| As a web host reseller, one of your most | | | | a drop-down menu takes the reseller to the |
| important business decisions is your choice of web | | | | control panels for each of the sites on the reseller |
| hosting control panel software. The web hosting | | | | account, including the reseller's site. |
| software you use will save or cost you time, | | | | With the addition of an optional program, WHM |
| money, and frustration. | | | | Autopilot, you can automate account creation and |
| What reseller control panel features will reduce | | | | suspension, email notifications, and other tasks. |
| your workload? What hosting software programs | | | | WHM Autopilot also integrates with common |
| are integrated with the reseller control panel or | | | | payment gateways and has a helpdesk, an invoice |
| work with it? What website control panel features | | | | module, and other tools. |
| will your clients like? | | | | H-Sphere |
| In this article, we've compared four quality web | | | | H-Sphere is designed for both Linux and Windows |
| hosting reseller software programs: | | | | platforms. Moreover, resellers can set up plans for |
| • Alabanza | | | | both Linux and Windows and administer sites on |
| • cPanel | | | | different servers from the same control panel. |
| • H-Sphere | | | | The control panel, actually a separate server, also |
| • Plesk | | | | provides administrative access to the integrated |
| All of these reseller control panels come with | | | | helpdesk. |
| control panels for your clients. They all have | | | | The H-Sphere control panel server automates |
| numerous features - advanced email | | | | account configuration, credit card processing, |
| management, web statistics, pre-installed scripts, | | | | domain registration, and email notifications. It also |
| multi-language support, and more. They all work | | | | includes a built-in billing module and supports over |
| on Linux platforms, while H-Sphere and Plesk also | | | | 20 payment gateways. |
| work with Windows. According to the cPanel | | | | From the reseller's point of view, H-Sphere has a |
| website, a Windows version of cPanel is in | | | | higher learning curve than most other control |
| development. | | | | panels because of its numerous features. For |
| Other features that set these control panels apart | | | | example, when setting up a new plan, the |
| are their degree of automation, the number of | | | | administrator has two pages of features to |
| features and ease of use for the end user, and | | | | choose from, including setup and monthly pricing |
| the features and ease of use for you, the | | | | for optional services. |
| reseller. | | | | Beginning webmasters may find H-Sphere too |
| Alabanzawhen you become an Alabanza reseller, | | | | complicated for their needs. More advanced users, |
| you don't just have a reseller account - you lease | | | | however, appreciate the features and control that |
| a dedicated server from Alabanza. Alabanza owns | | | | H-Sphere offers the end user. A key feature is |
| the control panel the server, and you resell | | | | the ability to have control over separate domains |
| directly for Alabanza. If you lease a dedicated | | | | with multi-domain hosting. |
| Alabanza server, you can create your own | | | | H-Sphere comes with the website builder |
| reseller accounts. However, only you can set up | | | | SiteStudio, which guides users through a variety |
| hosting plans; resellers below you will be limited to | | | | of style choices and stores content separately |
| hosting plans that you create. | | | | from the layout. No HTML or FTP knowledge is |
| Alabanza offers resellers a high degree of | | | | required. |
| automation with its Domain System Manager | | | | Plesk |
| (DSM), which can significantly reduce overhead | | | | Plesk is known for its stability and security. |
| and time spent on routine tasks: | | | | Resellers and end users like its simple navigation, |
| • Account creation | | | | its clean interface, and its professional appearance. |
| • Billing and invoice management | | | | It comes in versions for both Linux and Windows |
| • Credit card processing | | | | platforms. |
| • Domain registration | | | | With Plesk, all users use the same control panel |
| • Email notifications | | | | but with different levels of control: |
| • Ordering fraud protection | | | | • Server administrator |
| Even novices can sell hosting with this level of | | | | • Client / reseller |
| automation. | | | | • Domain owner |
| DSM also integrates with for domain name | | | | • Mail user |
| registration. It does not easily integrate with other | | | | Each level of the control panel gives the user |
| domain registrars, though. | | | | control of that level and the level(s) below it. Email |
| A key Alabanza feature that resellers can offer | | | | users, for example, can log into their mail user |
| their clients is the Xpress Product Suite, which | | | | control panel to change their password, add |
| provides web development and email | | | | autoresponder, and change other personal settings |
| management tools. The Xpress Product Suite | | | | without having access to the domain owner |
| includes SiteXpress, a website-building program | | | | control panel. |
| that features over 300 templates and requires no | | | | Plesk handles Spam Assassin at the mailbox level |
| web design skills.cPanel | | | | rather than at the domain level. |
| For resellers and end users, cPanel is known for | | | | This feature enables users to white list or blacklist |
| its ease of use and range of features. cPanel's | | | | email for each email address, allowing each email |
| collection of over 50 pre-installed scripts and | | | | user to have individual settings. |
| Fantastico auto installer help clients set up their | | | | SWsoft, the company behind Plesk, also offers |
| sites with little web development knowledge. | | | | Site Builder, a five-step website builder using |
| A basic cPanel reseller account comes with two | | | | pre-built templates. Site Builder has over 300 |
| separate programs for resellers to manage their | | | | templates in different categories to choose from, |
| business: | | | | and users can publish their sites without any |
| • WHM (Web Host Manager) is used to | | | | HTML or FTP knowledge. |
| create accounts and packages, add and suspend | | | | If your Plesk reseller account is with a web host |
| sites, modify passwords, view bandwidth usage, | | | | that offers HSPcomplete, you will have some |
| park domains, install SSL certificates, and perform | | | | automation available with your account, such as |
| other administrative functions. | | | | credit card charges and email notification. |
| • From the reseller's cPanel control panel, | | | | |