I've been reading through this forum and it seems there is demand for a control panel for use with FreeBSD. I am actually a programmer and am in the process of planning such a system to be available in September / October of this year.

This is where I hope you can help! What sort of features would you like to see in such a system? If you are actually running a FreeBSD server, what software do you currently have installed (i.e. FTP, DNS, Email etc)?

In your oppinion what are the benefits / limits of the control panels currently available (both for FreeBSD and other platforms)?

I look forward to reading your suggestions and ideas!

Lyndon

Hi Lyndon,

It's nice to know that someone is actually building a control panel for FreeBSD. Let me give you an average software installed :

1. FTP ( wuftpd, proftpd, or ncftpd)
2. Email ( sendmail or qmail )
** most people are using qmail+vpopmail
3. Apache webserver.
4. DNS (Bind 8 and maybe Bind 9)
5. Database server (MySQL, msql, postgresql)
6. Frontpage extension.

We need a control that can do the following:

1. Email management (POP,alias/forwarding,auto-responder,mailing list)
2. File Manager (where people can manage their files from the web browser)
3. Create a protected directory
4. Be able to see web statistic
5. Database management
6. Change their password (ftp,shell,control panel).

Those are probably the main things. I know some of people would like to integrate their billing systems with the control panel, or trouble ticket systems.

The most complete control panel system right now is probably Cpanel which only run in Linux. You can probably see their demo at burst.net website. If you need to see another example of a control panel that suppose to run in any unix platform, try http://donhost.co.uk/products/paneldemo/

In general, most web hosting company is looking for something that is easy to use for a non-technical client, modifiable, and easy to manage. That's my opinion at least... hehe.. :)

I hope those will help you,

Hi Drhonk,

Thanks for the information and ideas - that is exactly what I'm looking for!

I'm planning developing one feature at a time and releasing the latest version to a select group of people who have shown an interest in the project. I'll put together a website about everything in a few weeks time and post the link here. That way anyone interested can sign-up and I'll keep them up to date with the lateset news, ideas and information.

Keep posting ideas and suggestions!

Lyndon

Awesome.. that sounds like a great plan. .. Is there anything I can do to help ... just let me know.

May I ask you in what language you are going to write the cp?

What language ... well that is a good question. It will either be Perl or PHP - each has particular features that makes things easier for different tasks. However, I think it will be perl as that can handle server tasks better and can be run from the command line.

Does anyone have any objections / preferences over the two?

Lyndon

Another nice add-on/feature would be something that allows you to add resellers with x MB space x GB bandwidth x # of domains and x usernames. Then they, in turn, can add their own accounts using the control panel. I think CPanel does this now? (Never personally used CPanel).

I'd probably get the original thing done first so you can iron out any bugs, since this would probably take some extra work/code.

That is another good idea. I have had a few ideas about the user system - I think the cp will allow you to decide and create different types of user on your system.

For example, you will be able to add a new user type and select what that type of user has access to - for example the ability to add new users, domains (plus the option to limit the number), manage email, mysql etc.

This way you could create a multi-user system whereby there is admin with overall control, resellers with the ability to add new accounts and domains, and standard-users who can config their email etc.

Each type of user could have a limit put on bandwidth, webspace, pop3 etc and this would also be accounted for the user who created the account (eg the indivdual bandwidth used by standard users can be totalled up to give a value for the reseller who they belong to etc).

I want to make the cp as customisable as possible for the administrator, whilst keeping it all simple for the end-user.


Lyndon

Here we go, that's more like it. All I have to say is good luck, we need something like this. I'll say that everything in CPanel now should be included in this version. They seem to have most of the features. Again good luck.

Why don't you help developing http://webcp.can-host.com/ It's a very good GPL licensed Control Panel.

That's a good idea and the guy can use the help. He's screaming for one. Just make it work for FreeBSD. I like the way it looks but it needs to be finished as several things are missing due to the lack of help. Good idea!

Thank you for the suggestion about helping out web.cp convert to FreeBSD, but I was planning on making this more of a comerical project rather than a hobby / spare time filler. I don't think I could really afford spending 4 or 5 weeks of my time writing the CP without some kind of return in the long run, if you see what I mean?

Kepp the suggestions comming though!

I've got another question: what kind / level of post sale support do these other control panels offer? I.e. if someone has a problem configuring it with their system, or needs some help understanding how some of the features work, is this included with these other CPs?

Lyndon

An OS independant CP is already in development for some time from a few different companies. One for certains runs on any unix,linux OS to include FreeBSD. You can contact me for more details.

I created a really basic control panel for my webhosting clients. It runs on FreeBSD and (in my case a very important point) it doesn't use a database.
Now I'm looking for a filemanager, something like FileMan from Gossamer, but open source.
Does somebody know a very good filemanager with a basic layout (I saw one with hundreds of graphics)?

- domi

Originally posted by Lyndon
Thank you for the suggestion about helping out web.cp convert to FreeBSD, but I was planning on making this more of a comerical project rather than a hobby / spare time filler. I don't think I could really afford spending 4 or 5 weeks of my time writing the CP without some kind of return in the long run, if you see what I mean?


FYI:

GPL does not equal $0.00

GPL means that the program is FREE (as in liberty), that the guy who download the code can:
0- Run it anyway he wants
1- Can modify it to suits his specific needs
2- Can distribute it freely or charge for it
3- Distribute an improved version

You can effectively charge any amount of money for a program licensed under GPL. But you have to face the fact that someone can distribute it freely. However, if you are wise & charge, you can also add tech support, detailed documentation and so on. This does not have to be 'gpl' and 'free' (as in free beer)

I personally do not want to charge for web.cp because I am building it for my own company first, then everyone else after.

I will most likely not offer free technical support and offer my services to do modifications (at a cost).

Having it GPL also means that people can go through the code and find bugs _for me_, _help me_ by contributing to the source, add modules and so on.

I am not sure I am wasting my time... You have to consider the publicity coming with it, the possibilities of having something better, the possibility to add further modules that you don't distribute free.

yada yada...

I would feal a bit hypocrit to release a software that runs on a GPL, FREE (and free of charge) system...

Lets take advantage of other's work and release only binaries...

:D