VPS server management

Virtual Private Server (VPS) by its consumer properties is an almost full-fledged computer with Unix installed operating system. The most common are FreeBSD, CentOS, and Debian. They are installed on one physical server in an amount proportional to the server frequency. For example, a 1024 MHz server is divided into 8 VPS virtual computers with a frequency of 128 MHz. RAM and hard drive are shared in the same way. You can combine these minimum units into more productive servers. In this example, you can place two VPS of 256 MHz and one 512 MHz instead of eight minimum. The virtualization system gives each such subsystem its IP address, which can be controlled via the Internet. You can purchase a virtual private server on the website https://justvps.com/.

Initially, after buying a VPS, the hoster gives you only the IP address of your server and the root password, after which the user is left alone with the Linux command line. You can access the console of a remote computer using the SSH protocol using numerous terminal programs. The most common such program is PuTTY. But to manage a VPS server, you don’t have to be able to handle Linux. For convenient work of users (buyers of the VPS service), various programs with a graphical interface were invented, allowing directly from the browser to install sites and create mailboxes with one click of the mouse. Such programs are called control panels and can be installed either independently from the Linux command line, or by a hosting service provider that sold you low-cost VPS.

ISPmanager control panel

This is a domestic software development that occupies most of the virtual server services market. Its only drawback is that it is paid. Large hosters have big discounts from the developer company and therefore include the cost of renting a panel in the tariff plan. Small representatives of hosting services may ask the client for another 10 $ per month in addition to the cost of renting a VPS.

Webmin control panel

Webmin is a free web interface for Unix system administrators. This control panel supports different languages, it is free and slightly inferior to the functionality of ISPmanager Pro. But the abundance of functions for administering the entire server, and not just the modules responsible for hosting, can play a cruel joke with an inexperienced user and you can disrupt the performance of the entire system with one click. Due to such complexities and an unfriendly interface, this program is difficult to use. But on the other hand, you can take VPS without a management program, that is, without a “bonus” in the price of a tariff plan and get the cheapest virtual server.

SysCP Control Panel

Another free program designed specifically for hosting management. SysCP does not support some Linux distributions, so you may not be able to install it on your VPS. This is a simple panel exclusively for working with sites. But this simplicity sometimes forces the OS console to perform complex tasks with a virtual server.

There are many options for managing a VPS server, but the essence of choosing a control panel comes down to whether you have funds for ISPmanager Lite or not. This is the best choice for a beginner webmaster whose site has already grown from shared hosting and is ready to try on a dedicated server.

Other free panels include Ajenti, OpenPanel, Kloxo, ISPConfig, WebsitePanel, VHCS, GNUPanel, iMSCP, EHCP. From paid DirectAdmin, cPanel, Plesk. All of them have significant drawbacks, such as a serious load on the server or simply the high cost and price restrictions on the number of domains. But if one of them seems pretty and quite functional to you, then you can use it to manage your server.