Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Software and Control Panels : Simple Windows hosting management?

[Ian_Cun]

Hi all,

I was wondering if there is any software out there that offers a simple way to add/manage websites on a Windows server?

At the moment I'm using control panels like Plesk, even though I'm not a reseller - I just want to manage sites that I run though a simple interface.

Is there any free/low cost software out there which will allow me to easily manage creating MySQL databases, e-mail accounts, FTP accounts etc...? Or, do I need to look at some of the more complex hosting panels like Plesk?

[mooodi]

There is no tool to manage only website creation/modification you must use a control panel.

[Motiv]

WebSitePanel? shrug

[PremiumHost]

Originally Posted by Ian_Cun

Is there any free/low cost software out there which will allow me to easily manage creating MySQL databases, e-mail accounts, FTP accounts etc...? Or, do I need to look at some of the more complex hosting panels like Plesk?

Why do you consider Plesk as complex hosting panel.
All hosting control panels have same features "creating MySQL databases, e-mail accounts, FTP accounts , create websites ..."
Setup control panel on server can be complicated but for end user how to use control panel should be easy.

[Ian_Cun]

Using Plesk is easy, but it's a complex panel in terms of features - that's a good thing for most hosting companies as it can do lots of things.

However, as I'm only hosting a few sites I have no use the the billing components or many of the other features. If there was a simple way to add/manage domains/mail/ftp/db then I'd much rather do that - as it's a waste of money if I'm paying $30/month for a panel I only use twice a month.

[IgorG]

Just use Power User mode in Plesk 10.x
The Panel in this view is a logically simple yet technically advanced UI aimed at advanced admins utilizing the Panel for their own needs and not selling hosting. In this mode, admin can focus on managing sites and server, rather than mess with customers and resellers. The view does not require separate licensing or distribution which shall keep deployment simple for Provider.

[spectate]

Websitepanel. You can easily install it using Microsoft Application Gallery. And if you don't like it you can just uninstall it unlike Plesk which will require a server rebuild.

[hostechsupport]

Hey Ian Cun,
Recent Webmin versions can be installed and run on Windows, although with limited functionality also free control panel you will not need to pay for this control panel.
Hope it helps.

[kpmedia]

There's Plesk ...

... and then there's everything else. Some free, some not. Plesk is free (or it was in v9, at least -- verify it's that way on 10), but for only a limit number of domains. I forget the exact cutoff.

Look at ZPanel, WebsitePanel, Enkompass if you're refusing to use Plesk.

You can always set it up in Windows IIS Manager -- that's a GUI, after all. Maybe not as easy as a panel, but easier than SSH for a Linux server (with no panel).

[IgorG]

BTW, special KB article with describing uninstallation method for Plesk will be published soon.

[hostingmaniac777]

Website Panel.

[Ian_Cun]

Thanks for the feedback guys

[hostoger]

Enkompass is now free

[_theserverguy]

Go with Websitepanel. A nicely drafted documentation given on their site will help you set it up.

And as compared to other free choices, it is much better.

[IgorG]

Originally Posted by IgorG

BTW, special KB article with describing uninstallation method for Plesk will be published soon.

As it was promised we have published KB article where procedure of full Plesk for Windows uninstalling or per-component uninstalling is described - http://kb.parallels.com/en/112925