Just a few tips & ideas for you from Craig

Hi

Ok, am going to write up what you need & don't need in the hosting industry, now after growing up in this industry with my family I saw allot of things, good & bad, In the ''Craig'' article :angel: I will tell you what you need & don't need & also what to look out for. Feel free to add more to this if you want.

Ok, well my farther started his own company when I was just 6 years old :P , he run's a successful law firm with my mother & brother & still does, I was meant to join them but I thought ''thats not what I want to do'', why rely on others?, if you want to be lazy person just the family business or do it yourself. Now am going to contradict myself now as my father invested allot of money in me which am truly grateful for. Without his help I would be nobody today, he has tought me allot about myself. Anyway enough about myself lets start this article.

Ok, first we are going to look at control panels, now as most know a control panel is VERY important within the hosting industry. We all know what cPanel is right?.. well as many of you know, there are many n00b at there who don't have a clue about hosting nor how to use it. If you went to your local town center & ask 100 people what hosting is they would say '' I don't have a clue '' so thats why a control panel is so important, for me the easiest control panel is DirectAdmin with cPanel coming into a close second. If your starting a hosting company MAKE sure you have a control panel, most reseller hosting companies offer a control panel free with your reseller account.

''Craig's Tip'' Get cPanel : www.cpanel.net (http://www.cpanel.net/)

Free Control Panels
VHCS - http://vhcs.net/new/ (http://vhcs.net/new/)
web-CP - http://www.web-cp.net/ (http://www.web-cp.net/)
phpanel - http://phpanel.net (http://phpanel.net/)
Domain Technologie Control - http://www.gplhost.com/?rub=softwares&sousrub=dtc (http://www.gplhost.com/?rub=softwares&sousrub=dtc)
syscp - http://www.syscp.de/page/start (http://www.syscp.de/page/start)
zpanel - http://www.thezpanel.com/ (http://www.thezpanel.com/)
Bankoi http://www.webhost-panel.com (http://www.webhost-panel.com/)
VishwaKarma http://kandalaya.org/vishwakarma.shtml (http://kandalaya.org/vishwakarma.shtml)
Interworx: http://interworx.info (http://interworx.info/)
Xpanel: http://www.xpanel.com (http://www.xpanel.com/)
Zervex: http://www.zervex.com/products.htm (http://www.zervex.com/products.htm)
ASM - www.acctmgr.com (http://www.acctmgr.com/)
Ababa - www.yupapa.com (http://www.yupapa.com/)

Paid Control Panels
Direct Admin http://directadmin.com (http://directadmin.com/)
cPanel http://cpanel.net (http://cpanel.net/)
Ensim http://ensim.com (http://ensim.com/)
H-Sphere http://www.psoft.net (http://www.psoft.net/)
Plesk http://www.sw-soft.com (http://www.sw-soft.com/)
Helm http://helm.com (http://helm.com/)
Hosting Controller http://hostingcontroller.com (http://hostingcontroller.com/)
HostFlow http://www.hostflow.com (http://www.hostflow.com/)
ISP Manager http://ispsystem.com (http://ispsystem.com/)


Billing Software:
The next thing we are going to look at is ''Billing Software/Client Managent''

Well this is a very IMPORTANT piece of your company, now when I first started in 1998 I used a simple plain form to email script lol, now at first when I didn't have many clients it was very easy to manage, I used to just collect the details & save them on my computer. Now when I got more & more clients it started to go bad, I had clients calling me, I couldn't find there details IT WAS A HUGH MESS so I failed! simple, I gave up & became a Fly-By-Night host :cry2:. I then sold the clients to another provider & started to learn things, MySQL, PHP, eMail etc etc, when I started I didn't even know what PHP was or MySQL. I didn't even know how to install a script lol so I got my head down for 1 year & worked my --- of learning new stuff, gaining knowledge of this industry, 1 year later I started a new host under the HD Solutions network & from there came a quality low cost provider network. So what billing software could I use or will I need:


''Craig's Tip'' DON'T USE A FORM TO EMAIL SCRIPT, IT WILL KILL YOU!, like it did me, funny how a script cant be your worst nightmare :p.

Clientexec.com : Now I have used this for 5 months & it was great, but it does like to mess-up invoices plus at the time it wasn't auto like I needed, I needed software that would send invoices auto, close tickets etc etc, instant setup wasn't needed as I like to verify each account. I rate this 7/10. New version is now out 2.7 which I was a beta tester for them. The new 2.7 is VERY good, worth a look.

Cost: $11.95 (I think lol)
clientexec.com

ModernBill.com : Well there's a funny story to this lol, when I cancelled my clientexec license I ordered MB from MBlicenses. I installed it then there was a issue with the license, then other things. I really wanted to use this software SO MUCH but I was so far but too near if that makes sense lol, even though I cant rate it as I haven't tested it from what I have heard MB is the way to go. Its not for the novice though, its a VERY complex piece of software & takes months to get used to it but once your in its great. 10/10

Cost: $20+, can get it cheaper from mblicenses.com
modernbill.com

WHMAP : Now I have tried this a few time, cost me allot of money just to test though lol but I always thought it was missing something, don't know what but there is lol IMO that is. It has many nice features, interface is cool & price is fine for what you get. I rate 8/10.

Cost: $18 or something like that
whmautopilot.com

Some others that you might like are:

www.whmcs.com (http://www.whmcs.com/)
www.solid-state.org (http://www.solid-state.org/)
www.whoiscart.net (http://www.whoiscart.net/)
www.autohostmanager.com (http://www.autohostmanager.com/)
www.ihostdev.com (http://www.ihostdev.com/)
www.phpcoin.com (http://www.phpcoin.com/)


Support:
Lets talk about support, now support is the MAIN thing you need to give, most clients rate support as the most important aspect of a hosting company so you need the right software. Its worth spending a few hundred bucks on a good desk, below is some I have tried & my review on them.

''Craig's Tip'' Spend $$$ on a good QUALITY desk, it pays off

Kayako : Now I have a owned kayako license for a few of my companies & I must say, its the BEST support center out there, it has ALL the features you need to get your support to the best. Now, it isn't cheap, its $30/mo for the basic e-support which is great but doesn't have the live chat feature but most use the free live chat in cPanel/Fantastico. My advice, GET KAYAKO. 10/10.

Cost: $30/mo
kayako.com

Cerberus : This support center is very good, I have only tried it the once & liked it. Now it isn't the easiest software too install, in-fact even I got stuck lol. Such companies as LT use this desk. They also have a free version so if your short of cash then this is the desk for your support. 8/10.

Cost: Wacky :eek2:
cerberusweb.com

Below are a few others that are also very good:

www.prosupport.com (http://www.prosupport.com/)
www.helpcenterlive.com (http://www.helpcenterlive.com/)
www.support-logic.com (http://www.support-logic.com/)
www.perldesk.com (http://www.perldesk.com/)
www.osticket.com (http://www.osticket.com/)
www.auraclesupport.com (http://www.auraclesupport.com/)
www.deskpro.com (http://www.deskpro.com/)
www.activecampaign.com/supporttrio/ (http://www.activecampaign.com/supporttrio/)
www. (http://www.propanelsystems.com/)propanelsystems.com (http://www.propanelsystems.com/)

Now I hoped some of this helped you in some way or else. Please feel free to add any of your comments, ideas or what I have missed out.

''Craigs BIG Tip'' DONT RUN BEFORE YOU CAN WALK....

Thanks for your time
Craig

Nice article! :-)

If you went to your local town center & ask 100 people what hosting is they would say '' I don't have a clue '' so thats why a control panel is so important,
How does a control panel help them understand what hosting is? :confused4

Edit: I was being hosted for about three years before I knew what a control panel was.

How does a control panel help them understand what hosting is? :confused4

Well that is meant for the newbies, a control panel helps them to use the hosting which helps them understand what hosting is. :-)

EDIT from your edit, so you class yourself as a n00b :P :P

Not at all, it means a control panel is not essential. For five years I have had access to a control panel, but I could count on my fingers (and a couple of toes) how many times I needed to use them.

Not at all, it means a control panel is not essential. For five years I have had access to a contol panel, but I could count on my fingers (and a couple of toes) how many times I needed to use them.

Well most would class that a control panel is a MUST. Some people cant use hosting without it unless they know SSH etc etc. So a control panel helps the user understand more what hosting is while they build there skill level up.

The only skill level it builds up is how to use a control panel, it doesn't tell them much about hosting ;) I know more about hosting after eight or nine years than I would have learnt from using three different control panels.

If you are a host it is essential you learn your control panel. Most of your clients will usee it and you will need to provide support for it when they have a problem. It is not as important for the end user to learn the control panel if they perfer to ftp everything, but the host needs to know his control panel.

The only skill level it builds up is how to use a control panel, it doesn't tell them much about hosting ;) I know more about hosting after eight or nine years than I would have learnt from using three different control panels.


Ok.. lets break this down, what does a control panel tell a n00b hosting user:

#1: How to install script (to a point)
#2: Helps them understand the structure of the files via file manager
#3: How to use Mail which uses the hosting as storage
#4: Lets them learn about disk space usage & other usages.

I could go on, using a control panel teaches you allot about hosting.

I was a noob once and I got by without a control panel ;) I didn't even know my first paid host had one until I wanted to cancel after the first year. Most of you guys have been used to relying on one (even before you were a host) so you don't know any different.

I was a noob once and I got by without a control panel ;) I didn't even know my first paid host had one until I wanted to cancel after the first year. Most of you guys have been used to relying on one (even before you were a host) so you don't know any different.

Maybe you did but some others cant, thats why its needed.

Can we call this CraigsList?

Oh no wait, we can't.

Control Panels = Evil. But it's a demand IMO

Can we call this CraigsList?

Oh no wait, we can't.

Control Panels = Evil. But it's a demand IMO

We can...... we can :p

I also think control panels are essential, there is no way you could have learned everything you need to know without learning from one.

I also think control panels are essential, there is no way you could have learned everything you need to know without learning from one.

This scares me.

Hmmm, I ran on Unix for about 8 years before I got into the hosting industry. Because I had prior knowledge about how a server runs and whatnot, I did not need a control panel. However, WHM is great for rebuilding Apache and installing things easily.

Not a necessity, but it is a great help ;)

Good write up Craig!

This is useful, everyday you learn new things about the web hosting industry! Thanks again!

I don't reckon xPanel is free since it asks for money on the site upon the ordering of it.

Nice list!!

Nice list!!

Thanks, am already starting V2 now :lol:

Nice work Craig...I have been waiting for this kind of article since I entered into the webhosting industry.

Thanks!

This article definitely attracts that specific type of hosts we all love.

Some of the feedback is very scary.

A fine article and advice. Why don't we put it as a sticky for future members?

very nice article craig. I personally didnt use a real control panel untill i started my own business and decided i wanted to offer hosting too. i had only used the online site builder type of things prior to this, and a little bit of ftp. the host had a sort of control panel, but nothing to extensive. i now use cpanel and whm all the time for business. the only real time i use my cpanel though is when setting up new email addresses, and to get to my phpmyadmin for my MySQL database. that is really about it. i have looked at some scripts offered in cpanel like zencart, and i think it is pretty easy to install all these scripts without using cpanel, but that is just me. really nice article though. thanks for that.

A fine article and advice. Why don't we put it as a sticky for future members?
definately agree to that.

This is a useful article however you might want to review this link www.prosupport.com it is longer in service (at least from the time i post this post)

That prosupport site looks like it's just their so they can make money from their ads, Craigs list is much better :)

Craig, I've never tried zPanel are they any good?

zPanel Demo: http://www.zee-way.com/cpanel/

Eh, not to bad. But cPanel is better IMO. And fantastico only support cPanel correct?

Yes Fantastico is only for cPanel according to their site.