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VPS: Shared Hosting with an Added Dose of Power

If you are looking for more control and no longer wish to compromise performance by hosting on a shared server, it may be time to move up to a bigger and better hosting solution.  A VPS (virtual private server) could be the answer you seek.

What’s Different About VPS?

Simply put, a VPS refers to one or more servers that run within another server.  Each virtual server looks and feels like a dedicated server with the one major difference – they all share the same hardware, essentially making it a more advanced form of shared hosting.  View it as a multi-unit luxury condominium.  Each apartment has its own bedrooms, kitchen and storage area within a single larger unit.  There are numerous software vendors that created virtualization software including Ensim, Sphera and Parallels, the company behind the popular Virtuozzo platform.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages that makes a VPS so different from its closely related shared hosting counterpart.

Performance Isolation - With a virtual private server, CPU load and heavy traffic have no impact on the other private servers running on the same machine.  Thus, regardless of what your neighbors have going on, it will not affect the performance of your personal hosting environment.

Functional Isolation – A VPS is not required to share services or applications with its neighboring servers.  Because the servers are independent and appear invisible to each other, they also are not required to share processes or the same file system.

Fault Tolerance - Errors and faults within one virtual private server do not affect the others.

Unique IP – In a VPS environment, each private server gets its own IP address and network stack.

Root Access – With root access, you can install your own software applications and completely manage your VPS as you would a dedicated server.

Guaranteed Resources - Unlike the typical shared hosting arrangement, a VPS does not call for you to share critical resources such as CPU, memory, bandwidth and disk space.  Since you don’t have to compete for these important elements, a VPS hosting solution tends to give you higher availability and better uptime.

Enhanced Security - A virtual private server is able to ensure better security for the fact that you are not required to share disk space, processes and TCP/IP stacks.

The promise of better performance and security makes VPS hosting an ideal solution for web developers, resellers and businesses of various sizes.  The platform offers the power you need to run everything from custom made software applications and multimedia technologies to database servers and even your own operating system.  Although getting a VPS solution is usually more expensive than shared hosting, the price tends to be economical and far more affordable than leasing a dedicated server.  Virtualization isn’t for everyone as there are technical aspects involved.  After all, it is quite similar to having your very own server.  Fortunately, control panel software and comprehensive management tools can greatly simplify the administrative process for anyone equipped with a little computing knowledge.

Ensim Control Panel Overview

The pro editions of Ensim offer benefits for both Windows and Linux platforms.  This award-winning control panel comes with all the features and tools needed to manage professional hosting accounts for resellers, shared and dedicated server clients alike.  Whether you are running a small business or a powerful corporation, the Ensim control panel is one you simply can’t go wrong with.

Ensim is often compared with other popular control panels such as cPanel and Plesk.  However, this software comes with its own set of exclusive features and can provide benefits in the following ways:

• Protecting your private data and web content

• Accurately measuring your bandwidth usage

• Offering a number of features to help you reach a targeted audience

• Providing an intuitive interface that’s both professional and easy to use

• Reducing the level of expertise, time and money required to manage a hosting account

Some control panels are more suited for personal sites, the Ensim software has been specifically designed for the professional hosting environment.  This program is packed with features that exceed the norm and include the following:

Security - In the midst of bandwidth capacity, uptime and support, many people often overlook the security of their hosting plan.  A web host offering the Ensim software provides additional security with its powerful spam filter and server-side virus scanner.  This combination keeps  both the server administrators and end-users protected against email-born viruses.  The use of a virtual private file system has the ability to lock down a shared server and prevent inside attacks.

Tools – Ensim offers some of the industry’s best integrated features with detailed bandwidth reporting that is useful for end-users and resellers.  There is also a number of self-help wizards and quick-start guides to get you off on the right foot.

Script Support – This control panel comes ready with support for PHP and PERL and features a dynamic script installer that can tremendously enhance the functionality of your website.

Email Support – An efficient email system is critical in today’s online business.  Ensim offers various options for managing your email from POP3 and IMAP servers to SMTP support and Webmail powered by Squirrel Mail.  You are also provided with autoresponders, email forwarders and mailing lists.

Web Building Tools - Before capturing any business your website must first be created.  Ensim makes this easy with support for Microsoft Page and dynamic scripting languages such as Perl, PHP and Python.

Database Access – The database isn’t only limited to server administration.  Web hosting companies offer access to this essential component while the Ensim control panel makes it easy to manage.  This software offers support for multiple MySQL databases and PHPMyAdmin for easy web-based administration.

DNS Management - The DNS (Domain Name System) server is a critical element of web hosting.  Ensim enables an automatic setup of your domain when creating a new site.  You can also delete entries and access remote DNS servers.

Like competing software, Ensim has a few minor setbacks.  For instance, the lack of skins make it more difficult to brand your interface for business purposes.   However, even this can be overcome with a bit of practice.  While this control panel isn’t flawless, its knocking hard on perfect’s door.

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.