Archive for the 'Control Panels' Category

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.


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.


Analog WebStats - cPanel Tutorial Ch.11

For anyone who happens to use one or more sites, it is very crucial to remain aware of just how much traffic you are generating.  This is a great marketing strategy which allows you to maintain, or even increase the amount of traffic to your site.  Frequently analyzing the statistics of your website should be a routine for each and every webmaster looking to make their site flourish.  You will not only be able to monitor your reception from the public, but learn how your site is ranked within the search engines as well.

Several web stat programs are available on the net.  These applications can be implemented to your web hosting server as an add-on.  Many of them come equipped with great features, with prices ranging from low to very expensive.  The surprising side to it all is that most hosting servers now come available with free web statistic applications.  

If your hosting server includes the cPanel, more than likely you have a few web stat programs already built into the system.  cPanel was created to make the administrative functions of your site simple and the Analog web stats is just another part of its design.

Most web hosting servers will come equipped with three different types of web stat applications; Analog, Webalizer and Awstats.

HOW TO FIND ANALOG IN CPANEL

This feature works as a great web stat application.  Accessing the Analog web stats tool in your cPanel is a fairly easy process.  After you have accessed the application here are a few items you will find below:

The Analog feature works as a great web stat application and reporting tool.  Here are the many statistics you will be able to view via the Analog webstat:

- Successful requests
- Average successful requests per day
- Average successful requests for pages per day
- Failed requests
- Redirected requests
- Distinct files requested
- Distinct hosts served
- Corrupt logfile lines
- Data transferred
- Average date transferred per day

As a general summary, this details some of the most important statistics concerning the data being analyzed for your website.  The key areas would be number of requests, the number of requests for pages per day, the number of distinct hosts and your amount of data transferred. Remember that just one visitor can display several requests by making repeat views of pages or accessing your images and links.  

Here is defining breakdown of other web stats you will find in Analog:

- Host Reports: Lists each computer that has downloaded files from your server
- Domain Reports: Lists countries in which those computers are located
- Host Redirection and Host Failure Report: Lists all computers that were redirected or met with errors
- Request Report - List files that were downloaded from the server
- Directory Report - Lists the directories from which the files originated
- File Type Report - Lists the extensions of the files downloaded
- Processing Time Report - Lists time taken to serve every file  
- Failure Report - Lists all filenames that caused an error
- Referrer Report- Lists the pages linked to your files and pages linked to images
- Referring Site Report - Lists which servers the referrers came from
- Redirected Referrer Report - Lists those referrers that caused redirections

Many more statistical reports can be viewed with the Analog function of your cPanel.  These reports can be managed by simply checking on or off beside them.  Web stats are a very important part of maintaining your website, a task made much simpler with the Analog feature.


Webalizer WebStats - cPanel Tutorial Ch.12

Webilizer is another effective component found in your cPanel.  Just like the Analog feature it acts as a very capable web statistic application.  It differs from both Analog and Awstats by way of its enhancements.  Webilizer is described as a highly complex graphic based application that will not only detail the traffic generated to your site, but also produce them in appealing charts and graphs.  With or without cPanel, Webilizer is one of the most frequently used web stat engines today.

ACCESSING WEBALIZER

You will access the Webalizer application by logging into your cPanel.  >From there you will find the icon labeled “Web/FTP statistics.  After clicking the icon you will be directed to a page with the following choices:

- Analog
- Webalizer
- Subdomain Stats
- Latest Visitors
- Bandwidth
- Error Log

You will click on “Webalizer” to access the application.  Once the Webalizer stats page loads 
you will notice a double column table that reads “Select A Domain”.  This table will be composed of the following:

Domain: Area that holds the domains you have registered on the web site.
View: By clicking on the “magnifying glass” icon in this section you will be able to view web statistics associated with your domain

After choosing the domain you would like to view you will find a “Usage Summary” on the next page.  This page will show you the level of activity for your pages, files, hits, visits and websites over the past twelve months.  If your site and domain haven’t been active for a full year then Webilizer will only display the appropriate amount of months.  

A second chart will display a “Summary by Month” for the last twelve months of your website.  Like in the first chart, if your site and domain have not been active for a full year, Webilizer will only display the appropriate months.  This chart differs from the first as it shows actual figures for the number of hits, files, pages, visits and sites opposed to the graphical chart representation of the data.

To view some of your web stats simply click on any available month in the appropriate column.  After the page loads you will notice the following available links:

- Daily Statistics: This shows a bar chart and numbers chart which represents your hits, files, pages, visits and more.
- Hourly Statistics: This also displays a bar chart and numbers chart that represents your hits, files, pages, visits etc. 
- URLs: This table details top links accessed on your site which includes hits and kbytes related to the URL.
- Entry: This table shows the top entry pages accessed on the site which also includes hits and kbytes related to the URL.
- Exit: This table will display top entry pages accessed on your site that includes hits and kbytes related to the URL.
- Sites: This table shows the top visitors or hosting servers used to access your site that includes hits and kbytes related to the hosting server.
- Referrers: This table displays URLs or referrers used when your site is accessed including hits related to the referrer.
- Search: This table displays top keywords visitors have used to access your site on the search engine.
- Agents: This table shows top browsers like Internet Explorer or Netscape including the operating system used when accessing your site which also includes hits related to the browser.
- Countries: This table displays the country’s top visitors used to access your website which includes hits and kbytes related to that country.    
    
Webalizer is a thorough application that allows you to cover every statistical area of your website.  This popular program typically comes with the installation of cPanel.


Next »