We want to add a hosting control panel to our linux server, which currently hosts two dozen websites (with more to come hopefully). However, feedback from forum members would be helpful in evaluating the best one - Plesk, Helm or any others that we should consider. We are looking for a solution that is easy to use without too many technical issues that doesn't cost thousands of dollars in initial or ongoing fees. Utopia? Is there any control panels that you would highly recommend or severely criticize? Thanks. db
I have managed over 100 domains over the last few years for many clients and ony many servers/control panels. My favorite control panel would be a toss up between Cpanel and Direct Admin. If you are lloking for a simple, reliable control panel at low cost, I think DA is the way to go. One of our company servers is Plesk and it's the biggest headache I have in my job. The interface is pretty, but important things like IP management are ridiculously complicated. You can't even preview a site correctly unless the site is either live at the domain or on a dedicated IP address (fricken ABSURD!). This means that if you are developing a new site for a client that is currently on another server, you are going to have a hell of a time previewing that new site unless you put it on a dedicated IP address. Not a a problem until you have 100+ clients like we do. Then it absolutely sucks.
The plesk site preview is working on plesk 7.5 reloaded, on the old 7.0 they don't have that(but you can solve that with some tricks), regarding the ip s, you just need to get used with it, I didn't have any difilcuties.
I vote cPanel. easy to use and everyone uses it which make support and site migrations a snap. Good luck.
If you are looking for windows then Hosting contraoller, Pleask, helm is cheap one but not much good Cp For linux cpanel rocks. pleask is aslo good choice. avoid to go with ensim.