There's a bit of a project which I am going to be launching hopefully within about a month or so. Its going to be fairly server intensive, and as I don't know what the outcome will be, I wish to host it myself on a few spare machines I have for the time-being.

Now, the issue at this stage is installing all the necessary webserver software and controling it from one page, like a control panel.

I don't mind looking into control panels such as Plesk or any others, but would these automatically install all the software that is needed by the CP - such as Apache, MySQL, PHP, Perl etc?

I'd appreciate if anyone could give me some guidance as far as control panels and web server software is concerned.

Hi, I would recommend Directadmin, it will install Apache, MySQL, PHP and Perl all together with email and DNS.

Been using it and loving it.

BTW this post is more suitable in the Control Panel Forums, moved.

Is it normal for control panels to install the necessary web server software, such as Apache, PHP etc?

Directadmin doesn't look to bad, although I am also looking for a control panel that can manage multiple domains/websites within one control panel.

Is it normal for control panels to install the necessary web server software, such as Apache, PHP etc?

Directadmin doesn't look to bad, although I am also looking for a control panel that can manage multiple domains/websites within one control panel.

Yes, control panel installs all the necessary softwares. You may use control panel provided by cpanel.net. It is very popular and highly user friendly. We can make custom changes in cpanel easily. For a beginner cpanel would be the best choice. You can easily manage multiple domains/websites using cpanel.

I have been using Ensim up till recently, when a friend of mine, Boon Chuan of the 8.to fame, recommended DirectAdmin.

I have, as well, been loving it since. Fast, Sleek, Not as resource intensive as Ensim.

DirectAdmin can control multiple domains/websites within one control panel. You just need to add new domains into current accounts, then everything will be fine. And DA is much better than cPanel in stability and especially in support. John at DA is very helpful, and he answers every question in time manner

I bought a lifetime licence for DirectAdmin about 3 years ago and I wouldn't go with any other CP at this point.

Not only it installs everything you need (Apache, MySQL, PHP, Exim, etc), it maintains updates as well.