I am currently thinking of getting a RAQ4 for web hosting. What is the control panel like for the customers? Is it just as good for the customers as say using Linux hosting? Can someone please tell me more about RAQs. I have visited the cobalt site however I don't think they give you enough information and I don't like there demos. Please help me :)

Well if you don't like the demo's you probably won't like the control panel, because the demo's are a 100% emulation of the controlpanels.

Do you find that customers don't mind the control panel or they do mind?

There is nothing wrong with the control panels. The only thing that i would add if i could is database management and subdomain setup. Otherwise, everything is there for the most part.

So you think cobalts are just as good as linux servers. Do you use cobalts with globalwebspace.com ? Is there any way to change the look of the control panel?

Originally posted by thebassman
Is it just as good for the customers as say using Linux hosting?

I think you're under the strange misconception that there 1) is such a thing as 'linux hosting', and 2) that customers mind certain control panels and don't mind others.

There are many flavors of Linux and Cobalts run a modified RedHat Linux. The RaQs come with a basic CP for the user that can set up POP/FTP accounts, mailing lists, and you can add web amil, stats, etc. It isn't everything everyone needs, however it is more than enough for most people. It depends on who you are hosting. WebHostingTalk'ers might need a bit more, some of my clients get freaked out with anything more than AOL web mail.

What do you need a control panel to do (for your customers)? If you can't answer this, then it is going to be hard to zone in on something to provide them, eh?

Originally posted by thebassman
So you think cobalts are just as good as linux servers.

Cobalts are linux servers. You might want to start with reselling, or check the Cobalt site one more time for some basic facts.

Originally posted by thebassman
So you think cobalts are just as good as linux servers. Do you use cobalts with globalwebspace.com ? Is there any way to change the look of the control panel?

Cobalts have a nice control panel, so yes they are ok. They are not as scalable as good ol' hand-made servers, though. I keep reading about people complaining they can not sustain very high traffic. Well, read my words: very high doesn't mean regular nor high traffic.

From my experience, most customers care about a control panel. They like it exhaustive and easy to understand.

Cobalts use Linux as an operating system, however it is modified for the Cobalt GUI. We use 1 Raq but we have multiple Linux servers as they are more powerful than a Raq. The good thing about a Raq is that is extremely easy to use, and thats how I learned :)

So were all in agreement that it is a nice control panel and easy to use, but can you customize it to your own design?

You *can* though it isn't something you'd want to mess with if you didn't know what you were doing (translated: make backups!) :D