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Resellers account - V - Multi-hosting account?

Posted by hifive000, 09-06-2006, 01:01 PM
Hi I've been thinking about getting a multi-domain hosting account but saw some good deals on resellers accounts. Can a resellers account work better? Does it need a good level of technical knowledge? The sites I have planned will be more or less inhouse projects (although I wish them to appear as different entities to the public and would like to have different IP address/nameservers but know little about this) so I don't need to sell packages as such, it's just something that I thought I should look into before making a final decision. Thanks!
Posted by mripguru, 09-06-2006, 01:05 PM
IIRC, at least in cPanel (other control panels may do things differently), multi-domain accounts and reseller accounts are technically the same (if done properly) just multi-domain accounts have the "restriction" that you can't sell that space to a customer below you, it's only for having centralized control over your own sites.
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 03:21 PM
Erhmm.. no, basically are very different. With reseller accounts you have access to WHM, you can "usually" create your own packages with the features that you want for each domain, modify DNS zones, etc. With a multiple-domain account you have access to Cpanel only, and through there you can add domains using the "add-on domain" function on it. Everything is handled through the same account/cpanel.
Posted by Swelly, 09-06-2006, 04:42 PM
I think hifive is referring to multi-site hosting such as one account with multiple domains each with their own control panel and email functionality. If this is the case, it all depends on which fits your needs best. Resellers accounts tend to offer more space and bandwidth verses shared multi accounts.
Posted by laydee, 09-06-2006, 07:26 PM
From what I was told, multi-domain hosting is totally different to add-ons! In my opinion, multi-domain plans lets you control domains from one panel BUT, they are not like add-on domains where you get 'domain.com/site2' and redirect your 2nd domain to that url - you basically host the site itself! (Like Dreamhost I guess). I am still looking for a good multi-dimain hosting company myself I don't really want a reseller
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 07:38 PM
With Cpanel you do not redirect the domain, it does go to public_html/domain2 but it does act as a totally separated domain, but managed through 1 (and where you have a main domain)
Posted by Swelly, 09-06-2006, 07:47 PM
Jedito...do those domains have seperate control panels?
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 08:06 PM
No, so? where did you got that he want separated control panels?
Posted by Swelly, 09-06-2006, 09:06 PM
I wasn't saying that for him. I wanted to know if infact add-ons came with seperate control panels. Is there anyway for an add-on to have a seperate, maybe with some slight coding?
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 09:18 PM
Hmm.. no.. is not possible.
Posted by cartika-andrew, 09-06-2006, 09:52 PM
You are speaking strictly cpanel here This is not "multiple domain" hosting - this is add-on domains In order to achieve true multiple domain hosting via cpanel, you pretty much must use something like WHM - except then each domain receives its own cpanel account. This is good for some, but, not good for others - all depends on what you are looking for I guess..
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 10:02 PM
Yes, of course, I was answering to somebody who was talking about Cpanel. So, according to you is only "multiple domain hosting" when each domain get its own cpanel?
Posted by mripguru, 09-06-2006, 10:05 PM
In terms of cPanel/WHM, yes - but not in terms of H-Sphere, which is *true* multiple domain hosting in a single end-user account.
Posted by cartika-andrew, 09-06-2006, 10:05 PM
I was just making a comment no, exactly the opposite. True multiple domain hosting is when you dont need a separate control panel for each domain.
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 10:13 PM
How do you define what's "true" multiple domain hosting, and what's "untrue" (??) multiple domain hosting?
Posted by nax9, 09-06-2006, 10:14 PM
It would be best to ask cPanel themselves if they plan to make it a feature, but currently no. That's what a reseller account is for. Having multiple shared accounts under one cPanel account, each having their own cPanel would completely defeat the purpose of WHM. Although I did read something about a sub-reseller program which uses the cPanel of the reseller of the reseller (how's that!) for creating additional shared accounts. Problem is, I've also read that such software is inherently unstable
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 10:15 PM
Then, basicaly, to you, what's the difference then between "addon" and multiple domain hosting?
Posted by Swelly, 09-06-2006, 10:22 PM
Sweet explanation. I wonder if some of these multi accounts hosting providers (that actually have seperate control panels and email features, etc) just use WHM and rebrand it. Also ruling that particular accounts be setup with the multi platform (rebranded) WHM. Is that far fetched or close to the true?
Posted by mripguru, 09-06-2006, 10:25 PM
True multiple domain hosting is more than 1 domain in an end-user account, each with it's own web area within FTP which is unrelated to any other site in the account without the need for additional methods locations of access for account administration (i.e. end-user control panel).
Posted by cartika-andrew, 09-06-2006, 10:26 PM
If you need to ask that, then I am particular you have yet to work with a solution that offers true multiple domain hosting. If you would like a demo account, I would be happy to set one up for you. Well - this is still the cpanel way of thinking - there are much better ways to provide multiple domain hosting from a single control panel interface that allow for complete control of every aspect of every domain and sub domain - from web options to email to DNS control, etc, etc
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 10:30 PM
Rudeness is not necessary (nor to play to be an smart***), and if I ask "TO YOU" is because is obvious that I disagree (once again) with "YOUR DEFINITION" of multiple domain hosting. But.. I'll let it go, there's no point of waste time in this discussion with you.
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 10:32 PM
What? sorry, I can't follow you. What's the difference between "true" and "untrue" multiple domain hosting?
Posted by layer0, 09-06-2006, 10:37 PM
Jedito, Take this from someone who has managed and still manages tons of cPanel servers. cPanel is decent for what it does...but for multi-domain hosting it does not compete. Add-on domains do not allow someone to effectively host multiple domains. Add-on domains are simply what they are called "add-on". They are not individual accounts. The directory structure and cPanel setup relies on there being a 'primary' domain and a 'primary' user, whereas H-Sphere just relies on one 'primary' user and nothing else. We get requests all the time about people wanting to switch an add-on domain with the primary domain...this is an absolute pain to do since they actually have to switch around their files, edit the config for any scripts installed, etc. Whereas with H-Sphere, you don't get this headache. Furthermore, we get countless tickets with users trying to switch around the primary and add-on domains themselves (I can't quite put my my finger on how/why they do this, but they do...) and then we end up having to restore their cPanel file in /var/cpanel/users from backup as it's generally corrupted. From time to time, we can repair it thought...but that's not too easy. So, for stable multi-domain hosting, you do not want to get involved with cPanel at all.
Posted by mripguru, 09-06-2006, 10:39 PM
cPanel's addon domains are a perfect example of "untrue" multiple domain hosting. (Note: I never said "untrue" anywhere in my original comment).
Posted by Swelly, 09-06-2006, 10:42 PM
Does H-Sphere allow the multi account holder to host under one account? If so, thats great. Is there a place to demo the H-Sphere platform? I would be intrested in implementing that for HostFrog.
Posted by mripguru, 09-06-2006, 10:55 PM
Yes - H-Sphere can host multiple domains under 1 end-user account. You can take a look at the online demo at www.psoft.net.
Posted by cartika-andrew, 09-06-2006, 11:00 PM
Jedito, I wasnt being rude - this isnt my definition - please test out a true multiple domain solution for yourself before commenting further If you are going to accuse someone of being rude - then may I suggest you act in a manner which is consistent with the perception you are trying to portray.
Posted by Jedito, 09-06-2006, 11:34 PM
Still can't tell me the difference. If you say that something is true, then the opposed is "untrue", right?. If something is not true, then is "untrue"
Posted by anon-e-mouse, 09-07-2006, 01:49 AM
Unless you used a host with multi-domain hosting (as I have), or offered it yourself, you would probably need it explained in full. I have had multi-domain hosting and now I have a reseller account with add on domains. On MD I had a separate login for all my domains, with AO, I use the same login.
Posted by Aussie Bob, 09-07-2006, 02:18 AM
I was wondering that myself. We all have a slightly different definition of what constitutes multiple domain hosting. There is no one definition for all. WHM/Cpanel works well, and so does h-sphere. I think the great thing about the way WHM/Cpanel does multiple domain accounts, is that Fred (not a reseller) can setup an account for his mate Dave, and Dave gets a control panel with that account. Fred can control aspects of Dave's account, and Dave can control aspects from his own control panel. Take this from someone who has setup thousands of such multiple domain accounts, and hosted tens of thousands of domains. WHM/Cpanel does a great job of multiple domain hosting, and I'm sure other control panels do too. It's all good, and it's all about finding what works for you, and finding your own place in the sun. It's all good.
Posted by Aussie Bob, 09-07-2006, 02:22 AM
Oh I agree. Cpanel's addon domains are yuk. Nothing worse than someone wanting us to convert their 16 addon domains into a real multiple domain account. That's just yuk, yuk, yuk. Bob's word of the day is "yuk"
Posted by nax9, 09-07-2006, 02:29 AM
Bob, wouldn't your explanation of MD be the exact same thing as using WHM, but without giving Fred most of the features handed to a reseller via WHM?
Posted by Jedito, 09-07-2006, 04:11 AM
I don't quite agree with that What you define as MD to me is more like a reseller account (even if you don't resell)
Posted by cartika-andrew, 09-07-2006, 06:30 AM
wow - Jedito - a single login does not refer to something like WHM - this scenario from Bob below would be closer to a reseller account - except presumably with "free" accounts - So, essentially here, you need 2 pieces of software to accomodate a workable solution for multiple domain hosting - but, really, its a modified reseller account. Lets try this from another angle - customer A manages 20 domains and 30 subdomains. They log into 1 FTP account and the first thing they see when they log in is 50 top level folders - each named as a domain.com or subdomain.com - every file within those folders are web files for the respective domains. customer A then logs into his 1 end user control panel and can edit everything associated with any one of those domains/sub domains - stats, logs, ftp accounts, emails, etc - simply every aspect of every domain is managed from a central location with a single login - this is multiple domain hosting - rather then a modified reseller account to accomodate multiple domain hosting. Now - if customer A wanted to start giving his/her friends access to their own control panel, etc - well - that moves into the realm of reseller hosting doesnt it (or multiple accounts vs multiple domains)? as they are creating "accounts" for 3rd parties - whether or not they actually sell is irrelavent... So, lets say customer A manages 10 of their own domains and 2 of their friends need their own control panel for their domains. Well - this would be a reseller account - and if you want to call this "true" multiple domain hosting, that is fine - however, if they wanted to manage every aspect of these domains and did not want to use "add-on" domains - then, by your definition of "true" multiple domain solutions - they would need 12 accounts and 12 logins - with a "true" multiple domain solution - they would create 1 account for all 10 of their domains and then 1 account each for their "friends"/"clients" etc... (so, 3 accounts/logins vs 12) So, I think to be absolutely accurate - cpanel's "multiple domain" solution is really a multiple account solution - and really, a multiple account solution is a reseller account. Market it however you like - but, a multiple account solution is not a multiple domain solution Last edited by cartika-andrew; 09-07-2006 at 06:40 AM.