cPanel/WHM or Plesk 8?

[LSIntegra94]

As the title suggests, which do you prefer cPanel/WHM or Plesk 8 and why?

[Steve Machol]

I've worked with both a lot when providing support and I absolutely prefer working on cPanel/WHM server over Plesk any day. It's much faster and easier to use in my opinion.

[LSIntegra94]

Hi Steve, cPanel certainly looks much cleaner and easier to navigate. I understand that it uses much more RAM than Plesk though. In your experience, approximately how much RAM does it use ?

[Steve Machol]

I have no idea about relative memory usage. WHM/cPanel works fine on my server.

[LSIntegra94]

And your server specs are? :)

[Steve Machol]

Processor #1 Vendor: GenuineIntel
Processor #1 Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Processor #1 speed: 2793.125 MHz
Processor #1 cache size: 1024 KB

Processor #2 Vendor: GenuineIntel
Processor #2 Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Processor #2 speed: 2793.125 MHz
Processor #2 cache size: 1024 KB

[LSIntegra94]

And another thanks for the reply. Can you see how much RAM cPanel is using? If so, would you mind posting that information?

[JakeS]

You could try: http://www.directadmin.com, its basically what their website says:

Ease of use. DirectAdmin is the easiest to use control panel, period.
http://www.directadmin.com/check.gif Speed. DirectAdmin is programmed to be the fastest running control panel available.
http://www.directadmin.com/check.gif Stability. DirectAdmin avoids downtime by automatically recovering from crashes.
http://www.directadmin.com/check.gif Support. We offer lightning-fast support by phone, e-mail, forum, and live online chat.
http://www.directadmin.com/check.gif Price. We offer flexible licensing options to suit every kind of hosting company!


I use this software :)

[Steve Machol]

I have no idea how to determine how much RAM cPanel uses otherwise I would have posted this info. :)

[JakeS]

I have no idea how to determine how much RAM cPanel uses otherwise I would have posted this info. :)Couldn't you check server resource usage logs?

[Steve Machol]

Which logs are those and what do I look for exactly?

[JakeS]

Which logs are those and what do I look for exactly?Depends on what OS you have, which OS do you have (on server)?

[harmor]

You can try the Plesk and WHM demos.
WHM/cPanel (http://www.cpanel.net/products/cPanelandWHM/linux/try_cp_whm.htm)
Plesk (http://www.swsoft.com/en/products/plesk7/demo/)

WHM and cPanel are a lot easier to navigate.

[jason|xoxide]

You're not going to like this, but I'm going to go with "neither".

Plesk is bloated and slow. I also refuse to have anything to do with WHM/Cpanel because a panel that compiles major software from source on an RPM-based distro is just plain dumb. That said, if it was between the two, I'd go with Plesk (which I do use on a couple servers).

[LSIntegra94]

Unfortunately Directadmin is not an option at the hosts that I am considering.

You could try: http://www.directadmin.com, its basically what their website says:

I use this software :)



Actually, I appreciate all honest responses. The fact is that I am more knowledgeable than the guy who owns the site and I'm not knowledgeable enough to get by without a control panel. The site owner will definitely require one.

You're not going to like this, but I'm going to go with "neither".

Plesk is bloated and slow. I also refuse to have anything to do with WHM/Cpanel because a panel that compiles major software from source on an RPM-based distro is just plain dumb. That said, if it was between the two, I'd go with Plesk (which I do use on a couple servers).

[jason|xoxide]

The site owner will definitely require one.

Well, then I'd have to go with Plesk.

[LSIntegra94]

Why do you suggest Plesk, the functionality or the GUI?

[jason|xoxide]

The GUI is fairly easy to use, easier, in my opinion, than CPanel, and it does everything that I believe a control panel should be able to do. It also doesn't start compiling software from source on your system; it's entirely RPM-based.

[Steve Machol]

The GUI is fairly easy to use, easier, in my opinion, than CPanel, and it does everything that I believe a control panel should be able to do.
I have the exact opposite opinion. For me, cPanel is much more intuitive and easier to use. :)

They both have demos available so you should try them out for yourself.

cPanel Demo (http://www.cpanel.net/products/cPanelandWHM/linux/try_cp_whm.htm)
Plesk Demo (http://www.swsoft.com/en/products/plesk/demo/)

[Gene Steinberg]

I have the exact opposite opinion. For me, cPanel is much more intuitive and easier to use. :)

They both have demos available so you should try them out for yourself.

cPanel Demo (http://www.cpanel.net/products/cPanelandWHM/linux/try_cp_whm.htm)
Plesk Demo (http://www.swsoft.com/en/products/plesk/demo/)

Some hosts, such as GoDaddy and DreamHost, use their own customized control panel. I can't say if there are demos to check, but don't assume that you must use the "brand name" varieties.

Peace,
Gene

[adrianus]

CPanel is the most widely used. If one day you want to change host, it will be easier. I never used Plesk so I cannot make any comment.

A server with CPanel/WHM, with other service (like spamassassin) will take at about 150-180 MB of RAM. Add an average VBulletin site (50 people logged in), and it will reach about 200-240 MB.

[Gene Steinberg]

CPanel is the most widely used. If one day you want to change host, it will be easier. I never used Plesk so I cannot make any comment.

A server with CPanel/WHM, with other service (like spamassassin) will take at about 150-180 MB of RAM

Some hosts have their own customized control panel. I've seen nothing in any of them that any halfway experienced user can't master in a few minutes, so this shouldn't be the A number one factor by a long shot.

Peace,
Gene

[Joshs]

I've tried Ensim, Plesk, cPanel/WHM, etc over the years. Very thankful that my company made the switch to cPanel/WHM a long time ago. Its superior and would've been nearly impossible to migrate thousands of customers we've obtained to a new solution.

[jason|xoxide]

I've tried Ensim, Plesk, cPanel/WHM, etc over the years. Very thankful that my company made the switch to cPanel/WHM a long time ago. Its superior and would've been nearly impossible to migrate thousands of customers we've obtained to a new solution.

It's worth mentioning that Plesk has an automated importer that works very well. If you ever did decide to switch, it probably wouldn't be that difficult.

[Joshs]

It's worth mentioning that Plesk has an automated importer that works very well. If you ever did decide to switch, it probably wouldn't be that difficult.

Of course there are ways to make the transition easier but no matter what there is a lot involved when doing anything with 1000s of customers. The biggest thing would be supporting 1000s of customers after the change because many would be frenzied trying to adapt to something new.

[jason|xoxide]

Of course there are ways to make the transition easier but no matter what there is a lot involved when doing anything with 1000s of customers. The biggest thing would be supporting 1000s of customers after the change because many would be frenzied trying to adapt to something new.

That is true.