cPanel – Why It’s Such a Big Deal for Website Admins.
When one mentions the term “web hosting control panel”, you can bet good money they’re referring to cPanel. Built on a Linux-based architecture, cPanel comes with a host of intuitive features that make the whole task of hosting your website a much simpler process. However, despite the rise of several competitors like ISPmanager and Ajenti, cPanel have remained the dominant player in the field because they continue to innovate and improve their product to stay ahead of competitors, thanks in part to the release of new features such as AutoSSL (free auto-renewing SSL certification), Easy Apache 4, Multi PHP manager (multiple php versions on the same server), and a space-saving incremental backup feature, just to name a few. But before we dive into the details, lets focus on some of the main USPs of cPanel, so you make a more informed decision when picking your next web hosting control panel.
Ease of Use
You don’t need to have a degree in programming to operate cPanel. The tools is extremely easy to install, and can be configured from scratch in just a few series of clicks. Furthermore, cPanel can be easily accessed using a browser, and its address will be provided to you by your hosting provider (maybe that’s the good folks at ServerMule). If you’re a power user and want to get the most out of your cPanel experience, then consider using some cool Fantastico scripts. For the uninitiated, Fantastico is an autoinstaller program, which allows hosting clients to seamlessly setup scripts from a library of 50+ options.
Awesome GUI
cPanel has a very intuitive interface that should be easy to navigate about, especially if you have worked with control panel tools in the past. At the top right hand side of cPanel, you’ll find the navigation bar, which gives you access to search features, account management and notifications. Just below the navigation bar is where you’ll find the search bar, which can be used to find functions quickly. Finally, on the left hand side is the sidebar which lets you navigate to the statistics, dashboard and user management pages, as well as navigate back to the home page.
Portability
Every web admins to some extent dreads the tedious task of server migration, i.e., moving your server data and configuration from one server platform to another. This could be required if you’re switching server providers or moving from a virtual cloud server to a dedicated server (or vice versa). Fortunately, cPanel allows you to migrate your accounts, SSL certificates, and main server IP address with a fairly straightforward process. While it may seem a bit daunting at first, we suggest you make a proper checklist to ensure every step is followed.
Compatibility
Whether you prefer Firefox over Chrome, or you’re someone who’s forced to use Internet Explorer for whatever unfortunate reason, you’re in luck: cPanel is compatible with a range of different browsers including Safari. It also supports a wide range of applications, including CloudLinux, WHMCS, R1Soft and SpamAssasin that helps add an extra layer of functionality to it. Currently, cPanel can only be installed for Linux-based servers. However, the developers are considering making a version compatible with Windows servers as well. Stay tuned for that!
Starting your web hosting journey is a challenge, especially if you’re someone who’s still getting a hang of using technology to run their business. So if you’re seriously considering getting a cPanel-based website management tool, we’re always happy to lend you a helping hand. Check out our cPanel VPS hosting packages and get in touch with us if you feel you need a solution customised to your business needs.
