down, I believe that cPanel is the best control panel out there today
still. I have used cPanel many times for my own Web sites and have never had
a problem yet. For Windows hosting, I would pick Helm as my favorite out there
today.
Without control panels we would still be doing all these things with Linux
commands, paper clips and chewing gum. As the operating system made life with
a computer easier, the control panel makes life with a Web hosting account a
more pleasant experience.
There are many factors that play into purchasing a Web hosting account, but
Web hosting company is only as good as the control panel behind it. By looking
at these eleven examples, you should be able to judge which ones might offer
you the best results.
About The Author
Mitch Keeler (www.mitchkeeler.com/) is a guy who likes to help people out in
his own charismatic and odd way. Instead of showing somebody how to do something,
he much more enjoys having people see the problem and the solution through his
own eyes. Mitch has worked as an article and content writer for various Web
sites around the globe.
Mitch Keeler is also a former Customer Service Director and Customer Service
Manager for a large Web hosting company. Please feel free to contact Mitch (www.mitchkeeler.com/contact.php)
or look over his impressive resume of accomplishments (www.mitchkeeler.com/about.php). |
