We have ~700 sites currently under management. I am trying to find a hosting reseller option that would let me setup 5-6 different packages, and automate setup/upgrade/downgrade through an API. I am currently with Hostopia, which allows for that, but the pricing is ridiculous.

cPanel has an API that you can use.

what are your space and bandwidth requirements?

cPanel has an API that you can use.
Most providers have cPanel, so it shouldn't be a problem to find a reliable one at an affordable price... However, 700 accounts is a ALOT, have you considered moving to a VPS/Dedicated?

Most providers have cPanel, so it shouldn't be a problem to find a reliable one at an affordable price... However, 700 accounts is a ALOT, have you considered moving to a VPS/Dedicated?
This is the problem I am running into. When I speak with cPanel resellers, they all freak out when I say that we have 700 sites. I also need to be able to handle all of the setup, upgrading, downgrading, etc. via an API. Whenever I bring this up, they do not have an option.

Umm can't you use some billing software such as WHMCS?

This is the problem I am running into. When I speak with cPanel resellers, they all freak out when I say that we have 700 sites. I also need to be able to handle all of the setup, upgrading, downgrading, etc. via an API. Whenever I bring this up, they do not have an option.

You will have to find somebody who believes they can handle it. They will have to have rather powerful servers. I ran about 1100 accounts on a Core2Duo for a few months without problem, but then again it was devoted just to those and not to many other clients... So it all depends on to which company you ask.

You can host your sites on multiple reseller hosting accounts. Also you can use a hosting billing software such as WHMCS, AWBS, Modernbill... etc.

I have never used cPanel hosting before, so I am trying to catch up quick as I research.

I looked at WHMCS, and it looks like it would do the trick.
I am looking to be able to offer hosting packages similar to these sites, which are both using WHMCS:
http://www.247chch.co.nz/
http://www.spiralhost.com/index.php

Any idea on what type of servers and hosting they need to use in order to offer packages like this? I would want it fully managed so that I am handling and supporting my clients, not updating servers and keeping them current and secure.

You should probably look for a high specification managed server running cPanel, plus WHMCS for you to control your billing and provisioning of accounts.

Choose a server with lots of fast disks in RAID5 or RAID10.

I would not suggest putting all your eggs into one basket. An H-Sphere cluster would be more appropriate.

What do you mean Hostopia's pricing is ridiculous??

With Hostopia, we are paying on a per hosting account basis. The cheapest wholesale price for an account with MySQL and PHP is $15 from them. It makes it very difficult to offer our customers packages they want.

Ok If I understand you correctly this is what you'll be needing (the server config is at minimum because I really don't know how traffic heavy the 700 sites are)

1. WHMCS ($180+ one time fee)
2. Dedicated Server (if you ask around or buy from a host that will help you set up the cpanel that should be perfect)
-Dual Core E6xxx
-2GB RAM
-250GB HD
-2000GB Traffic
-cPanel/WHM
Depending on provider this should come out to $180ish.

or get a cluster VPS if you don't want to bother to set up cpanel and all the security and other manual labor stuff

You could get a box around $155 or so with Atjeu, I actually got a box with them with 2x320GB HDD's and 2500GB BW for $155 including cPanel+Fantastico, I'd check them out, and ask for a quote

Ok If I understand you correctly this is what you'll be needing (the server config is at minimum because I really don't know how traffic heavy the 700 sites are)

1. WHMCS ($180+ one time fee)
2. Dedicated Server (if you ask around or buy from a host that will help you set up the cpanel that should be perfect)
-Dual Core E6xxx
-2GB RAM
-250GB HD
-2000GB Traffic
-cPanel/WHM
Depending on provider this should come out to $180ish.

or get a cluster VPS if you don't want to bother to set up cpanel and all the security and other manual labor stuff

I am not up on server management, patching and cPanel maintenance, so I would want to go with fully managed servers.

What I was thinking was that I would do a dedicated server for shared hosting sites, adding new servers as necessary as I migrate customers from Hostopia and add new signups.

I would like to put our website with WHMCS on a separate server or VPS, so that if my dedi server(s) are down, our site, management and support should still be up.

You are all suggesting putting 700 customers in one box (and cheap ones / non redundant). That would be a suicide.

If the box goes down, all customers are affected. While in Hostopia the clients are spread into a cluster.

Don't go for the cheapest. 700 clients is a big number so that you can have high income.

I would host them at an H-Sphere cluster (3-4 servers), fully managed, quality redundant hardware, backups, outsourced support etc. That would cost around 1500$.

700 clients X 5$ monthly (I would not charge so low, just for the example) = 3500$ monthly - good profit...

You are all suggesting putting 700 customers in one box (and cheap ones / non redundant). That would be a suicide.

If the box goes down, all customers are affected. While in Hostopia the clients are spread into a cluster.

Don't go for the cheapest. 700 clients is a big number so that you can have high income.

I would host them at an H-Sphere cluster (3-4 servers), fully managed, quality redundant hardware, backups, outsourced support etc. That would cost around 1500$.

700 clients X 5$ monthly (I would not charge so low, just for the example) = 3500$ monthly - good profit...

I am thinking of going with multiple servers, but I want to use WHMCS, so I don't think H-Sphere would work as well. I want to make things completely automated with regard to ordering/setup/upgrades/etc.

H-sphere has built-in ordering / provisioning / billing / support - all in one place.

But if you are comfortable with WHMCS no problem - you can have almost the same result. There are many great fully managed providers, hope you all the best :)

Good luck!

H-sphere has built-in ordering / provisioning / billing / support - all from one place.I have ~38k domains under management. Moving to WHMCS would allow for management of all of this in a single ordering/provisioning/billing/support/management interface for domains, hosting, dns, and SSL's.

What managed providers would you suggest I look at?

i dont think hostopia is going to let you walk out on them with 38k domains and 700 sites. How are you going to transfer so many in the first place?

Only the hosting is through Hostopia. We will move hosting accounts over as we go along, with new accounts being placed on the new servers.

The domains are not with Hostopia, so they have no say in the matter. We will continue to manage domains through the current Registrar, but new Registrations and Transfers will go to the new Registrar. When domains are renewed, we will transfer those to the new Registrar as well.

It will be going with several managed servers. Is there a VPS software option similar to WHM that would let me take a managed dedi, and resell it as a VPS to a clients? If not, how is that done?

It will be going with several managed servers. Is there a VPS software option similar to WHM that would let me take a managed dedi, and resell it as a VPS to a clients? If not, how is that done?

HyperVM and Virtuozzo...