Plesk Module Lacking - update in process or not?

[hostfrog]

We are currently evaluating WHMCS as an alternative to Plesk Billing. Although lacking much of the integration that Plesk Billing has with Plesk, it does have a variety of modules and features that make it very appealing.

 

With first hand experience now and reviewing the Plesk Module and searching these forums, I'm disappointed and would like to know if there are any plans to improve the plesk module.

 

Here is what I have found:

 

1.) Creates multiple clients for a single client in WHMCS. This is not necessary and is a waste and a headache. If a client is in arrears for us it doesn't matter if they have 2 packages or 4 they will be disabled entirely until caught up in full.

 

I have seen many posts regarding this one and believe there should be a "choice".

 

2.) It does not pull the template list from plesk. This can be done with a few calls to the API, modernbill was doing so before SW-Soft (now parallels) ever bought them out.

 

3.) The reseller module does not allow the creation of Client Accounts. This would be an issue for anyone on plesk 9.x with a Reseller account if they want there clients to have client accounts.

 

This is probably the only thing we are held up on right now in this debate. The main reason we are looking at changing is additional features, but it also comes down to admin time, etc...

 

Any advice/help regarding any possible updates to this module would be appreciated.

[Matt]

Hi,

 

Thanks for your interest in WHMCS. In response to your points

 

1. The problem with using a single client in the past has been the client template limits being exceeded when it comes to a second domain being created. And thus causing creations to fail. Likewise if the link is done based on email to a client rather than specific domains, the relationship is lost if the email is changed in WHMCS.

 

2. In WHMCS you can have many servers setup for Plesk so since the product isn't assigned to a specific individual one, it wouldn't know which to connect to and poll the list from. Entering the name really isn't that difficult, is more flexible and wouldn't be something you're likely to do often.

 

3. The Plesk Reseller module is for Plesk 8 and before when resellers support didn't exist in Plesk. It's not for "resellers" to use. It's for resellers before Plesk 9 which were just client accounts allowed to create multiple domains so I think that's just a misunderstanding of the purpose there rather than any changes needed.

 

Matt

[hostfrog]

Okay, I understand the logic behind this, although I'm not sure I like it. It will just take a little more work to set it up so it operates cleanly.

 

I would like to know if WHMCS has plans to integrate a dedicated server module. I know there have been some created right on these forums, but in researching I have found it hard to locate one that is readily available as it appears many people go out of contact.

 

This is a large decision for us because we already own a 2500 client license of Plesk Billing so this switch constitutes giving up a significant investment we have already made.

 

Also, how hard is it to change from a leased license to an owned license?

[WHMCS John]

Could you elaborate more on what you mean by a "dedicated server module"? WHMCS can bill clients perfectly for a dedicated server, but I'm not aware of a datacentre that offers an API that provisions servers automatically.

[hostfrog]

Could you elaborate more on what you mean by a "dedicated server module"? WHMCS can bill clients perfectly for a dedicated server, but I'm not aware of a datacentre that offers an API that provisions servers automatically.

 

John,

I'm refering to integration of bandwidth monitoring and charging for overages of bandwidth. I've noticed some people have merged Cacti (could be any program to use though) into WHMCS allowing the custoemr to see there bandwidth usage and then subsequently automatically billing for overages.

 

Larry

[jovenothio]

Can I use this WHMCS to the web-based software that Im trying to develop and would be marketing soon online?

Hopefully, I will be getting more clients and Im not sure if this one is perfect to manage the client base, billing, and support. Thank you