[nullmind]

It’s been a great few weeks at VPS.NET, lots of new and exciting features, and now, an announcement that will no doubt be exciting for many users, we have finished an agreement with ISP Systems for offer their flagship Control Panel “ISPmanager PRO” for FREE for our VPS.NET customers.

ISPmanager is a server administration control panel, admired by it’s clean and simple to use interface, it’s the perfect companion for a VPS.NET account.

For full details on ISPmanager Pro please visit ISP System

Users can also login to a demo account by visiting ISPmanager Pro Demo

ISPManager Pro is powerful but lightweight, it only utilizes 10MB of ram and 40MB of HD space, the regular pricing for ISP Manager is €34.00 /month, a fantastic value for VPS.NET customers who get it for free.

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Q: How do I get ISPmanager Pro and the license ?
A: We will have some image stacks pre-configured with ISPmanager Pro, but in the meantime, users can download and install it following these instructions

1 - Open a ticket and request your ISPmanager Pro license, you will need to provide the tech with the IP where you wish to install ISPmanager Pro.
2 - Once you receive confirmation that your license is set, ssh to your server and execute the following commands

wget "http://download.ispsystem.com/install.sh"
sh install.sh

If during the install you get this message "system needs reboot - reason selinux is disabled on this server", and the server reboots, please re-initiate the install process after the reboot, ISPmanager Pro is not yet installed by then.

The install script is virtually hand-free, so just sit back and wait until it's done, after that you can login to the Admin interface by visiting https://your.ip.number/manager/, username: root, password: your root password

Documentation is available HERE

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For ubuntu, please follow the instructions below to get mail and everything else working properly (thanks bordman)

bordman said:

It should be noted that the default installation options will result with a failure for webmail, smtp, or dovecot. At least this is what happens to me.

Heres a step by step walkthrough to get it working:

• Create your vps with Ubuntu 8.04 LTS 64-bit Basic Installation
  
• Once created it's most likely best to update so run:

  apt-get update

  
  
• Updated? Download ispmanager:
  

  wget "http://download.ispsystem.com/install.sh"
  sh install.sh

  
  
• Once downloaded it will automatically start as you know. It'll say that it found debian-lenny/sid say "yes"
  
• type in your hostname. ex: test.awesomedomain.com
  
• then your presented with "choose installation type"
  
• select "gives you choice of software"
  
• now you'll see a list of available packages to install. When you highlight and select you may choose addition options. Below are the addition options that you should choose for each package:

www ----> apache2-2.2.8-1ubuntu0.5
smtp ----> postfix-2.5.102ubuntu1.2
pop3 ----> dovecot-pop3d-1.0.10-1ubuntu5.1
quota ----> leave as default
ftp ----> vsftpd-2.0.6-1ubuntu1.1
php ----> php5-5.2.4-2ubuntu5.6
bind ----> bind9-9.4.2.dfsg.P2-2ubuntu0.1
fw ----> leave as default
mysql ----> mysql-server-5.0-5.0.51a-3buntu5.4
webmail ----> squirrelmail-1.4.13-2ubuntu1.2
myadmin ----> phpmyadmin-2.11.3-1ubuntu1.1
nginx ----> disabled (enable if you need it)
pgsql ----> disabled (i haven't tested this personally)
rails ----> disabled (i can't get this to install with ispmanager)
sa ----> no options
maillist ----> disabled (enable if you need it. Choose: mailman-2.1.9-9ubuntu1)
greylist ----> no options
webstat ----> awstats-6.7.dfsg-1ubuntu0.1
pgadmin ----> disabled (enable if you need it)

• now install

And there you have it. Everything works on ubuntu.

[tazandpig]

You guys are just fantastic!

I've already opened a ticket for a License.

Having had a look at the ISPManager Pro demo, it certainly does wipe the floor with a few of the freebie control panels that are currently available. Getting this for free too, well that's like Christmas come early.

I was only this morning looking around for alternatives to cPanel (which isn't exactly cheap) and BAM! - up you pop with this unexpected, but very, very, welcome announcement!

Well done guys! I'd be astonished if a few others didn't follow suit heaping some praise on you for sealing this deal.

This post has been edited by tazandpig: 28 April 2009 - 12:21 PM

[Ditlev]

tazandpig said:

You guys are just fantastic!

I've already opened a ticket for a License.

Having had a look at the ISPManager Pro demo, it certainly does wipe the floor with a few of the freebie control panels that are currently available. Getting this for free too, well that's like Christmas come early.

I was only this morning looking around for alternatives to cPanel (which isn't exactly cheap) and BAM! - up you pop with this unexpected, but very, very, welcome announcement!

Well done guys! I'd be astonished if a few others didn't follow suit heaping some praise on you for sealing this deal.

We will get you setup right away.

Yeah, ISPmanager it's very easy and simple to use, yet quite powerful for the advanced users. One of the main reasons for going with them (rather than the usual suspects out there) was that ISPmanager only leave a 10mb footprint on the server.

ISPmanager runs great on a one-node server, I've been testing it for a few weeks on live sites, and it's just perfect for what we are doing here.

Here is a bunch of flashdemo's if anyone would like a closer look before installing or trying it out:

• Interface - 4.4 MB
  
• Resellers (for ISPmanager Pro only) - 4.2 MB
  
• Domain Names (root-user level) - 3.8 MB
  
• Domain Names (user level) - 3.3 MB
  
• WWW Domains - 3.9 MB
  
• Mail Services - 3.2 MB
  
• Statistics - 2.5 MB
  
• Backup System (root-user level) - 3.7 MB
  
• Backup System (user level) - 4.3 MB
  
• Templates - 8.0 MB

:)
D

[tazandpig]

Wow, fast reply, Ditlev!

I agree - that footprint is surprisingly small. Which makes it all the more attractive.

For some of us (well, me!), cPanel is overkill. It may be great, but for us wee boys, there are so many functions available that confusion comes very easily. ISPmanager looks like it takes away all the clutter and leaves a clean and simple interface that even a thicko like me can use without ending up with a banging headache.

Additionally, having this available will, I'm quite sure, bring in a lot more signups too. I'm honest enough to admit that running a VPS without a control panel scares me to death.

And the really important bit (the bit I'm sure will please you most)? Having this available has just sealed my custom with you. I won't be hesitating to adopt VPS.net for all my future needs. I'm now looking at shifting my other stuff over and quite possibly increasing the number of nodes.

Just goes to show how a company doing something which may seem 'small' to some, can have a huge impact on how 'comfortable' the less tech-headed customers end up feeling. Believe me, this is a small step that has such a great impact for me. I know it will be for others too.

For this alone, you deserve praise.

EDIT at 2:42PM
==============

Oh my goodness! I've just been playing around with ISPmanager as installed on my VPS and it's FAB!

Very, VERY easy to use - even for someone like me that panics easily.

Installation time - Less than 5 (yes, five) minutes via SSH and with the two very simple steps as mentioned in the original post. Couldn't really have been any easier.

Interface - clean, fast (I'm using 2 nodes), self-explanatory (apart from a couple of typo's on the installation via SSH - but very few will see them if this is becoming an image template)... and did I mention FAST?

Speed - As mentioned, it's lightning quick

Usability - A doddle to use. Seriously.

I've been using this now for less than 10 minutes and I'm already loving it. Why can't all things in life be this easy?

This post has been edited by tazandpig: 28 April 2009 - 01:46 PM

[nullmind]

Quote

apart from a couple of typo's on the installation via SSH

Yes, I love the "installing important staff" message :p

[henrymiller]

hm, nice, ispmanager pro might be good option to replace lxlabs/lxadmin, since lxlabs is delaying 64bit lxadmin for some time now, and ispmanager looks like right replacement due to it's lightweight nature, just like lxadmin, and as a plus it would be even cheaper than lxadmin since ispmanager pro is FREE at VPS.net ;)

[nullmind]

henrymiller said:

hm, nice, ispmanager pro might be good option to replace lxlabs/lxadmin, since lxlabs is delaying 64bit lxadmin for some time now, and ispmanager looks like right replacement due to it's lightweight nature, just like lxadmin, and as a plus it would be even cheaper than lxadmin since ispmanager pro is FREE at VPS.net ;)

Funny you mention it, we actually looked into lxadmin, and did extensive testing of it (as an inside scoop, we even got better pricing from them), but in the end the simplicity of ISPmanager Pro plus the 64bit issue with lxadmin (non existing) made us choose ISPmanager.

Just to show you, for us it's not about getting the best price, but to get the best tool for our customers :)

[Hans]

I looked at their website and it is certainly a handy tool. I find it kinda difficult to see a why it has a price tag of 34 euro a month! These control panels have always been priced quite absurd especially compared to their free alternatives.

Speaking of which, i did a quick compare and i get the feeling the pro version is quite lite compared to the free edition of virtualmin. Am i missing something? For 34 euro a month my expectations are quite high.

nullmind said:

Just to show you, for us it's not about getting the best price, but to get the best tool for our customers :)

That is certainly is a noble attitude although i am a bit worried that, if extras like these are put into the base fee, in the end the base fee will be unnecessary higher for the ones that do not use the extras.

[nullmind]

Hans said:

That is certainly is a noble attitude although i am a bit worried that, if extras like these are put into the base fee, in the end the base fee will be unnecessary higher for the ones that do not use the extras.

The base fee has been defined for over a month already, the offer of ISPManager Pro for free did not change the pricing in any way.

Just enjoy it ;)

[nullmind]

Also, on Virtualmin, it's powerful, but it's cumbersome and complicated, not really ideal for new users.

[henrymiller]

Hans said:

I looked at their website and it is certainly a handy tool. I find it kinda difficult to see a why it has a price tag of 34 euro a month! These control panels have always been priced quite absurd especially compared to their free alternatives.

Speaking of which, i did a quick compare and i get the feeling the pro version is quite lite compared to the free edition of virtualmin. Am i missing something? For 34 euro a month my expectations are quite high.



That is certainly is a noble attitude although i am a bit worried that, if extras like these are put into the base fee, in the end the base fee will be unnecessary higher for the ones that do not use the extras.

I was also intrigued with price of 34 EUR per month for the PRO version, comparing to cPanel or DirectAdmin which are more popular, lower price tag and let's say more powerful.

However i have never used ISPmanager PRO, so can't say exactly that given price is justified or not. It does not matter anyway since VPS.net gave us free PRO licenses.

Other free CPs alternatives, such as virtualmin, might be powerful, but commercial ones are usually more user friendly and more anticipated by end users, meaning that virtualmin and the others can be enough for experienced users or sysadmin side, but for delivering service to less experienced end users, commercial panels are usually the right choice, and if this is a case, ISPmanager might be the solution.

[tazandpig]

I'll just chip in here and say (as someone scared witless by the seemingly never-ending options in some control panels) that DirectAdmin, Plesk, cPanel, Virtualmin and a few lesser known control panels are all options I have not only looked at, but tried.

And ALL of them have, on occasion, confused the hell out of me when it comes to actually doing something simple. My experience with cPanel has been the easiest, but the number of options available is just mind boggling.

Then along comes ISPmanager... Now this one is more like it. Yes, it may appear to have less under the hood than the others (including a couple of freebies), but that doesn't matter - for me, it's the simplicity, speed and straight-forwardness of what's on offer.

What's on offer works. Plain and simple. And easily. Even for someone like me that dreads having to use control panels.

Anyway... As a couple of others have said, the pricing (if I was having to pay for it) puzzles me. I have to agree that it seems to be very overpriced. Not that it matters here, as it's on offer for free.

[nullmind]

One thing you must realize is that cPanel standard pricing is actually $425.00 per license /year, the reason you see it cheaper it's because providers with buying power are able to bring that price to a much nicer level, such as how the UK2 Group does with VPS.NET and other brands.

We loved ISPmanager Pro for it's simplicity and easy to use.

But as it's been said here, why worry about the price ? it's free ;)

[AndyWiltshireNZ]

Just wanted to say that ISPmanager Pro is awesome to use! Ive used Plesk and Cpanel in the past, but I like how simple ISPmanager is and its well laid out.

[Ditlev]

AndyWiltshireNZ said:

Just wanted to say that ISPmanager Pro is awesome to use! Ive used Plesk and Cpanel in the past, but I like how simple ISPmanager is and its well laid out.

Glad you like it - and I agree, ISPmanager is straight to the point!

:)
D

[henrymiller]

I've been going through ispmanager setup for the last hour, and i can say i'm impressed, not sure how i missed ispmanager panel before, but this cp is really powerful despite the simplicity of how GUI looks at first sight.

It actually have most(if not all) the features of other CP's.
Resource usage is really low, same as the lxadmin image for hypervm (only ~50mb of ram).

And i was thrilled when i saw it has complete management of actions/access you can enable/disable for CP users. (which is something that was not done completely at lxadmin, some CP features were not customizable).

i recommend everyone to give it a try, you wont be disappointed :)

[Ditlev]

henrymiller said:

I've been going through ispmanager setup for the last hour, and i can say i'm impressed, not sure how i missed ispmanager panel before, but this cp is really powerful despite the simplicity of how GUI looks at first sight.

It actually have most(if not all) the features of other CP's.
Resource usage is really low, same as the lxadmin image for hypervm (only ~50mb of ram).

And i was thrilled when i saw it has complete management of actions/access you can enable/disable for CP users. (which is something that was not done completely at lxadmin, some CP features were not customizable).

i recommend everyone to give it a try, you wont be disappointed :)

So good to hear its working out for you all :)
It's always hard to make everyone happy when it comes to control panels - our main objective here was to find something that was simple and powerful, but with a very low footprint. ISPmanager has been good to us so far.

:)
D

[henrymiller]

a tip for new users,

use PHP as CGI instead of Apache mod, if you are running ispmanager on one_node setup, since php as apache mod is a memory hog, and you'll need atleast two_node setup for php as apache mod.

php as cgi runs just fine even at one_node setup.

[Ditlev]

henrymiller said:

a tip for new users,

use PHP as CGI instead of Apache mod, if you are running ispmanager on one_node setup, since php as apache mod is a memory hog, and you'll need atleast two_node setup for php as apache mod.

php as cgi runs just fine even at one_node setup.

Thanks - valuable input.
This test: http://vps.net/forum...490&postcount=6 was done with one node, CentOS, ISPmanager pro, Joomla, and "php as apache" though - so, one node would more more than fine, even with "php as apache" - but it might be running even better with "php as cgi" :)

:)
D

[wildjokerdesign]

Will the install of ISPmanager open up port 80 on the CentOS LAMP image or will I need to do that before installing it. I am waiting on my license now so thought I would take care of anything else I might need to. :)