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Every website online is hosted on a leased web server that is included with a web hosting plan. Also included with a web hosting plan is a control panel, which is basically the user-friendly interface used by the webmaster when managing their websites and web server. Since each control panel carries its own benefits for different types of webmasters, and the majority of hosting plans have preinstalled control panels, it is important to consider this aspect when choosing a web hosting provider.

Control panels are specifically designed to facilitate administrative functions such as database creation and management, e-mail account creation and management, FTP account and client management, subdomain creation, domain forwarding, creating server backups and much more. Although nearly all control panels include these basic features, there is a significant difference in the way the user interface looks and functions. The following are several factors to consider when choosing a web hosting plan based on the control panel.

Web Hosting Experience

The most commonly used control panels on the market are (in order from most to least popular): cPanel, Plesk, Vdeck, CubePanel, and Hsphere. While each of these control panels have very unique interfaces and overall functionality capabilities, they are all capable of accommodating the requirements of nearly any webmaster. However, some control panels provide additional functionality and therefore have user interfaces that are more difficult to navigate (because they contain more options and modules). Perhaps the easiest control panel to use (which most novice webmasters begin their online endeavors with) is cPanel, so it is not surprising that it is also the most popular. Thus, while inexperienced webmasters may opt for a hosting plan that includes a preinstalled those with more experience that would like to expand their current capabilities may want to consider a more corporate solution like Plesk.

Operating System Compatibility

It is also important to note that certain control panel are only compatible with specific operating systems. For example, cPanel is used within the Linux operating system, while Plesk can be installed within both Windows and Linux. Thus, individuals that would like to utilize cPanel operating system will be restricted to Linux Web hosting plans. However, recently the makers of cPanel have introduced a Windows compatible control panel known as Enkompass, which has a user interface that is very similar to cPanel’s.

Learning Curve and Demo Modes

Every control panel comes with a bit of a learning curve, which is basically the amount of effort and time that you will need to put forth in order to learn to use it effectively. Fortunately, some control panels (such as cPanel) will allow you to use a demo mode before purchasing a web hosting plan that has this control panel installed. If you are a novice webmaster it is not advisable to use control panel that does not have a demo mode, as you could be wasting a significant amount of time trying to learn how to use the control panel unnecessarily.

A powerful control panel should facilitate the completion of complex Web hosting tasks within a simplified user interface. Vdeck does this successfully while also providing a robust feature set that is unmatched by equivalent competitors. This control panel is perhaps one of the most versatile on the market, having compatibility with virtual private servers, shared hosting configurations, and dedicated servers. All of the actions that webmasters are expected to perform on a daily basis can easily be completed within the Vdeck administrative interface, which is neatly categorized and organized into efficient modules that centralize various web hosting duties. The following review briefly discusses some of the most appealing aspects of the Vdeck control panel.

Flexibility and Compatibility

Although popular control panels such as cPanel are mostly known for their ease-of-use, and are therefore commonly used by novice webmasters, Vdeck differs in this respect because it is flexible enough to be a perfect solution for nearly any size business. Whether you’re a small business owner or the CEO of a large corporation, Vdeck can accommodate your needs and preferences effectively. Vdeck includes all the tools and resources needed to efficiently manage an entire online store, or a small business portfolio site, without the need for any additional modifications or plug-ins. Vdeck is also compatible with a variety of operating systems, and can be used in nearly every hosting configuration . Since Vdeck can be used with any hosting type, it is possible to carry it with you throughout the years as you progress in your online business endeavors.

Traffic Analysis and Promotion

Vdeck improves webmasters’ ability to thoroughly analyze traffic statistics and trends, by providing several integrated traffic analytics software that can easily be installed on websites within the control panel. By having the ability to analyze and monitor web traffic in real-time, and generate monthly, weekly, and daily reports, it is possible to maximize the efficiency of a marketing campaign and improve overall promotion efforts. Vdeck includes a simplified script installation utility that can be used to quickly and easily install web hosting scripts, such as content management systems, with a single click of the mouse. Many of these scripts will aid in administrative tasks such as performing search engine optimization duties and organizing website content.

Expandable Functionality

Although Vdeck is considered to be a control panel, it has the open-source expandability that is commonly seen in content management systems such as WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal. The functionality and features of Vdeck can be expounded upon using custom scripts and extensions, many of which are already available for free through Vdeck developer’s forums. Vdeck makes it easy to add custom Cron jobs that automate repetitive server and site administration tasks such as posting content, clearing comments, and creating site backups. Vdeck is also easy to learn how to use, because there are a lot of helpful tutorials and videos posted online by experienced Vdeck users. By networking within the Vdeck community you can gain access to programmers that are capable of creating custom modules within Vdeck for specific website and server management purposes.

Anyone with a cPanel hosting account will need to learn how to get the most out of their control panel. cPanel is one of the most popular hosting control panels which is why it is utilized by many hosting companies. This is because it’s very easy to use to control and adjust your hosting package.

This tutorial will show you how to back up your website using cPanel. Backing up the site is important as it protects it. Even if the server crashes, you will be able to recover your website. In addition, it is important that regular backups are taken whenever you change your website.

Why Backup?

No matter how old your site is, it’s important that you back it up. Websites are very time consuming to develop which is why you need to ensure that it is backed up regularly. Before making any changes to your website be sure to perform a new back up just in case the updates do not go as planned.

Logging into cPanel

The first step is to log into your cPanel account. This is normally a case of visiting www.yoursite.com/cpanel if this is set up to take you to the cPanel hosting page. When you visit your cPanel URL you will need to enter your username and password to log in. This will normally be given to you when registering and could be the same as your ftp information.

If you have lost or don’t have your login details then you should contact your host. They should be able to email these to you very quickly.

When you have logged into cPanel a new window will appear. This will have a plethora of icons.

Backing up

To start the backup process you should select the backup icon from the maintenance section of the cPanel. By clicking on this a new backup window will appear. Enter your email address and click on the “Generate Backup File” button. Do not navigate to a new screen while the backup file is generated on the web server.

When the backup is complete you will then be alerted by email. Click the link on the site to download the backup file to your computer.

You should store all of these backup files on your computer. Try to keep three previous backup files on hand so that you always have something to go back to even if you have a problem with one of the files.

Restoring Backup

If you want to restore a backup, this can also be performed through the cPanel. Restoring is simply a process of following the instructions and waiting patiently.

Web developers have made great strides over the past few years. They have created many programs that make it much easier to build websites, web applications, scripts and program for the Internet. Software currently available is jam packed with features for all sorts of functions. One program that collects all information is the control panel. This is the brain of all web hosting for activities.

Yahoo has many functions such as a search engine, marketplace for products and services, music websites, images sharing and instant messaging/social networking features.

The Yahoo Marketplace is a great way to reach millions of customers. Yahoo offers a comprehensive Sitebuilder program to help you target consumers within the marketplace and beyond. Within the Sitebuilder program is a control panel which allows you to manage all features in your site.

There are specific steps to help you use the control panel including:

• Open
• Access the control panel
• Sign in
• Use the control panel
• Submit your URL

The first step is to open and run the Sitebuilder application. If you do not have a copy of the program, there are free versions available across the Internet or that can be downloaded directly from Yahoo. Once the program is open, access the web hosting control panel by selecting “Tools” and then “Web Hosting Control Panel.”

Next, sign in with your Yahoo web hosting username and password. Once entered, click “Okay” to log in. Within the control panel there are several options such as “Home”, “Email”, “Create and Update” and “Manage.” The “Home” tab displays daily traffic and subsequent reports.

The “Email” tab allows for the creation, modification and deletion of email addresses. The “Create and Update” tab allows you to add important website tools. Finally, the “Manage” tab allows you to create or remove files from the server as well as password protect various aspects of your website.

To submit your URL to major search engines simply click the “Promote” tab. Also, you can send out an email announcing your website launch and create a Yahoo local listing. If you have any questions, the “Help” tab is available to answer all of your questions.

Yahoo Sitebuilder is a terrific program for building and promoting websites. The control panel provided with Sitebuilder is top-notch for managing your website. More control panel developers should utilize this program as a model to create better software.

The average web developer is very familiar with and knows of all the different types of web hosting control panels. Control panels are essentially a web based platform that seeks to simplify the process of managing a server. There are a ton of options out there both the two biggest choices are Plesk and cPanel.

The Origins Of Plesk and cPanel

cPanel has been around for over a decard and was originally produced and released in the mid-1990s. cPanel has recently become the platform of choice for most shared hosting providers and users. cPanel is used primarily for Unix based operating systems like Red Hat and CentOS. Plesk on the other hand was released in the early 2000s. The company’s main difference is that their panel supports both Windows and Unix based operating systems.

Advantages Of cPanel

cPanel’s primary advantage is its depth of use. With so many users, cPanel is fairly easy to find solutions, tips and advice from other users on just about any problem you may encounter during its use. A lot of people prefer cPanel simply because its ease of use. The GUI is noted as being easier to use that that of Plesk or any other panel. cPanel has one of the shortest learning curves of any of the panels for web hosting on the internet.  However, its primary strength is still is wide use.

Advantages of Plesk

Plesks’s primary advantage is it supports multiple operating systems. This makes is particular attractive to Windows based server users.   As a hosting company, this allows you to target difference clients by being able to support different operating systems.  Another advantage of Plesk is its price. Generally speaking the licenses are cheaper for Plesk than that of cPanel. It also handles automation and multiple servers better than cPanel.

When looking for a web hosting company, the control panel it uses should be a primary factor in your decision. Control panels were designed to help ease some of the burden of managing a web server. If the panel is too hard to use, or you just don’t like it, then it’s not worth your investment of time and it may be easier just to manage the server from a remote login. Unfortunately, this only works with providers who allow you to remote into the web server.

In most cases web hosting providers provide both cPanel and Plesk and the real decision is simply what operating system you need for your site. The rest is just a matter of preference.