Here it is again. With a rough economy, you've got to wonder if a cPanel or Plesk subscription is actually worth the money. What would you say is the best free CentOS control panel for web hosting clients, and why?

Thanks a lot!

It isn't a problem for your clients. If you can't spend $30.00 in a control panel like cPanel or Plesk... why a client have to pay $30.00 you?

You can try Webmin.

Webmin if you are absolutely broke

DirectAdmin if you're looking for a quality product on a budget

cPanel if you have the extra money to burn...

But seriously, either cPanel or DIrectAdmin work great.

Plesk, eh.... no real experience with that so no comment.

If you can't spend $30.00 in a control panel like cPanel or Plesk... why a client have to pay $30.00 you?

I run a small marketing company and target startups and small businesses. Most of my clients never touch the control panel so they could care less about it. If I can save money and offer my clients more of what's truly valuable to them, why shouldn't I?

You can try Webmin.

Isn't Webmin just for server administration? I need to give my clients the option to use a control panel, although most have no desire to use it. I think that there's a free, scaled down version of Virtualmin. Anyone know if it's any good?

But seriously, either cPanel or DIrectAdmin work great.

I'll look a little more into DirectAdmin. I think cPanel is overrated.

Try ispconfig.

Wow, DirectAdmin is only $299 for a lifetime license? I'm assuming that's limited to one server. I can fit 8 TB of hard drive space in a 2U PowerEdge 2950, so $299 for life seems like a good deal.

Has VHCS improved at all with security?

Try ispconfig.

That's another one I've been researching, but it looks like their customer demo isn't working. I may install CentOS server as a virtual machine on my laptop and check it out for myself later.

Okay, we've got one vote for ispconfig. The vote for Webmin doesn't count because it only accommodates server admins. Any other votes?

Hsphere and Hosting Controller both support Linux as well as Windows Hosting.So, they are also good options. Can check their pricing details from their respective websites.

Plesk, eh.... no real experience with that so no comment.Amazing product, you must try it.I'll look a little more into DirectAdmin. I think cPanel is overrated.Nope, cPanel works exactly the way it is praised. Fantastic piece of software. You wont need SSH once you have cPanel onboard.

Wow, DirectAdmin is only $299 for a lifetime license? I'm assuming that's limited to one server. I can fit 8 TB of hard drive space in a 2U PowerEdge 2950, so $299 for life seems like a good deal.Yep, definitely a good deal. $299/server is the pricing you have seen.

Hsphere and Hosting Controller both support Linux as well as Windows Hosting.So, they are also good options. Can check their pricing details from their respective websites.
Avoid H-Sphere, that panel will be ditched very soon by Parallels.

Nope, cPanel works exactly the way it is praised. Fantastic piece of software. You wont need SSH once you have cPanel onboard.

cPanel can be very buggy at times. I just encountered a problem with its built-in themes earlier today. Almost had to fire up SSH...

Yep, definitely a good deal. $299/server is the pricing you have seen.

DirectAdmin looks good. There's some great themes and plugins available, so it should be able to do everything that cPanel does. I like how it includes the file manager and separate control panels (administrator/reseller/user) comfortably within the interface. My favorite thing is the $399/server price tag.

NO ANNUAL FEES = WIN

There really is a lot more to purchasing a control panel then price. It's easy to just see the numbers but you should look at the total picture. Regardless of what you choose, at some point you'll probably need help with something and you'll need some tech support. At which time, you'll really evaluate how you made your choice. I firmly advocate trying anything and everything to make sure you're using something that fits your needs. You should most definitely figure in support and updates as something that the cost of your chosen product includes. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for.

I tend to equate a lot of things to cars. Sure, you can buy a Yugo that will get you from point A to B. But, if you pay more and get a Mercedes, you ultimately get something that works far better and has more amenities and generally makes your task more pleasant. Not to mention, buying from an established company brings some piece of mind that they'll be there next year.

Just my $0.02

I have both DirectAdmin and Cpanel servers. I have fewer problems with the DirectAdmin clients. Maybe it's simple enough that clients don't need my help! Not a bad thing is it.

You can try Webmin.
plus usermin :)

I have both DirectAdmin and Cpanel servers. I have fewer problems with the DirectAdmin clients. Maybe it's simple enough that clients don't need my help! Not a bad thing is it.

I don't have any experience with it besides the demo, but DirectAdmin is still pretty much sold to me. It looks like it can easily do everything that cPanel does at a fraction of the cost...with some minor configuration. The interface is more intuitive (especially with some of the awesome skins available), and it's my understanding that it's more stable and secure. The downside is that hosting clients are used to cPanel, but my target audience could care less.

Interesting, the topic says Free, and alot of you guys go with cPanel :P

Interesting, the topic says Free, and alot of you guys go with cPanel :P

because free isnt always best.

Still, people should stick to what the title says :). Else we`d get posts where people are asking for reviews on a company, and others would start reviewing other companies. That wouldn`t be good, would it ?

Still, people should stick to what the title says :). Else we`d get posts where people are asking for reviews on a company, and others would start reviewing other companies. That wouldn`t be good, would it ?

beat me there

I would suggest to go with Direct Admin as it has got the features same to cPanel to some extent and it is cheaper than cPanel ;)

I'd say the best "free" panel is LXAdmin(40 Domains), but with the way the last week has been I wouldn't use it right now. Other than that Virtualmin has by vote for free.

I can fit 8 TB of hard drive space in a 2U PowerEdge 2950

8TB, are you kidding? Why would you use 8TB?

My personal opinion and experience tells you to seriously consider cPanel.. First, because I've NEVER had problems with it, second because customers absolutely love it!

You really do get what you pay for, and your customers can tell. $20-30/month is worth it IMO.

Avoid H-Sphere, that panel will be ditched very soon by Parallels.
Do you know something we don't ;) ?

As far as I know, H-Sphere is the only reasonably priced package out there that allows you to spread services across servers; why would they drop it?

Jeff

My favorite thing is the $399/server price tag.

NO ANNUAL FEES = WIN
I had to go back and look; It hasn't changed since earlier posts in this thread; it's still $299 :).

That doesn't include continuing support, at least not technically, but if the problem is a DirectAdmin problem rather than a problem with something in your server you can generally get support from DirectAdmin with no bill.

The forum (I'm one of the administrators, but I don't work for them) is extremely active and you can usually get support there quickly.

Jeff

Virtualmin :agree:

Webmin of course but if you plan on hosting multiple websites or have resellers, go with DirectAdmin. Great features, support, and community involvement/support for a fraction of the price of cPanel. Plus free upgrades for life, can't beat that =D

Isn't Webmin just for server administration? I need to give my clients the option to use a control panel, although most have no desire to use it. I think that there's a free, scaled down version of Virtualmin. Anyone know if it's any good?

Correct. Webmin is a general purpose systems management tool (and the most popular tool in the world for that purpose). But it's not a virtual hosting control panel.

Virtualmin, by the same developers (I'm one of them), is for virtual hosting. And the free version isn't exactly scaled down. It is missing a couple of features related to making money with Virtualmin that are found in Virtualmin Professional (reseller accounts, and Install Scripts being the big ones), but Virtualmin GPL still one of the most powerful hosting control panels available.

I'd certainly encourage you to give it a try, since it costs nothing but a few minutes of your time.

http://www.virtualmin.com/download

Don't hesitate to ask questions in our forums. We're always happy to help.

Id check out isp-control.net. Im going to install it in a vm later to try out but by the home page on there site it looks nice and its free.

It isn't a problem for your clients. If you can't spend $30.00 in a control panel like cPanel or Plesk... why a client have to pay $30.00 you?

I can't agree more ;)

I've been working on a control panel but have not had the time to work on it much. www.serverweave.com (not much there). I'm working on my game server but once I'm caught up with the content of the official servers I'll start working on SW more.

I'm doing it more for myself but as it's a big project I'll most likely release it. I plan to keep it simple but still functional. I want to add in some level of clustering such as automatic failover DNS configuration as well as website failover options. Basically sites will get backed up to server of choice, if the main server goes down the site can start to run off the backup if the customer chooses. (may be bad idea with dynamic site as data since last backup would be lost)

You can try Webmin.

Very nice for the price. Free!! My choice for a free Linux based control panel.

I would recommend cPanel above all others. Sure, its pricey, but it is well worth it. Some server companies offer cPanel for free and some offer it for an extra charge a month. Whatever it is, it is well worth it. Outstanding piece of software. Easy to use and very, very powerful.

An alternative to cPanel would be DirectAdmin, which is also good. However, cPanel still rules above all.

If you were to get a free panel, you can go for ISPconfig. Though less powerful than DA/cP, its the best free panel around IMO.

However, if you're serious about the hosting business, pay for a control panel. There are many choices but cPanel and DirectAdmin has worked the best for me.

Try ispconfig.

Agreed. It's a pretty slick panel, as far as free goes.


Avoid H-Sphere, that panel will be ditched very soon by Parallels.

I haven't heard anything about this. Care to elaborate?


Alex

When it really comes to choosing a control panel, There are many out their. Basically the amount of money you spend, Could tell you how good the software is, I have used only Plesk and cPanel. Mainly cPanel because it is user friendly and their are many fantasic addons for the software.