Roger Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 You guys that are hosting on Windows heavily. I'd like to ask a couple of questions. 1. What control panel (if any) would you recommend? 2. Any "gotchas" to look out for? Thanks guys. -Roger 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 We got out of Windows hosting when Parallels bought Helm. We had used Plesk for Windows (terrible) and were afraid the same fate was destined for Helm. I would like to offer Windows hosting again, but the current state of control panels for Windows which WHMCS supports just doesn't make me feel comfortable. It feels sort of like contemplating renting out a leaky house with faulty electrical wiring prone to starting fires, built on a giant sinkhole - i.e. asking for a lot of trouble. I'm hoping Enkompass (from cpanel) will be good, but it's not released yet. Seems some hosts are using it in its unreleased form already, but I'm not about to do that. I don't know if that helps - but I hope it does. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scurrell Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 I'm hoping Enkompass (from cpanel) will be good, but it's not released yet. Seems some hosts are using it in its unreleased form already, but I'm not about to do that. Considering how long it's taken them to get this far, I don't expect it any time soon. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted April 27, 2010 Author Share Posted April 27, 2010 Thank you Troy. After playing around a bit with a windows hosting platform I understand the analogy fully. Then there is the EMail situation. I tried hMail with my test bed. Its open source and easy to setup. I've worked with windows based domains/networks for many years. It seems that usually if a windows app is that easy to config it's lacking in security or something.... MS Exchange (any version) is a sophisticated, expensive monster. No one in their right mind would run Exchange to provide email services in a shared hosting environment. Kerio Connect is an excellent mail server. I've use it at a clients office for about 3 years or so now.. Inexpensive (compared to Exchange) and will serve multiple domains. But, none of the few windows CP's integrate with it that I know of. Thanks again Troy for the input. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scurrell Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 We're still running Helm 3 - never upgraded to 4 because it never worked properly, and now never will. Will probably move to DNP/WebsitePanel next, unless Enkompass gets a move on. As for mail servers, Smartermail is probably the best, but not cheap. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylove4life Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Yes I to run DNP and Helm and will go to WebsitePanel, I also use Smartermail. No problems as all with I'd say 400 domains and sites with 10k emails a day... Not to big like some of you guys, but I make do 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Thanks for all the input guys..... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHostingHeroes Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 Hi dotnetpanel is now free so save yourself some cash! http://www.websitepanel.net all usual expensive modules now free too 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salman75 Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 Hi, We tried Plesk (YUCK!) and Helm and Hspere and all of them got bought by Parallels and all of them were killed, except Plesk of course which is their own product. At this time we believe there is no windows hosting control panel that is genuinely user friendly and good enough to provide a stable windows hosting platform. I have heard hostingcontroller is good but never tried it really. We waited MONTHS for enkompass but they would not commit on a date to go commercial so we just dropped the windows hosting some months back. Also note that windows hosting is an expensive game. You have to buy tons of stuff just to offer a reasonable level of service. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylove4life Posted May 2, 2010 Share Posted May 2, 2010 DNP runs great if installed right.... And you do not have to spend alot to start hosting with MS, if you call them you can get on there platform cheaper... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onionman Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Another Vote for WSP/DNP. Should have no problems with it being stable etc as long as you install it correctly. Even better its now free! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaRiOsGR Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I'm using Plesk for windows hosting since 2005 (since 7.5.x version), and I can say that it works fine , only bad thing is that it need lots of resources to run smooth for many domains. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexr186 Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 I have been using Plesk for over a year now in Windows Hosting we started to offer. It has been ok at best, running server 08 has helped a lot. It is no where as good as our CPanel Servers, nor as easy but being a Windows Admin for many years helps. There is a lot of stuff you need to do the old fashion way. There is no software that comes with Plesk, for example, if you want a mail server, you have to pay for one. Good Luck 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylove4life Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 with DNP you can now get alot all frtee, other than the OS.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmc_ss Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 I've been using Helm 3 for years, and as someone else pointed out Helm 4 never worked and when Plesk took it over - forget it. I use MailEnable 4 Pro as well. Helm 3 works really well, the growing concern however is 2008 and onwards. I don't like Plesk, and cPanel\Enkompass is too expensive for smaller hosting outfits. DNP\WSP is what I'm looking at now. Any comments from those that use it? And with WHMCS, how does the WSP part sit? Does it still work or are changes needed to WHMCS to make it work with the WSP incarnation? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameshsi Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Hi! Is there anyone using hostingcontroller ? It seems like it is not really a US baed company, all indian. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rslyon Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Hi, We have tested every single windows control panel and hosting controller looks best so far. It has been round for a very long time. Tested: Helm3 - currently using Helm4 - dead end Plesk - would never touch anything from parrells. Hosting controller - not as well known but supports the same as helm 3, smartermail, simpledns etc. Cortex EMS - very expensive, we would be paying almost £5k per month for it. You pay per email box and per website ! But has been recomened by MS Extended ASP - same as above Enkompass - Long way behind but has a good infurstucture using SAN and would do well in the end like cpanel. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylove4life Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 what happen to http://www.websitepanel.net 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rslyon Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Tested it but not happy it will be round for long or supported. I tried to compile and support it inhouse but dont think we could support it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylove4life Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 I think that works better than all of them.... I have used them all for years. I was a Helm user untill they sold out.. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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