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.
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