When it comes to managing a Linux server, a web panel can be an incredibly useful tool. These web-based interfaces allow you to manage various aspects of your server, such as websites, email accounts, and system settings, all from a single location. However, not all web panels are created equal, and some can be quite costly. Thankfully, there are several free options that are just as feature-rich and reliable as their paid counterparts.
One of the most popular free web panels for Linux servers is cPanel. This widely used web hosting control panel allows you to manage various aspects of your website, such as email accounts, databases, and file management.
If you’re looking to manage your Linux server, a web panel can be an extremely useful tool. A web panel is a web-based interface that allows you to manage various aspects of your server, such as websites, email accounts, and system settings, from a single location.
There are many web panels available for Linux servers, but not all of them are free. However, there are several free options that are just as feature-rich and reliable as their paid counterparts. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best free web panels for Linux servers.
I will provide a detailed review related to my experience in using several webpanels on the Linux operating system, this assessment can also be your reference in choosing a web panel on your server.
Why use webpanel on your VPS ? #
A web panel for a VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a user interface that allows users to manage and control various aspects of their VPS through a web-based interface. It provides a simple and convenient way to manage the server, including tasks such as creating and managing user accounts, configuring software and services, monitoring server performance, and managing backups. This can make it easier for users who are not familiar with command-line server management to maintain and control their VPS. Additionally, web panels can also provide additional functionality and automation, such as automatic software updates and security features.
Benefits of use of web panel: #
There are several benefits to using a web panel for a VPS:
- User-friendly interface: Web panels provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that is easy to use, even for those who are not familiar with command-line server management.
- Simplified management: With a web panel, users can easily perform tasks such as creating and managing user accounts, configuring software and services, and monitoring server performance.
- Increased automation: Many web panels include automation features such as automatic software updates and security features, which can save time and reduce the risk of errors.
- Improved security: Some web panels include security features such as firewall management and intrusion detection, which can help protect the server from potential threats.
- Better resource management: web panel often provides a better overview of the resources used by the server, making it easier to identify and address performance issues.
- Accessibility: web panel can be accessed remotely, making it easy to manage the server from anywhere.
Overall, a web panel can make VPS management more efficient, user-friendly, and secure.
The features contained in the web panel #
- Virtual host management: Virtualmin allows users to create, modify, and delete virtual hosts, and manage their DNS settings, email accounts, and web server configurations.
- User and group management: Virtualmin allows users to create and manage system users and groups, and assign them permissions for accessing virtual hosts.
- Database management: Virtualmin allows users to create, modify, and delete databases, and manage their users and permissions.
- Email management: Virtualmin allows users to create, modify, and delete email accounts, and manage their forwarders, aliases, and spam filters.
- Backup and restore: Virtualmin allows users to schedule and manage backups of virtual hosts and databases, and to restore them in case of failure or data loss.
- Security: Virtualmin provides a built-in SSL/TLS certificate manager, and allows users to configure their virtual hosts to use HTTPS.
- Resource Monitoring: Virtualmin provides tools for monitoring the server’s resources, such as CPU, Memory, and Disk Space usage, and sends alerts when the usage exceeds a certain threshold.
- Auto-updates: Virtualmin can automatically update the software and packages installed on the server, and notify the administrator of any updates that require manual intervention.
- Script Installers: Virtualmin provides an easy way to install popular open-source software such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
- API: Virtualmin provides an API to automate the management of virtual hosts, users and resources.
Virtualmin #
Virtualmin is a web-based interface for managing virtual servers on a Linux server. It is designed to make it easy for system administrators to set up and manage virtual hosts, email accounts, databases, and other server-related tasks. This makes it a popular choice for web hosting companies, small-to-medium businesses, and organizations that need to manage multiple virtual servers.
One of the key features of Virtualmin is its user-friendly interface. The control panel is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all skill levels. This allows users to perform a wide range of server administration tasks with ease, such as creating virtual servers, managing users and groups, managing DNS, and much more, all through a web-based interface.
Virtualmin also provides an API to automate the management of virtual hosts, users and resources, making it easy to integrate with other systems and automate tasks. It’s also scalable and can be used to manage multiple servers from a single web-based interface.
Ease of installation: 5/5
Easy to use: 4/5
Limitations of Virtualmin:
- Complexity: Virtualmin can have a steep learning curve for users who are not familiar with Linux server administration.
- Limited scalability: Virtualmin may not be able to handle large numbers of virtual hosts or high traffic websites, and may require additional resources or configuration to handle them.
- Limited customization: Virtualmin may not offer all the features and customization options that more advanced control panels do.
- Limited security: Virtualmin does not provide built-in security features like firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, or security software.
- Lack of support for certain technologies: Virtualmin may not support certain technologies or web servers, limiting the options available to users.
- Dependence on a web interface: Virtualmin is a web-based control panel, which means that it will be dependent on a web interface, which could be a limitation if the user is looking for a command-line interface.
- Dependence on certain Linux distributions: Virtualmin is designed to work with certain Linux distributions, such as Debian, Ubuntu, and CentOS. It may not be compatible with other distributions.
It’s important to note that, despite these limitations, Virtualmin can be a powerful and easy-to-use control panel for managing virtual hosts on Linux servers, especially for small-to-medium businesses and individual users.
In conclusion, Virtualmin is a powerful and user-friendly web hosting control panel for Linux servers. It provides a wide range of features and tools for managing virtual servers, making it a popular choice for web hosting companies, small-to-medium businesses, and organizations that need to manage multiple virtual servers. Its limitations in terms of scalability and customization options may not be suitable for large-scale hosting operations or advanced users.
ISPConfig: #
ISPConfig is a web-based control panel for Linux servers that allows users to manage web hosting, email, and DNS services. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing the underlying Linux system, making it a popular choice for web hosting companies and small-to-medium businesses. ISPConfig allows users to perform a wide range of server administration tasks, such as creating virtual servers, managing users and groups, managing DNS, and much more, all through a web-based interface. ISPConfig is similar to other control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and Virtualmin.
Overall, ISPConfig is a powerful and flexible control panel that provides a wide range of features for managing web hosting, email, and DNS services on Linux servers. It is designed for both individual users and resellers and allows for easy management of multiple servers from a single control panel.
Ease of installation: 4/5
Easy to use: 3/5
Limitations of ISPConfig:
- Limited customization options: ISPConfig has a limited set of customization options, which may not meet the needs of more advanced users or businesses with specific requirements.
- Limited scalability: ISPConfig may not be suitable for large-scale hosting operations due to its limited scalability.
- Limited support for third-party software: ISPConfig may not support certain third-party software or plugins that users may need to run on their servers.
- Limited security features: ISPConfig may not have advanced security features like two-factor authentication or intrusion detection and prevention.
- Limited Automation capabilities: ISPConfig may not have extensive automation capabilities as compared to other control panel such as cPanel, Plesk
- Limited mobile access: ISPConfig may not have a mobile app or mobile-optimized interface which makes it difficult to manage servers while on the go.
- Limited documentations: ISPConfig may not have extensive documentations, which makes it difficult for new users to get started and troubleshoot issues.
- Requires technical expertise: ISPConfig may require a certain level of technical expertise to set up and manage, making it less accessible for non-technical users.
It’s worth noting that not all of these shortcomings apply to every use case, and it’s always a good idea to test a control panel and evaluate its suitability for your specific needs.
Control Web Panel #
CentOS Web Panel (CWP) is a free and open-source web hosting control panel for Linux servers. It is designed for managing web hosting services on servers running CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) operating systems. With CWP, users can easily manage and configure web server settings, create and manage virtual hosts, system users, email accounts, and databases, as well as perform backups. This makes it a popular choice for web hosting companies and small-to-medium businesses.
One of the key features of CWP is its user-friendly interface. The control panel is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all skill levels. This allows users to perform a wide range of server administration tasks with ease, such as creating virtual servers, managing users and groups, managing DNS, and much more, all through a web-based interface.
Ease of installation: 4/5
Easy to use: 4/5
Limitations of Centos Web panel:
- Limited scalability: Some web panels may not be able to handle very large numbers of virtual servers or high traffic websites.
- Lack of an integrated load balancer: Some web panels may not have an integrated load balancer, which means that users must rely on external tools to handle traffic distribution.
- Lack of built-in support for containerization: Some web panels may not have built-in support for containerization, which means that users must rely on external tools like Docker to manage containers.
- Limited support for Windows servers: Some web panels are primarily designed for Linux servers, and support for Windows servers may be limited.
- Limited customization options: Some web panels may have limited customization options compared to others, which may not meet the specific needs of users.
- Limited support for Cloud providers: Some web panels may not have built-in support for cloud providers like AWS, Azure or Google Cloud.
- Limited support for CDN: Some web panels may not have built-in support for Content Delivery Networks (CDN) and users have to rely on external tools to manage CDN.
- Limited support for high-availability: Some web panels may not have built-in support for high-availability and users have to rely on external tools to manage high-availability.
- Limited security features: Some web panels may not have built-in security features such as automatic backups, intrusion detection and prevention, and firewalls.
- Limited automation capabilities: Some web panels may not have built-in automation capabilities, making it difficult to automate tasks such as updates and backups.
It’s worth noting that different web panels have different features and capabilities, and it’s important to evaluate the specific needs of your organization and choose the web panel that best meets those needs.
Conclusion #
Ultimately, the best free web panel server for you will depend on your specific needs and the level of experience you have with web hosting and server management. It’s important to research and compare the features of each option before making a decision. To use manage a couple of web, I suggest using Virtualmin.
Virtualmin is a web-based control panel for managing web servers that are considered by many to be one of the best free options available. Some of the reasons why Virtualmin is considered to be a better choice include:
- Wide range of features: Virtualmin offers a wide range of features, including web hosting, email hosting, DNS management, and database management. It also provides a number of advanced options for managing virtual servers, such as the ability to clone and move virtual servers between physical servers.
- Scalability: Virtualmin is designed to handle large numbers of websites and high levels of traffic, making it a good choice for web hosting companies and other organizations with large-scale hosting needs.
- Customization options: Virtualmin allows for a high level of customization, including the ability to create custom themes and branding for the control panel, as well as the ability to add custom scripts and modules.
- Support: Virtualmin has a large and active community of users and developers, which means that support and documentation are readily available.
- Security: Virtualmin provides a high level of security, with built-in support for SSL certificates and the ability to configure firewalls and other security settings.
That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that the best web panel for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, and it’s worth researching and comparing the features of different options before making a decision.
