Archive for June, 2008

The Beauty of cPanel

Throughout your search for a reliable web hosting provider, it is important to learn what features a company supplies, which ultimately boils down to what control panel they use. While there are quite a few to choose from, cPanel is often considered the very best. cPanel, short for control panel, is a sophisticated program that comes in the form of an intuitive GUI (Graphical User Interface). cPanel adds convenience to the tasks of designing and managing your website from publishing web pages to handling important administrative functions. cPanel includes a number of programs which enable you to easily increase the functionality of your site. Through the interaction of the web server, you, the webmaster can implement various features such as mailing lists, email accounts, message boards and blogs.

cPanel Platform and Benefits

The cPanel program functions on various Linux platforms along with a variety of other Unix-like environments. This control panel was designed with security in mind as the authentication logins of your individual programs can be accessed on different web pages. It also includes the Spam Assassin, a reliable anti-spam program that will drastically reduce the number of unsolicited emails showing up in your inbox.

As a standard in the web hosting industry, cPanel is even more efficient with the Fantastico script installer. If you need a blog or message board, Fantastico allows you to include them into your website with a single click, eliminating the task of manually importing third-party applications which can be a challenge for beginners. Together, cPanel and Fantastico make for a powerful web hosting solution, allowing you to streamline a number of great features from a centralized location.

cPanel effectively combines numerous scripts and web-based applications that have the ability to function well on their own. It standardizes these additional features which allows companies to provide their clients with a uniformed web hosting package, usually at a reasonable price For this reason, cPanel is the preferred choice for many web hosting companies and end-users as well.

While this program offers endless benefits, the capability and intuitiveness of cPanel has also made it a prime target for malicious attackers. Because of it’s popularity, several unscrupulous individuals have used this control panel as a platform to manipulate programming scripts and command them to set up unauthorized sub-domains. This is primarily done to lure unknowing victims into compromised sites designed to thieve sensitive information, an attack more commonly termed as phishing. These exploits are certainly on the rise, a reason why you should make the most out of the spam filter included within cPanel, as the majority of these exploits originate via email.

cPanel - The Bottom Line

Despite the malicious programmers on the prowl, cPanel still offers a variety of benefits that overshadow the negative by far. This program combines convenience and ease of use with a number of add-on programs that enable you to create a dynamic website. While there are other control panels on the market that work just as well, you simply can’t go wrong with cPanel. This program provides you with all the tools needed to make the most out of your web hosting package.


What to Consider when Selecting a Control Panel

What is it that sells a web hosting package? The answer is simple - features. One of the most important features of all is the control panel. Every web host has their own preference when it comes to control panels. What is key is finding one that suits you best? Let us take a closer look at the unique features to the most commonly utilized control panels.

A control panel is a program that provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to enables quick and easy access to the features of your website. Many of them grant access to critical functions such email configurations, website statistics, database management, server log views and much more. While there are many control panels available, this article will focus on the big four: cPanel, Plesk, Ensim and vDeck. Almost all shared hosting providers offer one of these four control panels.

cPanel

cPanel is the most widely used control panel application on the market. Several web hosts implement this control panel, with the exception of those looking to cut cost. Though more expensive, cPanel is highly effective as it allows customization of all available features and add-on modules provided by the web host. Additionally, cPanel includes a skin feature preferred by hosts and users, allowing them to customize the overall appearance of the control panel.

Recent versions of cPanel have become more user-friendly as complexity was an issue with previous programs. While this control panel will provide the functionality to make your site stand out, you can save money by residing with a web host using a more affordable solution such as Plesk, Ensim or vDeck. You should also take note that cPanel may include more bugs than other solutions.

Plesk

Plesk is another control panel geared towards the budgeting webmaster. This program has established a reputation for it’s user-friendliness and stability. This comes in handy when tending to important tasks that can’t afford to be interrupted. The downside of Plesk is that it lacks various features when compared to other control panel solutions. If your website involves E-commerce and requires several add-on modules, cPanel maybe a better option.

Ensim

The Ensim control panel is better suited for the webmaster on a strict budget. This program is known to contain less bugs than cPanel but isn’t as easy to use for beginners. If you do take interest in a web host using the Ensim control panel, be sure to compare it with the cost of a host offering cPanel as there should be a noticeable difference.

vDeck

vDeck will soon be releasing it’s third edition and is slowing catching on as a reliable control panel. Many users deem this program as the perfect alternative to solutions like cPanel and Plesk. Some of its features include pre-installed professionally designed templates, a comprehensive web statistics program, a content management function and various advertising services. vDeck is more in-depth and has more of professional feel than cPanel as it offers a complete website management system for both small and large businesses. While vDeck is better suited for experts opposed to beginners just starting out with their first site, version 2 was more intuitive and version 3 promises to be even easier to use.

Whether it’s cPanel, Plesk, Ensim or vDeck, all of these control panels will provide the tools needed to make your website flourish. The issues with these solutions boil down to price and ease of use. Before purchasing a web hosting service, inquire within the provider to learn exactly what control panel they offer.


An Introduction to the Many Features of cPanel

These days, owning a website has become an obtainable goal to those with low-level designing skills, and minimal budgets as well. This is all made possible due to the current prevalence of the web hosting industry, along with the great features provided by individual companies. Even if you have no experience with programming scripts or designing a website, a good web hosting control panel can produce quality results that will make you look like a seasoned webmaster. While the type of control panel varies, cPanel is the most widely used and the preferred choice for many web hosts.

cPanel is a web-based application that allows you to control every aspect of your website. This program is now considered a standard due to its ease of use and extreme functionality. cPanel is highly compatible and works well on various Unix-like platforms along with popular web browsers such as Internet Explorer, FireFox and Opera.

Every feature provided by a web host can be accessed and administered within cPanel, giving you the ability to create a vibrant, interactive setting for family and friends to view or an e-commerce site to power your online business. Here is a brief overview of the amazing features included within cPanel.

Backup Facility

It’s easy to become so involved in running and promoting your business that critical aspects, such as data security, are overlooked. When using a web host equipped with cPanel, this will be something you no longer have to worry about. This control panel allows you to store backups of images, text and other essential content from your website, enabling you to recover quickly if an unlikely disaster happens to strike.

Email Management

Most web hosting companies provide their clients with multiple email accounts. Through cPanel, you can assign domains to your email accounts and also create autoresponders to enhance the level of customer service. cPanel also includes a spam filter to keep unsolicited messages of your inbox.

Statistics

You can actually measure the status of your website with useful tools such as Webalizer. This utility allows you to view the statistics of your site including the latest visitors, how long they stayed and how they found you. A powerful marketing tool, this handy component gives you the ability to analyze the amount of traffic on your site and make adjustments where needed.

Domains

Multiple domains is a great luxury offered by many web hosting companies. This feature allows you to create numerous web sites and manage them from a single interface - cPanel. For instance, you may want to separate the novels you’re selling from the web promotion services you offer. This is easy with cPanel as each of your services can be individually managed and designed with their own domain names.

Fantastico

One of cPanel’s best features is a dynamic utility called Fantastico. Fantastico works as an installer that allows you to implement a variety of programs such as Wordpress blogging software, and several content management systems likes Mambo and Joomla, increasing the functionality of your site with a simple click of the mouse.

Conclusion

The possibilities are endless when building a website with cPanel. This program is user-friendly on all levels with capabilities that exceed the norm. If you want complete control of your site, inquire within a web host to find if they offer cPanel.


A Closer Look at Web Hosting Control Panels

A control panel is a simple yet effective web-based application installed into the server of your web host. This program is designed to give you control of all the features provided by the hosting service. Aside from placing the handy features of this application at your fingertips, a control panel also allows you to access administrative functions, such as setting up email accounts, FTP clients, sub-domains, databases and much more.

Available Control Panels

Different web hosts implement different control panel applications into their servers. This is typically based on the platform the host is utilizing, such as Windows or Linux. Many control panels are specifically designed for certain operating systems, similar to how Windows and Macintosh users typically have different software options.

Web hosting companies use a number of control panels including cPanel, Plesk, Ensim, Hostopia, Sphera and vDeck. These programs all have a different look and feel about them and meet a user’s needs in various ways. The most significant difference in a control panel is the platform it’s designed for, it’s capability and ease of use.

Like most software, control panels take some time to figure out. Some are more comprehensive and user-friendly while others provide exceptionable functionality but are more suited for experts. When choosing the right web host, the level of complexity in their control panel plays a large role.

The two most widely used control panels offered by paid web hosts are cPanel and Plesk. These programs are very comparable though some users tend to enjoy the user-friendliness of Plesk while others love the ease of use and extreme functionality of cPanel.

iPower’s vDeck is a control panel solution that offers the best of both worlds, combining the intuitiveness of Plesk and the functionality of cPanel. As the program is still fairly new, only a few companies have access to the powerful vDeck control panel.

Effectively Using Your Control Panel

Whether your web host provides cPanel, Plesk, or vDeck, the software is liable to give you the blues at first. We have provided a few essential tips to make things a bit easier:

Use the Demo: Many web hosting companies allow you to play with a control panel demo. They typically supply a temporary username and password enabling you to try the program out before purchasing service. Take advantage of this and make sure the control panel is suitable for your website. If you can’t figure out the features of the web host in question, the money you pay for service will be wasted.

Stick with your old software: If you’re moving from one web host to another, it’s a good idea to find a service that uses the same control panel. This will make for a much smoother transition as you will not have to learn a different interface.

Call for help: If your web hosting control panel seems too difficult to learn, take initiative and seek help. You will find numerous tutorials on nearly every available control panel in community forms all over the web. If you can’t seem to find any that are helpful, you can always turn to the help section provided by the web hosting service, which is usually easily accessible from the control panel.


Overview of Co-location Hosting

Collocation, often spelled as “colocation” or “co-location”, is defined as the process of moving or grouping things together. On the web, this term describes the provision of space for a client’s communications equipment on the premises of a specific service provider. For instance, web hosting companies often place their servers on the premises of an ISP (Internet Service Provider) who provides a co-location service.

Who Benefits from Co-location Hosting?

Someone who has complete control over all areas of their website is better suited for a dedicated hosting plan. Those who want the ability to implement hardware or remove and relocate a server are better suited for internal hosting, meaning they host their sites and pay a provider for connectivity and networking resources. Clients who meet the requirements above but aren’t able to fully host the sites themselves are well suited for co-location hosting.

When using a co-location hosting service, the server is often provided by the client. This typically refers to a server that is fully configured and loaded with data, ready to be delivered to the co-location provider. A few providers offer services that allow you to purchase an additional server, or have one custom-made by them. There are however, limitations and cost differences in regard to the size of your server. For example, rack-mount servers come in various sizes depending on their manufacturer and the hardware they contain. A 1U server will be less costly to co-locate than a 2U server as it is half the size. Mid to full-sized towers have similar limitations. Some co-location provers only have facilities that support rack-mount servers while others have additional space for tower cases.

Who Takes Care of the Equipment?

Many customers often wonder if a co-location provider will make sure their servers stay online. The answer to this question all depends on the provider. These services usually offer a Server Monitoring contract, which basically makes them liable for watching your system and making sure it functions properly. The condition is they are responsible for everything that may occur under their watch. If a previously installed application on your server is causing performance issues, it’s your responsibility to repair it.

Additionally, most co-location hosts offer Hardware Support contracts, ultimately making them responsible for making sure your servers stay running. If your server requires additional hardware components, you are generally required to purchase them in advance and supply them to the provider. If you purchase a server through the provider, hardware components are usually available on hand. Although the provider is responsible for repairing the machine, you may be required to pay for the associated parts. If no hardware agreement is involved, you can either pay the provider to diagnosis and repair the device or send out your own technician to the hosting site to handle it.

Before selecting a co-location host, there are a few things that need to be considered including the following:

the amount of bandwidth

rack space

hardware support

internet connectivity

uptime

server monitoring

number of static IP addresses allocated to your servers

the level of backup and restoration services

Keep in mind that not all co-location providers offer the exact same service. For instance, the Concentric Networks co-location plan features network monitoring, fire suppression, redundant power and air conditioning while others simply offer storage. Most of them do offer contracts to maintain your server and it’s connections. This type of service will usually guarantee a decent uptime per month and may increase fees as the uptime increases.


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