cPanel Server The Easy Way To Start a Web Hosting Business
 by: Dan Chris

Demand for web hosting is increasing at a tremendous rate with the growth of the Internet. Launch a web hosting business to capture this growing market and save time by automating server functions using a cPanel Server.

What is cPanel?

cPanel is a web hosting control panel system that is installed on a dedicated server. The control panel system comes in two parts: Web Host Manager (WHM) for the web host, and cPanel for the end-user.

Web Host Manager (WHM), which allows the webhost to easily administer individual hosting accounts, reseller accounts and perform basic system and control panel maintenance via a secure interface. A web host does not need to know how to manually set up user accounts, passwords, ftp accounts or mail accounts through the command line as is typical of all dedicated servers. The user interface makes creating an account a breeze with one-click creation of accounts.

cPanel is designed for the end-users (hosting customers) and allows them to control everything in their accounts, including adding / removing email accounts, administering MySQL databases, creating redirects, creating FTP accounts and many more.

Getting a cPanel server

Not all dedicated servers purchased/leased from server providers come with cPanel. There are numerous other types of automated control panels available, so choosing a server that comes with cPanel is important. cPanel has partnerships with leading datacenters and offer a discounted rate on cPanel license when purchased together with the server. Examples of cPanel partner NOCs (Network Operating Centers) are BurstNet and LiquidWeb. These NOCs may offer a server with no control panel, or include a cPanel license at a norminal fee of $19.95.

However, as of now, cPanel can only be installed on a linux based dedicated server or virtual private server.

What's next after getting a server?

Before running out to advertise and to get clients for your new hosting business, you must remember to run some initializations on your cPanel server if your datacenter did not already do it for you. Listed in order are the steps required on a new server:

1. Set up nameservers

2. Secure the server by tweaking security settings

3. Check that all server services are running

4. Install add-on scripts that you would like to offer your clients

5. Install security scripts if you wish to increase server security

Other things you should know

Despite all its features, cPanel does not include any customer billing feature for web hosts to manage customer accounts and payments. As such, you would still have to manually register new clients and bill existing clients through some form of online form or email. This usually includes signing up for a Paypal or merchant account in order to receive payments. A more advanced payment solution such as Modernbill would manage cPanel by creating accounts and also bill your clients at the required times.

Find the right Web Host for you visit our web hosting comparison guide

About The Author Dan Chris writes for AlltheServers.com, a site that focuses on dedicated servers to help consumers understand the dedicated server industry. Find more information on dedicated servers used for cpanel hosting at http://www.AlltheServers.com

Web Hosting Provider, pair Networks, Launches New Virtual Private Server Offering (Marketwire)PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwire - June 9, 2009) - pair Networks, a leading web hosting provider , has launched a fully managed virtual private server offering, pairVPS , which provides customers with a limited alternative to pair Networks' powerful QuickServe dedicated hosting solution. Unlike shared web hosting , pairVPS customers will be able to use a portion of the physical server, which will ...

Web Hosting Provider, pair Networks, Launches New Virtual Private Server Offering (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)pair Networks, a leading web hosting provider, has launched a fully managed virtual private server offering, pairVPS, which provides customers with a limited alternative to pair Networks' powerful QuickServe dedicated hosting solution.

Differences in Linux hosting options (Linux Today)Handle With Linux: "No doubt you probably want some kind of Linux hosting as there are only very specific circumstances where windows web hosting has benefits. In my humble opinion you would only want windows hosting if you have a web service or application which can only be run on windows(which would be a design flaw)."

Unshrinking Shortened Web Links (Washington Post)Social networking are contributing to an explosion in the number of services that help people convert long URLs into tiny Web links. URL shrinking services are especially useful on sites that place a premium on brevity -- such as Twitter, which limits tweets to 140 characters. But few online communities have made it easy for users to tell where the shortened links will take them, a reality that ...

DiscountASP.NET Named Best ASP.NET Hosting Service (Web Host Directory)ASP.NET hosting and SQL hosting leader, DiscountASP.NET proudly announces receiving prestigious recognition from The Code Project, one of the world?s largest online developer communities.

LitWorks Introduces Custom Web-based Team Training (dBusinessNews.com)Atlanta, GA ? June 9, 2009 - LitWorks?, a DTI Company, the first and most comprehensive organization dedicated to developing and sharing best practices in the litigation support industry, announces the addition of custom Web-based team training to their existing training catalog . The course is offered to both large and small litigation support departments and is custom designed to focus on the ...

Cenzic and Forrester Provide Five Reasons You Need Web Application Security Now (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)Cenzic Inc., the leading provider of Web application vulnerability assessment and risk management solutions, announced they will be hosting a Web seminar featuring Dr. Chenxi Wang of Forrester Research titled, "Web Security: A Ticking Time Bomb," on June 11, 2009 at 11:00 am PDT.

Safari 4 Runs Faster and Supports Web Standards (CIO Today)Stepping up the newly revived browser wars, Apple on Monday released the newest version of its Safari browser for Windows PCs as well as Macs. Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, said the free Safari 4, which was made available as a beta version in February, offers "blazing-fast speed, innovative features, and support for modern Web standards." 'Advanced ...