I'm currently running Ensim on a Linux box and I'm going to switch to a Windows box later this month. I'm looking at Helm, but I honestly don't feel like installing MySql, a mail server, PHP and other software that may be included with Ensim. I just want a server that already has all the necessary programs on it and don't have to install and configure everything to work with the admin software. Any thoughts or suggestions on what software will me good for me? Thanks for your suggestions.

Helm does not install PHP, MYSQL, CGI etc by default you have to install and configure them manually and then you can manage them through Helm.

Helm is good we are using it from last one year.

A better question might be why switch to Windoze? :confused:

I think I've already replied in a similar thread, so here goes my answer again

if you really have to switch to Windows, choose Ensim so you can use what you've learned on Ensim Linux and so do your users

less impact on the learning curve

regards

I would rather hang myself than run Ensim on Windows.

Ensim is garbage, whether that be on Linux or Windows. I've used it on RedHat Linux and it was a painful experience, mainly because upgrading to newer versions of Ensim was problamatic and could lead to needing the box reformatted due to problems with Ensim and other packages, it also limits you to programs it chooses you should use. I've tried Ensim on Windows and found it completely useless and very limiting. Their licensing model is also to be desired.

Go with HELM and you will find its 100x times better.

Yes you will need to configure PHP, a Firewall, FTP, IIS, POP and SMTP but it's a lot better than getting something preconfigured from Ensim. If you visit http://www.webhostautomation.com and go to their support section there is a whole set of knowledgebase articles which give you step by step instructions on how to install much of the software you need.

You can visit the webhostauto forums and there are also faqs on how to configure and install PHP and a firewall.

Finally for email you have multiple options, I'd recommend using SmarterMail for your pop/smtp/imap/webmail needs.

Ensim used to limit the kind of programs you could use or upgrade, it's a different story on version 4, every operating system software is totally independent from Ensim

I've not used it on Windows though and the license scaling sucks, but for non-experienced users, I just think that for someone coming from Ensim is easier to keep on the Ensim path

regards

I would completely disregard using Windows for servers. If you're in the business of running webhosting I think you should take the time to learn Linux. It is really not that difficult and the Windows based P's are all severely crippled and/or lacking behind their Linux counterparts both in terms of version, reliability, security, performance and cost.

Which CP you would choose I think depend on you and what you want to do with it.

If you are running your own sites only, or only expect to give users FTP access Plesk looks nice. It has a somewhat easier learning curve for administrators and users alike. This is also the solution that will give you best performance = most sites on a server for any given server load.

If you expect to give your users shell access there are no alternative to Ensim, using High Security mode for sites. It is not without a cost though and you should not expect to be able to host anywhere near the same number of sites in this environment as in Plesk (or Ensim Low Security).

Cpanel - has a large following mainly for historic reasons - they were among the first around and way older than Plesk or Ensim. It always reminds me of a big house that started out as a small house and had a large number of annexes bolted onto it.

Helm thankfully doesn't exist for Linux but I find it quite similar to Plesk in many ways.

My opinion - feel free to disagree

I would probably say the same thing about Linux. After using Linux for the past 4 years I found it reliable but a pain to administer and keep patched, as well as the numerous kernel, and sendmail root expoits; whereas with MS Windows we know we get a reliable product, patches are provided from a trusted source and interoperability between products is almost guaranteed.

We don't do webhosting so using a control panel is not needed, but Helm definately gets the job done and does it very well if you are interested in offering Webhosting.

Out of all the control panels I probably would suggest using CPanel for Linux if you wish to use Linux.

Preferably the faster we can get away from Linux the better.

In that case ... let's just agree to disagree. :shrug:

;-) "Good things come to those who wait"

There will always be huge dissagreements about Windows vs. Linux. People use what they feel comfortable with and both have their pros and cons.

Actually, I'd rather beat on my balls with a hammer.

sendmail...big scary Thing in terms of security. Allowed Mitnik to become famous. Avoid like the plague unless you started computing in the 70's or 80's.

I'd go with Helm if you're running Windows. It's been really good to us and the support is excellent (although their knowledge base really blows).

Some of the comments here really made me laugh out loud. Funny stuff. But to the chap still calling Windows Windoze, puleeze. Times have changed son.

There's a decent article in this month's Hosting Standard on Linux/Windows debate.

Mitnick is better known for his Social Hacking/Engineering techinques

Sendmail is program who receives instructions from another program, which is its cf file

Sendmail has overcome its major bugs and it's been more than a year (8.12.10/8.12.10 2003/09/24 Release: 2003/09/17) since the last critical update, so you'd better watch your words when defending Microsoft's monopoly

I started living on the 80's (1980 actually) but I prefer sendmail because of its flexibility, no matter what your criteria is, Microsoft solutions are not going to scale as good as FOSS tools (like sendmail for instance) for obvious reasons related to development speed, efficiency and bug reporting

regards

No offence but I was punching things (cards and keyboards) before you were born son. Please don't split hairs just to show us how smart you are re: Mitnik. It's old dusty news that he exploited the hell out of sendmail vulerabilities