Feedback Needed: Sub Resellers Addon

[Matt]

Hi,

 

I'm looking for feedback on an idea I've had for a WHMCS Addon. The idea is to allow your resellers to be able to create sub reseller accounts on your servers.

 

The way it would work is that you as a host would be able to install this addon for your WHMCS system which would then allow you to select certain resellers which can create other resellers on your servers. This would let you offer reseller accounts that can sell reseller accounts. You would be able to set limits based on number of accounts they can create and/or disk space usage/bandwidth limits. And here's the best part, all your reseller customers need to do to use it, is to use WHMCS for their order system in which they would have the option of activating a server module which allowed the creation of the reseller accounts.

 

So, that's the idea. Similar to the WHMReseller software, but all automated through WHMCS and works with any server type.

 

What I need to know is would you be interested in something like this.

 

Thanks,

 

Matt

[l0gic]

Hi Matt,

 

I would like to see this. I'm not even at that stage yet, but I'd love the opportunity to offer that as a service. I'm sure lots of resellers want to earn a bit more and feel a bit more in control, so giving them the option to sell reseller accounts might just do that without scaring them with a VPS.

 

I vote for yes. Very interesting idea.

[Adam]

Hey Matt,

 

For sure!

 

I currently use "WHMreseller" from http://deasoft.com/software.php , but if WHMCS can use this add-on that would be awesome.

 

But, will my reseller clients need to buy the WHMCS or the WHMCS Add-on or will I have to buy it, etc? If so, is it going to be a one-time fee like per server/per WHMCS installs, etc...

 

Thanks,

Adam

[Matt]

Hi,

 

Yes, similar to what that software can do, but a lot better of course & not just for cPanel/WHM! My thinking is the main host would pay a yearly subscription fee, around say $50/year for unlimited servers (it would work with any in your whmcs system), then your reseller would just need a standard whmcs system.

 

Matt

[Adam]

Hey Matt,

 

Will those resellers that are selling resellers (my customers) get some control over the reseller account, IE suspended, terminate, deleted the account with out contacting us? Will the resellers selling reseller get diskspace, bandwidth, reports for that reseller as well?

 

Thanks,

Adam

[Matt]

They will have all the normal controls - suspend, unsuspend, terminate, change password, etc... I doubt disk space and bandwidth usage stats will be possible though. Even with direct access you don't get those in WHMCS.

 

Matt

[MACscr]

I doubt disk space and bandwidth usage stats will be possible though. Even with direct access you don't get those in WHMCS.

 

Matt

 

Unless your smooth like me and made custom report in whmcs to do this. =P

[Adam]

Hey Matt,

 

Any updates on this add-on for WHMCS?

 

Thanks,

Adam

[trine]

I think this is a neat idea, but doubt we'll ever use it. In my opinion, as a sys admin, you loose control over your box, since you never know who the reseller is in turn making a reseller. Last thing we'd want is to have a bunch of 2nd level reseller accounts on our boxes that amount to spam or dubious activities. If there is no reporting feature to the top WHMCS user, it seems that you'd need to double your work to maintain a clean box. ????

 

just my 2 cents

[Adam]

I think this is a neat idea, but doubt we'll ever use it. In my opinion, as a sys admin, you loose control over your box, since you never know who the reseller is in turn making a reseller. Last thing we'd want is to have a bunch of 2nd level reseller accounts on our boxes that amount to spam or dubious activities. If there is no reporting feature to the top WHMCS user, it seems that you'd need to double your work to maintain a clean box. ????

 

just my 2 cents

 

Well thats for us to worry about and not WHMCS.

 

Its really not hard to run a clean box, making a few bash scripts that run in the root cronjobs that checks for malicious activity, cleans /tmp, checks user permissions, and so on.

 

Than for spammers, limiting out how many emails you can send out per hour helps. If they are using a PHP script, make sure you run suPHP or PHPsuExec which points to what user is doing it. Than editing a few lines in the /usr/sbin/sendmail can point to what specify directory it is running.

 

 

Going back on topic, I really would like to see this in WHMCS. If not, I'm willing to pay for a custom module so at least I could use it.

 

From,

Adam

[Matt]

Well the feedback regarding this development didn't seem too positive at the time so I haven't taken it any furthur yet but I still think it could be a great feature to allow sub-resellers on any type of control panel for hosts using WHMCS.

 

Matt

[lainard]

I think it's a good feature!! but could be mess up also and double works

[VISL]

Would definately be interested in this.

[trine]

...Well thats for us to worry about and not WHMCS....

 

Agreed Adam, but set aside knowing how to run a server, my point was not well demonstrated. So ...

 

If something like this were to be developed, I would hope there are decent account limitating features and reporting features for the top level WHMCS user. For instance, a reseller's reseller can resell another 0, 1, 2 etc. tiers.

 

What's more, and what is not clear, if we resell as root, and our users resell as a reseller, and they own a copy of WHMCS and the addon, it would at first glance seem impossible to stop any enduser from reselling of services further.

 

At the end of the day, even when being proactive and trying to monitor your box(es), this can lead to abuse of the system, resources et al. Of course one could argue that you can simply remove the offending accounts or reseller in question, but when you have multi-tiered reselling in place, it becomes an additional chore to stay on top of things.

 

That was my point.

 

Otherwise, I find it very interesting.

[trine]

So, for Matt, the question may be:

 

1)Would there be any way to offer it as a master license which requires root privileges so infinite reselling is not possible;

 

2) Will there be adequate oversite of the reseller's reseller accounts from WHMCS without resorting to logging into the server or a server's CP?

 

3) Will there be some possibility to limit resellers from reselling further than x level(s) deep?

[Matt]

Not sure where the multi-tier idea came from? A sub resellers reseller would not be able to create resellers. Only your sub-reseller would be able to do that. The sub-resellers accounts would be limited by disk space and bandwidth usage from within WHMCS and you would be able to see the usage of each of those resellers.

 

Only guaging interest at the moment though - this is not being worked on or planned for implementation yet.

 

Matt

[trine]

Ok. That is good to know. Of course limiting by space and resources would be done, but it would also be nice to limit the amount of resellers a sub reseller can create.

 

Also, I was thinking that any sub-resellers with a WHMCS license would be able to resell further. .. or possibly even their clients with a valid WHMCS license and the add-on.

 

I think I may have misunderstood that it could potentially lead to an infinite level. Sorry.

 

1 reseller with root privileges would effectively get:

 

ROOT
   |
   ----- clients
   |
   ----- Multiple Regular WHMCS or Plesk Reseller
          |
          ----- Reseller's clients
          |
          ----- Multiple Sub-Resellers
                 |
                 ----- Sub-Reseller's clients

[Adam]

Trine,

 

The add-on (if made) will allow people to sell reseller accounts with out the need of a VPS/Dedicated server as those require root access.

 

To explain it more clearly look at the diagram below.

 

    ROOT (Main Host)
       |
       |
       +---- Shared Hosting Accounts (MAIN Host)
       |
       |
       +---- Reseller Hosting Accounts (Client A)
               |
               +--- Resellers Shared Hosting Clients
               |
               +--- Reseller Selling Reseller Hosting (This add-on) (Client A--1)
                     |
                     +-- Shared Hosting Accounts (Client A--1)

               +--- Reseller Selling Reseller Hosting (This add-on) (Client A--2)
                     |
                     +-- Shared Hosting Accounts (Client A--2)

 

So Client A can only sell shared/reseller hosting accounts. None of his clients (A--1 nor A--2, etc) can sell reseller hosting accounts.

 

To sell reseller hosting, Client A will need to contact the Main Host to approve of this and add them to their WHMCS panel to allow sub-reselling. [Thats It]

 

 

From,

Adam

[55host.net]

yes please do

[55host.net]

how much longer tillt his feature is in script

[othellotech]

how much longer tillt his feature is in script

Hopefully never, there's enough muppets in this industry as it is without encouraging people to sell reseller accounts

[55host.net]

well actuall they can set em up manualy first and second i sell whm reseller but my clients would like to know a script that supports it whmcs would be the first so it would get bough over the rest this is a very good idea please make this

[AceGX]

Hate to open an old thread...

 

It looks like according to the poll about 80% wanted it. In my opinion the other 20% don't have to use it nor are they required. It's their option to purchase the addon or not.

 

I think because this allows master reselling for all CPs and is on the billing front end of the Host it will make for much better account/resource tracking. With WHMreseller you have to login to each server to view what each Master Reseller has for accounts. With this not only could the Master Resellers accounts be load balanced across multiple servers (this is where that server grouping request comes in). It would show just like any other client that has multiple accounts.

 

Matt think if you implemented this WHMCS would have a demanding lead over the rest of the client billing/management scripts available. Not just that it would really open a whole new market for the hosting industry.

 

Sorry VPS providers ;-).

 

This will increase the profit margins a bit and give demanding control in the hosting market back to the hosts. Tell me who wouldn't want to be a Master Reseller selling multi-homed services with out all the hard work of managing all of the servers. Like I said... I smell a new market.

[DataHosts]

Matt,

 

I think this would be a great addition to WHMCS and I would be the first to purchase

[HostOrca]

must say I agree. This feature looks very interesting