ControlPanel Accounts Vs. Manual Accounts

[speedbird]

Hi to all, the reason that I am here is because all the good reviews I've seen regularily on some key sites that deal with VPN and hosting, congrats.

Here is my issue:

I currently have 2 VPN servers (somewhere else), one without a CP and another one with it, 90% of my developing is done in the non-control-panel one, I heavily rely on Zope/Python/Apache/MySQL for my dynamic sites (about 15). On the other side, the VPN with control Panel is used to host my DNS, a few static sites and Email (mostly email).

If I were to "consolidate" and move both servers into one PowerVPS w/Web Panel, my fear is that the apache's httpd.conf file would be overwritten whenever I make changes through the CP for an account set there, whereas I do lots of heavy fine-tunning manually in httpd.conf for my Zope instances.

Can somebody tell me if that would be an issue to consider if I decide to go for one PowerVPS account?

I appreciate your response(s),

Thanks

--sb

[Robert]

Hi there!

Generally CPanel does not make many changes to httpd.conf except for adding/removing entries for virutalhosts (as you add/remove accounts), and a few other things like adding support for /webmail, /pipermail (mailman), /cpanel, /whm, etc.

If you go with Webmin, there would be basically no changes unless you specifically make them (again, such as adding a virtualhost), etc. It's not really a "control panel" so to speak, just a user interface for expierenced system admins. It will make the least amount of changes to the configuration, and none of the changes would be made on they're own.

Plesk on the other hand does not like changes made to httpd.conf outside of the panel. It tends to override changes on a regular basis as it updates/backs up.

[speedbird]

Many thanks for the fast response. I would say CPanel will be a preferred option (would you agree?) since I will have several non-technical "administrators" handling things such as creation of email accounts, forwards and some FTP uploads to their sections.

Thanks, again,

--sb

[Robert]

I think that CPanel would be a pretty good solution for you. :)

Unless the extra administrators need to be able to create new accounts, restart failed services, terminate accounts, etc... you only need to create a new account for them in WHM and then let them control the domain itself through CPanel.

If you have any questions or problems, give us a holler.