I'm not sure if this is the right spot for this message. Admins, please move if needed or I'll post in the right forum if need be.

I've been doing my research on hosting but one question continues to haunt me.

How is web/mail/domain/ hosting generally sold online? Does the customer get a login and password to upload their site? Or does the customer send the data to the hoster. I'm having a hard time with this concept.

ZoneEdit.com has a site that you just login and do what you have to do and your done.

Where can I get more info on what looks like an automated type of system?


Thanks

Hello,

Most if not all web hosts have a fully automated system, you basically have a control panel where you configure all your settings including databases, ftp, and anything else. The systems are designed to have minimal customer to support relation, basically only for issues and comlicated questions.

I hope this helps.

Thanks.

RNSET-John,

Thanks for the quick reply. Is this accomplished using CPanel, Webmin, ISPConfig, etc type of software?

cPanel does along with other different types of hosting software out there plesk, directadmin etc they all allow the customer to add/edit there hosting without contacting there provider to make the changes.

How about for DNS? What is this website running? http://www.zoneedite.com

You'd be surprised how many systems a web host runs. It's good that you're interested because knowing how things work is good when you have problems, and you will at some point.

Just a basic run down:
Your ISP finds where yourdomain.com points to, the nameservers(ns1.webhost.com), they point to the DNS server which points to the server where your files(website, email, databases) are.

Many times you can purchase and use your webhost's service with no communication with anything but their automated systems & software. I had my first hosting account with absolutely no communication with a person for a year.

How is a website setup to receive the initial customer info to the custormer managing their own area without someone in the back end.

I'm just so used to doing things manually and blown away how user accounts are setup. Can someone point me to info or explain how I can learn to accomplish this?


Thank you!!!

How is a website setup to receive the initial customer info to the custormer managing their own area without someone in the back end.

I'm just so used to doing things manually and blown away how user accounts are setup. Can someone point me to info or explain how I can learn to accomplish this?


Thank you!!!

Get a reseller account or dedicated server with cpanel, then get WHMCS from whmcs.com for billing, client management, order automation, a registrar account from enom for domain registration, and a paypal account for accepting payments and you should be on a good start.

MACscr,

How does cpanel and/or WHMCS help with the NEW customer SIGNUP automation? For instance, the customer gets onto www.newhost.com. Then the customer signs up (somehow-this is what I want to learn) and pays (somehow) then the account is setup (somehow) and they upload their content.

All the somehows up above are automated with no human support during the process. Is this possible? If so, how?

I understand what cPanel is and does, but how can it be tied in the process above. Will cPanel and WHMC accomplish the above tasks? Or are their scripts that do this?

Thanks

Yes, the combination i described will work exactly the way you asked. Thats why i suggested it. =P

MACscr,

Thank You. I'm in the process of installing the 15 day trial of WHMC. Currently stuck on the ioncube install step. I'll post back.....

MACscr,

Thank You. I'm in the process of installing the 15 day trial of WHMC. Currently stuck on the ioncube install step. I'll post back.....

Why even install it for now? Just use the libraries that come with it, so simple.

OK so I installed the ioncube.... Now I need to figure out the database issue now.

MACscr...what do you mean?

OK so I installed the ioncube.... Now I need to figure out the database issue now.

MACscr...what do you mean?

You could have just put the ioncube folder (that comes with whmcs) in your whmcs root directory and just used that. You wouldnt have had to install anything. While its a bit slower, its that much slower. Anyway, you have it installed now, so its not big deal.