Web Hosting Plan Features Control Panels
Often hosting plan features are the type of control panel that is provided with the hosting service. Most people think that a control panel should be part of the package, but in smaller countries outside the USA this is often a ‘luxury’ that is not part of the hosting package! The first essential feature that you should ponder about is searching out whether your hosting server provider offers a control panel to manage your website. It is unacceptable to sign up for a hosting package, if there is no control panel. Common control panels for Linux hosting are: PleskHelmCpanelDirectAdminAll these control panels have their supporters and detractors.Without hesitation I will choose cpanel that provides a lot of a user-friendly interface and functionalities. The following features are available with CPanel hosting:File manager:You can always use the file manager available in CPanel, if you are not comfortable with using an FTP package to upload your files. The file manager enables you to upload files, unzip files on the server. Apart from that it copies and deletes files.FTP (File Transfer Protocol): If you want to upload your files and manage your website, you should have FTP access to your website. This is essential. Cpanel also permits you to register new FTP accounts. In this way it gives other people access to your website. But don’t bother about this, because you can keep their access under restriction to specific folders on your website.Website statistics:Most hosting providers provide statistics facilities. Some hosting providers think that the statistics programs use too many resources on a shared environment and some of them remove the facility. But when you are planning to set up a website, statistics and the ability to analyze your traffic is required. Make sure a hosting provider that you have selected does offer you access to a web stats package. My personal favourite is AWStats. Redirects:This is very helpful to temporarily or permanently redirect pages to another website or other website pages. Be careful though with using temporary redirects, this might cause problems with the search engines.Backups:This allows you to make a backup of the files on your server, as well as to backup your MySQL database if you have one. This is very useful and should be done regularly. You cannot rely on the backups led by the hosting service provider, as the service provider itself might just get close its doors and you cannot have access to your site.Pre-installed scripts:The Fantastico installer is one of the best features of the CPanel control panel to help you to quickly and easily install lots of Open Source tools and utilities such as forums, shopping carts, project management tools, WIKIS and much more.Add On Domains and Subdomains:You can add sub domains and even Add On domains. It depends on whether your hosting provider gives you permission for this.Email management:Under email management you can create and delete all your email accounts. You also have access to a Webmail facility so that you can read your email online. You can also forward one email account to another. You also get access to set up simple auto responders. It helps you send an automated reply back if anyone sends an enquiry email to a specific email address.