Server control panels: overview and comparative analysis

Server Control Panels: Overview and Comparative Analysis If you want to launch your own virtual private server (VPS/VDS) or implement a custom project based on it, a server control panel can significantly simplify server management.

There are numerous tools available for optimizing server management. However, not all of them are user-friendly and meet modern requirements. Therefore, choosing the right control panel can be quite challenging.

We have prepared a brief overview of such solutions for you, describing the features of different panels, their advantages, and even user reviews. This guide will help you choose a server control panel based on your current requirements.

What Is a Server Control Panel?

In short, a server control panel is a comprehensive system that allows you to configure a VPS (VDS) server using a graphical user interface (GUI). It also provides additional tools for monitoring the server’s status, accessibility, file access, email, user accounts, and more.

Most modern control panels are designed to work with the Linux platform (Ubuntu, Debian distributions) and the LAMP/LEMP stack:

• Apache/Nginx
• MySQL (MariaDB)
• PHP (Apache)
• CGI script or FPM-PHP servers
• ProFTPD/vsFTPd

Essentially, this allows you to set up hosting on your own server.

Note: Hosting service providers like our company select and integrate optimal control panels into the server images that are deployed for you. For example, you can set up a server with ready-made images featuring panels like hestiaCP, aaPanel, or Fastpanel with just one click. However, if you need a third-party solution for any reason, make sure to study its features before starting the installation.

Classification of Server Management Systems

Hosting server control panels can be either free for use under an OSS (GPL3) license or commercial, distributed by organizations. Although the differences between them may not seem significant at first glance, commercial systems can often be more powerful than their free counterparts in practice. The question is whether it’s worth paying extra?

Whether deploying websites, e-commerce sites, game servers, or other purposes, a control panel will help you do everything quickly and comfortably. It’s important to understand the traffic you plan to handle in order to consider various factors, including:

• Number of users
• Type of system being deployed
• Scalability potential

The challenge lies in the fact that different purposes may require different means, and they are not always free.

Free Ubuntu Server Control Panel

Solutions like Hestia CP fall into this category. They are distributed under the GPL3 license (Open-Source). They provide basic functionality for VPS management and server configuration. You can edit domains, work with databases, files, monitor system status, and more.

The key issue with such systems is updates. Even tested builds can damage server data, leading to downtime or even data loss.

Commercial VPS Server Control Panel

Systems like cPanel come with pricing that depends on several parameters. The larger your project, the more expensive it will be to maintain the control panel.

In addition, you might need a more specific distribution for deployment, such as RedHat or CentOS.

Key advantages of commercial systems include support, regular updates, scalability, and extended functionality (though this is more of an option than a package solution).

Brief Overview of Popular VPS Server Management Systems

Here is a list of popular control panels to help you determine which type of server administration system will meet your project’s needs:

HestiaCP

One of the most popular free solutions on the market. It provides basic functionality for VPS management and server configuration. You can edit domains, work with databases, files, monitor system status, and more.

aaPanel

A free panel that allows you to work with a large number of websites simultaneously within the system. It has powerful, branched functionality, extensive support, and high performance. It is suitable for almost any purpose.

FastPanel

A powerful free VPS (VDS) control panel. It provides advanced functionality and tools for working with most types of popular projects.

Summing Up

There are numerous VPS (VDS) server control panels available. They are widely used for managing personal blogs, small shops, and even game servers. Depending on their functionality, they can be simple or complex, paid or free.

Setting up and deploying such a system, as well as choosing it, can be a difficult task, especially for newcomers in this segment.

We offer services that already include configured control panels or free assistance in their full installation and setup. So, if you don’t want to spend time and effort on choosing and integrating a management system, use our services and start working today!