I've been toying with the idea of getting a dedicated server for the longest time now, and was wondering if anyone could help me out with a question I had.

I'm somewhat of a nut when it comes to running the latest things: I like to have the latest versions of software (when it's necessary). I like to hack Apache to get it to run just right. I like to compile in various modules. In particular, I want to compile a bunch of options into SquirrelMail.

However, I also like the convenience of Ensim. For simple tasks, it's great not having to ssh in and pull up files in vi.

What I'd like to know is if both sides of me can be happy with an Ensim server. Can I use Ensim to do most of the work, but then edit httpd.conf by hand afterward, or add my own modules to Apache? Or will I end up with a completely screwed-up system?

Lastly... Does Ensim completely 'take over' a system? Or can I have Ensim on one IP, and my own by-hand setup on another IP?

Thanks for the help.

Hi fog,

We have been using ensim for about a year now and one of the thing I don't like about ensim is that the rpms are not usually up to date and you can not manually upgrade them unless ensim issue a patch or upgrade for it (which they are usually few months behind) most of the packages come with ensim are made (edited) by ensim and if change the configuration most likely you will screw it up.

so i dont think you can have your boths ides happy!

This is the one big thing about Ensim that has me running OS-only servers, I couldn't stand it being so proprietary. Sorry, don't think you can have your cake and eat it too.

cpanel. it runs using the default directories and configuration files that are industry standard and does not take over a system. I think to get to a user directory in plesk I had to go through the following: /usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/site.com/httpdocs

So yeah that wasn't fun.

to get to the same place in cpanel:
/home/user/public_html

most everything plesk uses is under /usr/local/psa. I belive ensim is very similar in structure but I haven't used ensim in ages for obvious reasons.

as far as updating server software goes. Cpanel will update it automatically with an update of the control panel itself. You can also update php and apache by running one script from shell that will install or upgrade it all including installing some of the more popular modules. There is also one click rpm and perl module installation through the webhostmanager interface.

I really could go on and on.

fog: I think its worth having ensim for your customers, not necessarily for your server admin. YOu can still do things manually via SSH, you just have to be a little more careful that you dont upset ensim.

Hmm, the server wasn't really going to have many "customers," as opposed to a few friends, although I liked the idea of being able to resell a little space if I wanted to.

Cpanel costs a good deal, doesn't it? The thing that got me wondering about Ensim was that Rackshack was offering Ensim for what essentially amounted to free -- you could get a "bare" Linux server, or an identical one with Ensim, for the same price.

Thanks for the heads up, though; now I know not to get it. :)