Archive for CPanel
Choosing Between cPanel and Plesk
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’ve been into web hosting long, you may know of all the different control panels. You know their nuances and differences, as well as the strengths of each:
But the sad truth is, we often forget these things, and wind up using the same control panel out of habit. If that’s you, then take this refresher on the two most popular panels around, cPanel and Plesk. We’ll dive into both, and get right down to the nitty gritty competitive nature of each.
What is cPanel And Plesk, Anyway?
For those more familiar with the business, you’ll already know that cPanel is the most popular platform for managing a server. What you may not know is that cPanel has been around since the mid-1990s and is more or less only compatible with Unix and Linux systems. This means it plays along nicely with Red Hat and CentOS.
Plesk, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer to the scene, arriving in the early 2000s. The difference with it is—you guessed it—it supports both Unix and Windows. So who’s got a real leg up on who? To answer, we’ll need to take a look at the strengths of each. We’ll start with the heavyweight, cPanel:
cPanel is The Windows Of Server Systems
What we mean by this is, because cPanel is so widely used, if you have a problem you can more than likely find a solution. There’s a very large group of people using the software, and because cPanel enjoys such a large support basis, its been studied to death. It also sports an easier to learn interface than Plesk, meaning it plays nicer with the masses, and makes it easier to get into web hosting. In essence, cPanel web hosting is as Ubuntu is to Linux—Please don’t shoot me Tux nerds: I’m just creating analogies!
Plesk Is Bi-server-ual
Plesk, on the other hand, handles multiple servers and operating systems like a champ. The interface is a bit more complicated, and has a slightly steeper learning curve, but in return it supports both Unix and Windows. It also handles multiple commands better than cPanel.
At the end of the day, as most quality hosting options give you a choice between both services, your real conundrum is this: Do you want ease of use with a Unix face, or do you want a multi-server Windows machine?
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The Control Panel B Team – A World Beyond cPanel
Posted by: | CommentsThe popularity of cPanel can mask the fact that it is far from the only control panel option out there. It is also not the only good one. Dozens of well-supported feature-rich control panels exist, and as not every host even uses cPanel, the beginner who is facing the question of choosing a new web host might want to know whether or not the control panel system that they use adds value to their web hosting package or not.
So let’s do a brief rundown of some of the other common web hosting control panels out there, so you know how much you should smile when you see that your host offers it.
Plesk
Short for Parallels Plesk Control Panel, Plesk has gone through many revisions, and is considered by some to be even more stable than cPanel. Also, if you are going with a Windows-based host, then Plesk’s support for it is several years older, meaning that it’s going to be even more stable (and secure: a Windows-based control panel is a double-whammy of potential security holes). It also has extensive module support, and can be used in multiple speaking languages. On the negative side, a number of users have complained that Version 10 is too overloaded and slow.
Kloxo
Formerly known as Lxadmin, Kloxo is an open-source control panel for CentOS and Red Hat Linux servers. It had a troubled history to get where it is now, including a number of security holes, but users now report their satisfaction with using it. One drawback to it is that support is only available via community forums, though word is that the software is growing enough in popularity that paid consultants are stepping up to the plate.
H-sphere
For a software package available on multiple platforms (Unix, Linux and Windows), H-sphere gets its share of mixed reviews. Some of the negative points are elements that the end user won’t see: it is expensive for a host to purchase and it’s described as difficult to install. There are also complaints about its ease of use. On the other hand, its help documentation is extensive, and it has multi-lingual support in 10(!) languages. It certainly has its devotees: in one online poll 15% of users listed it as their favorite control panel.
Interworx
Interworx is a control panel that’s quickly growing in popularity, though it’s more for backend purposes. It supports load balancing and server clustering, and uses real-time graphs; what this means for you as the end user is greater stability both with the panel and on the server. It’s described as not only being easy to use but also being very command-line friendly, something that doesn’t always get much control support. It includes a module called ScriptWorx that is described as letting the user install just about any third-party software package.
There is a lot of energy being put into making competing control panel software packages. So when you go to a new web host and see a name there that isn’t cPanel, don’t panic. Many of these packages are high quality, and some would argue are better. Take a close look at the plus and minuses, but definitely don’t just write them off. If cPanel is still your choice check best cPanel hosting providers.
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Performing IP Filtering Through cPanel – A Brief Tutorial
Posted by: | CommentsSecurity is something that nearly every webmaster has the need for, but not every webmaster knows how to pursue effectively the appropriate security measures. Given the craftiness of the hacker world, it can seem to the novice an unwinnable fight where they just have to accept a certain amount of break-ins as a sort of collateral damage.
While it is good to understand that it’s impossible to make a lock that can’t be picked, this doesn’t mean that you should take frequent security breaches as the norm. With just a little bit of education and effort, the untrained webmaster can lock down their site to levels that it would take extreme efforts to break. This brief tutorial will focus specifically on how to use cPanel to filter the IP addresses that can access your web site, a step that, by itself, can keep a large percentage of attacks from even making it to your site.
IP Filtering – easy to do…
To filter an IP address or block of IP addresses from accessing your site using cPanel is simple. In the Security section near the bottom of your cPanel main page you will see an icon labeled “IP Deny Manager”. Click on it and you’ll be at a page where you can add new restrictions, see your current ones, and remove any existing ones. The page lists the appropriate formats (don’t bother with the CIDR format: it doesn’t do anything you can’t do any easier way).
Now, if you know how to block IP addresses, a more important question comes: what addresses to you block? If you are getting a wave of attacks from a single IP address, the choice of course is simple. But what do you do if they are coming from a number of IP addresses? The short answer is this: block a range if it feels right, but don’t go overboard.
Let’s say that you are getting attacks from 212.56.24.X, where X is variable, and nothing else from that class C (an IP address format is Class A.Class B.Class C.Class D). Then, blocking everything from 212.56.24 should be safe. But let’s say they are all from 212.56. You do some research and see that this is a university Class B and there are plenty of safe hits from those addresses. Of course, a college is going to have a few bored hackers. Taking down all of those addresses is overkill and will negatively impact your traffic.
Find the right middle ground
It’s rare that you are going to want to restrict anything more than a Class C. In general, you’re not going to want to restrict anything more than you have to. Use trial and error: block what you need to and, if the site continues to get hammered, modify and expand your rules. Then, once it feels like you might have scared them away, remove the blocks, keeping a close eye for 24-72 hours afterwards to make sure that they don’t start up again. Also, be sure to let your web host know if the attack is particularly vicious: they might want to filter the bad IP addresses on a network level.
IP Filtering by itself will not solve all of your security problems: no one method will. But it will ensure the bulk of the worst attacks will be filtered away from you so you can focus more on other things.
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Spam Assassin – Your Savior From Spam
Posted by: | CommentsHow many times have you been put off by scores of spam mails when you open your email client, hoping to be able to find that elusive contract mail from a client? Website owners and administrators would vouch for the fact that there is hardly anything as irritating as being caught in a flood of spam mails. And when you are left battling it out without a complex spam avoiding and removing tool, the irritation heightens into sheer anger and frustration. Thankfully, cPanel takes care of your administrative troubles dealing with spam mails through the amazingly efficient and useful Spam Assassin.
All You Need To Know About Spam Assassin
The Spam Assassin is disabled by default, and you can find the option to activate it under the Mail Tab once you login to your cPanel. You click on the link and are then taken to the main customization page. This is where you are introduced to all the options and configuration tools that allow you to make the best use of the Spam Assassin. Hit the ‘Enable Spam Assassin’ button and strike the first nail in the coffin of all the future spam racing towards you. Check our Top 10 cPanel hosting for web hosts with Spam Assassin.
Who Decides the Strictness of the Spam Check?
You do. That is the whole point. By default, the Spam Assassin starts off at a strictness level of 5, and that is the medium level. Of course, you can change it to 8 or even 10. You may make these adjustments in case you wherein you feel that a strictness level of 5 would cause you to miss emails which were not spam and specifically intended to reach you.
Additionally, you have the option of configuring the Spam Assassin to either automatically delete any mail that is tagged as spam according to your set filters, or simply tag the suspected mails with the word SPAM in the beginning of the subject. If you choose the ‘Auto Delete Spam’ option, you can also have the spam mails moved to separate folder on your server. However, there is a slight downside with this method that you might have to consider. If you get unusually high spam mails, you would have to login to your cPanel more frequently than normal in order to get rid of the space occupied by the spam mails. However, on a whole, Spam Assassin is a wonderful anti spam tool that makes life a little easier for you.
Check Spam Assassin’s FAQ at http://wiki.apache.org/spamassassin/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.
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New Hosting and VPS Plans from Host Color
Posted by: | CommentsWeb hosting provider, HostColor.com, recently announced the launch of its new hosting plans. The provider services thousands of U.S.-based and Canadian-based customers from their data center based out of South Bend, Indiana, 90 miles from Chicago. The company’s recent advertising campaign highlights the free account migration service to all products and services.
Migration Service
This new management service is only available by utilizing the coupon code FREEMIGRATION which applies to cPanel-based shared hosting accounts as well as OpenVZ and Virtuozzo virtual servers. Those without cPanel-based accounts can also receive migration assist at a low cost, one-time fee of $15 which will be applied directly to their accounts.
Host Color has always focused on providing new and current clients with the opportunity to select from a variety of options. Since there are many webmaster who are not satisfied with their current providers and do not have the time or technical expertise to correctly migrate their website to a reliable provider, Host Color is there to assist.
New Data Center
The company recently transitioned into a new data center and developed a fully-redundant network with a 100 percent uptime guarantee. The provider has also recently announced several money-saving opportunities to small business websites, dedicated servers and VPS hosting accounts.
.INFO Promotion
One promotion is on .INFO domain name extensions and .INFO domain-based websites. The price of these domain names has decreased to $6.97 per year. Current owners of .INFO websites have been awarded coupon code, INFOWEBSITE, which gives them a 22 percent discount when signing up for a shared hosting plan at the provider. This promotion is scheduled to end September 30th, 2011.
SUMMERTIME Coupon Code
Those who do not require the migration of an account will be given savings on their monthly hosting bill. Host Color is providing 25 percent off their bill with the coupon code SUMMERTIME when signing up with any shared hosting package. This code is scheduled to expire at the end of August 2011.
Host Color Company Information
Founded in 2000, Host Color is a web hosting provider incorporated in Delaware. The company boasts a fully-redundant network with a 100 percent SLA uptime guarantee. Host Color hosts thousands of small business and personal clients in their data center based out of South Bend, Indiana.
With so much competition in the web hosting industry, Host Color is offering deals and specials that are refreshing to consumers. Perhaps the extensive advertising and great deals will entice customers to switch to Host Color.