Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : VPS Hosting : VPS Newbie - CPanel or DirectAdmin?

[kreativ]

Which control panel is better for a VPS newbie without server management experience? It will be on a host using Parallels Virtuozzo. The VPS will be used for hosting a few personal sites, so the reseller features wouldn't be that important. Extent of knowledge is being able to install packaged scripts and make minor modifications if necessary.

I believe DirectAdmin has a feature called CustomBuild, which automates the process of updating PHP, MySQL, and a lot of other software. Which would be great for someone who doesn't know how to do it manually. Does CPanel have something similar?

And it terms of keeping the VPS secure, do either have a feature that keeps on top of plugging security exploits? If that isn't something handled by a control panel, is there other software that can do this for me?

[iRageinternetltd]

cPanel has a similar system, EasyApache, although, it's only for recompiling Apache with a gui.

Personally, go with cPanel - it's probably the best control panel for standalone servers.

[FazeWire]

If price is no issue, then I would go cPanel, it is much more feature robust.

[UNIXy]

Originally Posted by kreativ

Which control panel is better for a VPS newbie without server management experience? It will be on a host using Parallels Virtuozzo. The VPS will be used for hosting a few personal sites, so the reseller features wouldn't be that important. Extent of knowledge is being able to install packaged scripts and make minor modifications if necessary.

Either will do.

Originally Posted by kreativ

I believe DirectAdmin has a feature called CustomBuild, which automates the process of updating PHP, MySQL, and a lot of other software. Which would be great for someone who doesn't know how to do it manually. Does CPanel have something similar?

Yes, it's called EasyApache.

Originally Posted by kreativ

And it terms of keeping the VPS secure, do either have a feature that keeps on top of plugging security exploits? If that isn't something handled by a control panel, is there other software that can do this for me?

You can configure cPanel via the GUI to pull the latest and greatest code automatically. As far as I know, DA's upgrade can be automated via a crontab. Curious, how much guaranteed memory does your VPS have?

Regards

[PhotonVPS-Jim]

cPanel more options that your client's would love compare to DirectAdmin , and cPanel most client's prefer to robust options that cPanel has to offer. If your tight on budget and your users don't care much about features DirectAdmin is your best choice.

[kreativ]

Originally Posted by UNIXy

Yes, it's called EasyApache.

You can configure cPanel via the GUI to pull the latest and greatest code automatically. As far as I know, DA's upgrade can be automated via a crontab. Curious, how much guaranteed memory does your VPS have?

Does EasyApahce handle as wide a swath of software updates (MySQL, phpMyAdmin, Roundcube, etc.) as CustomBuild? And it's able to do it all through a GUI? (CustomBuild is all command prompt).

I'm looking at 768MB guaranteed memory. I hear CPanel needs at least 512MB to run well? If I wanted to run Joomla, phpBB, and MediaWiki with ~30 concurrent users, how much guaranteed memory would I have to get for CPanel and DirectAdmin?

[kreativ]

Originally Posted by PhotonVPS-Jim

cPanel more options that your client's would love compare to DirectAdmin , and cPanel most client's prefer to robust options that cPanel has to offer. If your tight on budget and your users don't care much about features DirectAdmin is your best choice.

In your opinion, what are some key features that CPanel has which DirectAdmin doesn't?

[FazeWire]

EasyApache does apache only. There is an upgrade script that I think covers all that though.

768 should do you just fine.

cPanel is more widely known, and IMO it has WAY more backend features in WHM, more security, ease of use, etc....

[kreativ]

Originally Posted by FazeWire

EasyApache does apache only. There is an upgrade script that I think covers all that though.

Does anyone know what that script is called that can handle all the upgrades that CustomBuild does?

[Wulex]

Are you referring to cPanel or Directadmin?

I know for cPanel there's this option in WHM where you can upgrade your php/mysql/apache if I am not mistaken. ( haven't used cpanel for a long time )

[michaelfoo]

Price shouldn't be an issue for cPanel/WHM because their VPS version is highly affordable.

Go for cPanel/WHM.

[kreativ]

Originally Posted by Wulex

Are you referring to cPanel or Directadmin?

I know for cPanel there's this option in WHM where you can upgrade your php/mysql/apache if I am not mistaken. ( haven't used cpanel for a long time )

I think what you're referring to is EasyApache, which people had said only handles Apache upgrades. I'm wondering whether cPanel has another upgrade script that can handle PHP/MySQL/phpMyAdmin/Roundcube/etc. updates like CustomBuild does with DirectAdmin.

[UNIXy]

Originally Posted by kreativ

I think what you're referring to is EasyApache, which people had said only handles Apache upgrades. I'm wondering whether cPanel has another upgrade script that can handle PHP/MySQL/phpMyAdmin/Roundcube/etc. updates like CustomBuild does with DirectAdmin.

/scripts/upcp (a script) updates all.

Regards

[AquariusStorage]

cPanel has a much larger community and pretty much any issue you can run into can be answered by a quick googling of the error message. I'd HIGHLY recommend making room in your budget to pickup cPanel.

[kreativ]

Originally Posted by AquariusADMIN

cPanel has a much larger community and pretty much any issue you can run into can be answered by a quick googling of the error message. I'd HIGHLY recommend making room in your budget to pickup cPanel.

cPanel does seem to be the overwhelming favorite now. Last year, a lot of people seemed to like DirectAdmin for its low resource usage (i.e. less memory required to run the same site) if you're just running your own sites.