Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

November 23, 2010

At the Helm of Your Web Host Control Panel

Once you secure a web host and have a registered domain name, you’ll soon find yourself behind the scenes operating the control panel to manage web content on your site.  Initially it may be intimidating, especially for beginners, however, most control panels are user-friendly with available online support.  Although web hosts dedicate which control panel software is utilized, advanced developers often select a web host solely upon the control panel offered. 

Control Panel Components

It’s important to understand and become familiar with your control panel because you will soon consider it among your best friends.  Unless someone else manages your website, it’s imperative that you learn the components of the control panel and the function of each.  First, to offer a basic definition: a web host control panel is the web-based interface provided by the web hosting service to conveniently mange your website.

Standard control panels allow users to retrieve information on available and used bandwidth, configure e-mail accounts and FTP accounts, manage databases and file mangers, and access server logs and web log analysis software. Although monitoring website bandwidth usage, configuring e-mail and FTP accounts, and managing databases and file managers are pretty much self-explanatory, each of these control panel functions play an important role in the daily operations of your website.

Server logs are basically automatically generated log file(s) maintained by the web host to track information requests, IP addresses, page requests, HTTP code, bytes severed, and errors received.  Web log analysis software, also known as a web log analyzer, is a simplified Web analytics software parsing a log file from a web host, basing values contained within the file on indicators such as when, how  and by whom (usually viewer’s IP address) a website is viewed.  Other indicators may include information including unique visitors, duration time of visits, authenticated visits, web host domains, OS, web browser, http refer, search engines, and most viewed, entry, and exit pages.

Common Web Host Control Panels

The control panel software depends upon which web host you opt to use to manage your website.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to research the web host or inquire about control panels before signing a contract.  For most it probably won’t make much difference in the software, however, for more advanced gurus, knowing exactly what features are offered in a control panel often proves to be beneficial.  The common web host industry control panels include: Bailfox, cPanel, DirectAdmin, Gnupanel, H-Sphere, Hosting Controller, InterWorx, ISPConfig, ispCP, Kloxo (formerly Lxadmin), Plesk, SysCP, Usermin, Vitualmin (and Pro), and Webmin.

Obviously, each of these control panels has pros and cons.  If you’re interested in comparing what each has to offer, Wikipedia offers a comprehensive comparison chart.

Tags: control panel,  control panel software,  web host control panel,  shared control panel,  manage database,  file manager,  server logs