Testing all the panels offered by the provider before starting work is difficult, so we have compiled a brief overview of the three most popular options.
Challenges arise when a client transitions from OS administration to hosting-related tasks. They have to manage multiple websites with different CMS and numerous user accounts. To reduce labor costs, it is advisable to install a control panel that allows configuring the relevant services through a user-friendly web interface. This will also be necessary for the provider's partners selling their services to clients. Today, we will compare three popular products available when ordering VPS and VDS on Linux.
Overview of Features
Panels , and ā are proprietary software distributed under commercial licenses. To start, let's compare their basic features, summarized in a table for objectivity and clarity.
Plesk
cPanel
ISPmanager
Supported OS
Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, Cloud Linux, Amazon Linux, Virtuozzo Linux, Windows ServerĀ
CentOS, CloudLinux, RHEL, Amazon Linux
CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu
License cost per host per month (on the developer's site)
Supported Web Servers
Apache
NginxĀ
Apache
Nginx support is in the testing phase
Apache
NginxĀ
FTP access managementĀ
+
+
+
Supported DBMS
MySQL
MSSQL
MySQL
MySQL
PostgreSQL
Email service management
+
+
+
Domain and DNS record setup
+ (via an external service)
+
+
Script and CMS installation
+
+
+
Plugins/modules
+
+
+ (a small number)
Alternative PHP versionsĀ
+
+
+
File manager
+
+
+
Backup
+
+
+
Mobile ApplicationĀ
For iOS and Android
ā
ā
Hosting organization (creating resellers and tariff plans)
Available in some editions
There is
Available in the ISPmanager Business version
āPlesk
One of the most versatile options, suitable for all types of tasks. The panel works not only with popular deb-based and rpm-based Linux distributions but also with Windows. Although VPS/VDS clients on Windows rarely need third-party administration tools, they can be installed if desired. Plesk also stands out from competitors with its large amount of supported software, including rarely used applications on traditional web servers (Docker, NodeJS, Git, Ruby, etc.).
Developers offer different editions of the product, including a lightweight version with a minimal set of features. Plesk allows you to choose the PHP version for each site, supports PHP-FPM, has a built-in installer for popular CMSs, and includes a vast array of extensions to enhance the panel's functionality. Depending on the edition, Plesk may include a billing panel and the ability to create different tariff plans and resellers ā it is primarily designed for hosting companies and web studios, while its functionality seems excessive for individual VPS/VDS users. The main drawback of Plesk identified at this stage is the high cost of licenses and the necessity of purchasing extensions.
ācPanel & WHM
This panel is designed to work with RedHat Enterprise Linux and some derivative distributions. It is user-friendly but quite functional: cPanel allows management of web servers and databases, flexibly set hosting user limitations, configure tariff plans, create resellers, and manage the email service with filters and newsletters. Just like Plesk, there are numerous additional features, and cPanelās capabilities can be extended with both commercial and free plugins. Moreover, the tool allows for different operating modes and various PHP versions. Notable downsides include the relatively high license cost and the lack of support for popular deb-based distributions.
āISPmanager
The last panel we reviewed stands out from the others due to its low price. Additionally, it works not only on CentOS (a RHEL clone) but also on Debian/Ubuntu. The panel is optimized for hosting tasks and updates automatically. Users have access to detailed Russian-language documentation, the ability to set the PHP version for each site, and the option to install multiple DBMS versions within Docker containers simultaneously. PHP-FPM is supported, there is a built-in installer for popular scripts and CMSs, and a number of functional integration modules.Ā
Prices for RuVDS
The table above shows the price range for licenses of Plesk, cPanel, and ISPmanager when purchased directly from the developers' websites. Many hosting providers offer to equip the server with a control panel right away, and as a result, the license cost may be lower. As part of the pre-New Year promotion, RuVDS gives VPS clients the opportunity to use ISPmanager Lite for free until December 31, 2019, and Plesk web admin edition until January 31, 2020. After the promotion ends, the licenses will cost 200 and 650 rubles per month. A trial version of cPanel can be used for free for 14 days, but after that, the license will need to be directly from the developer.
First impression
Clients will have no issues with the installation and launching of the panels, as we have already taken care of that ā another reason (besides price) to buy a license through the host provider. When ordering a server, it is enough to choose one of the three available options: ISPmanager Lite, Plesk web admin edition, or cPanel & WHM with a 14-day free trial period. It is worth noting that although Plesk can operate on Windows Server, this option is not provided out of the box. If you need a panel for Microsoft's OS, you will have to install it yourself. This is common practice: VPS/VDS on Windows do not come with third-party software. cPanel is only available for machines running CentOS, which is also quite natural.Ā
The initial setup and website creation will not pose any significant difficulties; however, here the specifics of each control panel become important. Let's try to highlight their strengths and weaknesses.
āPlesk
The user interface of Plesk resembles the WordPress admin panel. The menu (navigation panel) is located on the left, and the workspace is in the center. The menu is organized quite logically, with all settings at hand. The similarity to the WordPress admin interface is not accidental: we were very pleased with the tight integration of Plesk with this popular CMS, whose installation here is automated to the utmost degree. It is also quite convenient to install other third-party scripts ā this is a significant advantage.
Ā
In the right part of the window, you can find additional interface elements that simplify the work with the panel. They contain various information, allow for quick navigation to different settings sections, and also offer the option to install additional software. The main advantage of Plesk is the vast number of extensions and compatibility with unusual software for web hosting. We particularly liked the out-of-the-box Docker support and the rich set of ready-made images (you can also upload your own).
Ā
Lastly, a small drawback: the Plesk web admin edition only offers basic functions, while more expensive editions have a much broader list. However, this is a common characteristic of entry-level versions.
ācPanel & WHM
Here we appreciated the division of accounts into two types: users and administrators/resellers. The product actually consists of two different panels: the cPanel itself and the WebHost Manager (WHM). The first is designed for regular hosting users and is quite easy to work with.Ā
The functions that allow for the creation of tariff plans for administrators and resellers are available through a special WHM panel. The interface of this panel is generally organized logically: the traditional collapsible hierarchical menu with a search bar is located on the left, while the right side contains the working area. There are many settings in it, which is good on one hand. On the other hand, the WHM menu isn't exactly user-friendly. While we rarely had to use the search function in Plesk, here in each section there are so many options that the search bar becomes the main tool for the administrator.Ā
āISPmanager
An important difference of this control panel from its predecessors is the maximally simplified and intuitively understandable interface. On the left, there is the navigation menu, and on the right, the workspace. Different menu options can be opened separately or simultaneously in the workspace tabs, which is very convenient since administrators often need various panel functions concurrently. In addition to hosting-related tasks, administrators also have access to some additional and system functions, such as virus scanning, a file manager, a scheduler, or a firewall. The package includes additional applications like Roundcube Webmail and phpMyAdmin.
We appreciated the simplicity of the initial setup and the ability for automatic software updates, as well as the complete Russian localization of the panel and all accompanying documentation ā foreign developments can sometimes struggle with this. On the other hand, the simplified interface does not always have the necessary flexibility in settings, and the number of available additional modules for ISPmanager is negligible compared to the collections for Plesk and cPanel. Furthermore, the cheapest Lite edition does not allow for the creation of resellers and cluster configurations.
Security
The control panel provides administrators with broad authority over the installed operating system on the server, and thus potential vulnerabilities in it can be dangerous. By default, access to all the functions of the listed panels uses a secure, encrypted protocol HTTPS with a self-signed certificate. However, users are not prohibited from installing a purchased certificate. Additionally, two-factor authentication can be configured for administrators/resellers and clients in cPanel and ISPmanager. Furthermore, cPanel offers additional protection for administrative tools: for example, there is no direct access to phpMyAdmin via a link. All three panels are regularly updated, allow for the installation of SSL certificates for websites (including self-signed ones), and support adding various security-related modules, such as antivirus tools.
Backup
Plesk supports full and incremental backups to its own storage or an external resource. You can create a complete copy of the entire server or a copy of individual user account data. cPanel creates compressed and uncompressed backups, as well as incremental copies ā by default, they are saved locally. It is worth noting the ability to schedule the backup procedure and the lack of its own interface for data restoration.
In our opinion, the backup settings in ISPmanager are not flexible enough, but all the main features are also available in this panel: data can be saved in a local directory or on an external resource and can be password protected. By default, data from all users is backed up, though this can be changed in the settings. Additionally, the settings specify the number of full and daily backups.
Advantages and DisadvantagesĀ
All three of the panels discussed rank among the most popular and differ in their wide range of functionalities. Plesk supports a variety of software and allows for solving a broad range of tasks. Users have access to over 200,000 diverse Docker images, and a vast number of extensions make Plesk a versatile tool suitable not only for hosting organization. cPanel is designed for handling hosting-related tasks, with developers separating access to different functions into two levels: separate panels for regular users and administrators. It is also worth noting the high demands on computational resources ā cPanel should not be installed on low-powered VPS. The ISPmanager panel is also intended solely for hosting management. It is user-friendly, resource-efficient, and inexpensive ā probably the best option for entry-level VPS or for novice administrators and hosts.
Source: habr.com
