As a blogger or a website administrator, you might have to deal with lots of information when it comes to web hosting services. You need to have the technical knowhow from things like the right web hosting and its functions to web panels for windows server and everything in between.
In the midst of all the rivalry between web hosting providers, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between the features and characteristics as most of them pretty much provide the same functionality and performance to stay on top. The majority of customers are more prone to settle for just basic features. However, a lesser-acknowledged feature, the control panel is just as important and obviously needs more recognition than what it generally gets.
Only those users who know enough about hosting services are aware that control panels actually affect the performance of your website. No matter how you slice it, there is basically nothing as sensational as a tool that does its work nicely.
A control panel refers to the web interface given by the hosting provider for the easier administration of the hosted websites, databases, emails and so much more.
Almost all web hosting providers offer control panels on their platform, either on VPS or a dedicated server.
Let’s walk through the top 10 Windows OS supported web hosting control panels which you can use to manage your server.
1. Plesk
This is one of the Windows Server supported control panel. It lets you easily manage many aspects of your hosting account, including the applications, files, and emails. Plesk control panel automates a large chunk of tasks that allow service providers to reduce operating costs and resources while increasing efficiency, profit, and customer satisfaction at the same time.
Plesk features four login levels with each one having its appropriate roles and responsibilities:
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Administrator: This is the top individual server level login which allows web hosting administrators to set up and manage all system items. Multiple servers can be centrally managed using the master level login of Plesk Expand.
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Client: The second level is the client where the users are given domain creation rights from the system administrator. Clients can then administer to groups of domains using just a single login.
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Domain Owner: The third level is the individual domain owner accounts packed with predetermined permission sets and interface for single domain administration.
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Mail User: This is the fourth level individual mail account which allows the user to log in to their own private interface and manage items such as passwords, spam filters, anti-virus settings, and much more.
Plesk VPS presents an automated and simplified workflow for web hosting individuals and agencies, as well as provides its own ecosystem with more than 100 third-party extensions available for use. The latest version of Plesk is integrated with GitHub and Docker. It has been designed with PHP in the frontend and PHP/MySQL for the backend while also supporting IPv6.
2. Hosting Controller
This is a complete array of Web hosting automation tools for the Windows VPS server family platform. It is the only multilingual software package you need to set your web hosting business on some sort of autopilot. The hosting controller has its own complete billing solution which is tightly integrated within the control panel and does all the invoicing and billing. It also has its own set of features:
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Unified Control Panel: Hosting controller serves up a single access point for all its operations as the extra effort of logging into separate interfaces is eliminated. It provides; hybrid control, public clouds, Microsoft office365 integration, wallet-based billing, and others.
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Self-Served: This feature provides the user with a fully automated self-service for better efficiency such as multi-tenant GUI, automated provisioning and sign-up, easy backup, and restore which eliminates the unnecessary need for any manual intervention.
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Cross-Platform Support: One of its great features is the ability to manage both Windows and Linux OS through a single-admin control and a user-friendly GUI over both OS service plans.
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Fully Customizable: Hosting controller provides you with full control over the appearance and feel of your control panel to align with your cooperate identities such as customized company names, themes, banners, email templates, menu controls, and much more.
Host controller has been built with .NET in the frontend and MSSQL for the backend while also supporting the IPv6.
3. MSP Control
Validated by Microsoft, MSP controlis a very powerful platform that gives its users a simple multi-tenant point-and-click control over windows server applications. It also packs some amazing features:
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Reducing the time and overhead necessary to manage organizations.
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It allows users to perform complex tasks with minimal technical knowledge.
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Centralize your service billing and management.
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It also comes with an easy to use client auto-configuration desktop agent.
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Advanced email expert tool to filter and scan incoming email for spam, viruses, phishing, and more
4. Web Controller
This is a powerful web-based remote administration tool with support for Windows web hosting server OS. It provides administrators with the tools they need to manage and maintain their websites easily with efficiency using only their web browsers. You may use Web Controller to sell hosting services or for your personal email and website management needs.
Web Controller has been designed to give users the authority to manage their own situation with the least amount of outside intervention. Amongst other things, Web Controller provides the following features:
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It is an open-source and free to use or modify the control panel.
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Has 3 level of administration (Server Admin, Reseller, Website Admin).
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Manages the IIS website, creates delete, modify domain, subdomain, etc.
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Manages DNS server and FTP, which are auto-created with site creation.
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Manages MySQL, MSSQL database servers, phpMyAdmin included.
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Supports asp, asp.net, PHP, Perl, python VBScript, JavaScript, etc.
5. SolidCP
This is also another multi-server enterprise control panel which is windows OS supported.
It comes with a module that allows for selling shared and reseller hosting services to give your clients the ability to manage their accounts directly from your client area equipped with all the essential functionalities.
It provides full automation of account provisioning and management including suspension, termination, account synchronization, password reset as well as upgrading/downgrading resources.
6. Webmin
Webmin is a web-based version of the Virtualmin panel best known for its flexibility. It originally supports UNIX and similar OS while recent versions have included support for Windows OS. In comparison to others, Webmin is written in the high-level, dynamic Perl programming language. Similar to Virtualmin, Webmin is both open source and commercial. It is used for the basics but its extensibility is an addition that helps administrators manage multiple tasks. Webmin is known for its wealth of modules and excellent interface tailored towards efficient file, domain, email, and server configuration. It also comes packed with some great features:
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It allows for easy web, email domains, and web-based virtual servers management.
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It allows for integrated database systems management.
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A single control panel management interface for multiple servers.
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Can integrate with another control panel giving it great flexibility
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Provides support for IPv6
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Availability of firewall for maximum security is one of its amazing features
Webmin has been built with Perl both in the frontend and for the backend while also supporting IPv6.
7. Webuzo
Webuzo is referred to as a LAMP STACK and it is a single user control panel that can be installed on any virtual server, dedicated server. With a simple and user-friendly GUI, Webuzo Cloud Launcher allows you to deploy your favorite application on the Cloud. Webuzo can be deployed in your home or office environment as a Virtual Appliance on Windows, Mac, or Linux OS.
This Virtual Appliance can run over VMware, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, etc. Webuzo LAMP Stack Application Manager incomparably simplifies the development and deployment of applications on your server with exciting features such as:
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Domain management
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FTP Users management
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Database management with MySQL and Rockmongo
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Zone Management
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Advanced Security with IP Block, CSR, Private keys. WebuzoServes as a complete solution to server management.
8. ZPanel
This is an open-source web hosting control panel written in PHP in the frontend and MySQL/MariaDB for the backend. It is compatible with both Microsoft Windows server and POSIX (Linux, UNIX, MacOSX, and the BSD’s) operating systems.
Users can create and manage MySQL databases, email mailboxes, forwarders, and distribution lists as well as set up and host multiple domains on one server from its easy to use control panel. ZPanel uses several open-source software packages to provide a secure, web hosting system.
9. H-Sphere
This is a scalable multi-server web hosting solution for Linux, BSD as well as Windows OS platform. It has some advanced options and a sophisticated billing system to automate and improve your web hosting tasks. H-Sphere was designed to work on multiple machines and can be scaled by adding more webmail, databases and DNS servers without any downtime. With Java in the frontend and Java, MySQL/PostgreSQL for the backend, H-sphere presents its own features:
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It has a built-in system with a variety of payment options
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Provides an electronic mail system with antispam filtering and integrated Webmail
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Integrated PHP/MySQL applications by means of add-ons
10. vDeck
This is a popular control panel that is also adopted by hosting companies like iPage, FatCow, PowWeb, StartLogic and iPower. With pre-installed scripts, tools, and eCommerce solutions vDeck has the ability to control and more easily manage larger and more complex websites. Users of the vDeck can install pre-designed templates as well to make the navigation appear more customized and one of the biggest features that catch the eye of webmasters is the ability to add-on additional control modules. As your website grows, vDeck has the ability to plug in additional controls that you need for a growing online business website. vDeck provides features such as:
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Add or transfer a domain, manage subdomains, and domain pointers.
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It also comes with FTP management tools.
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It has a web-based file manager that allows for all basic packing, unpacking and editing functions.
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Webmail access is also another of its features as well as spam and virus prevention, email forwards, autoresponders, and so on.
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Drag and drop website builder where users may choose from hundreds of professionally designed templates to create a website without actual coding knowledge.
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Security tools for hotlink protection, password protected directories, ability to block certain IP addresses from accessing your website.
vDeck has been built with Java both in the frontend and for the backend with no support for IPv6.
These are the top 10 we panels for Windows that you can use to manage your websites. You can now enjoy a seamless experience depending on your requirement and needs.
Ensure that you know what features you need to manage your website so you can make the right decision when selecting a web panel for Windows Server.