Windows VPS Questions

[the-ferret]

Sorry, I have a long list of questions before I commit to VPS .. having learnt a lot from having an EUK reseller account, I think I need to go to VPS before I start marketing but am looking for confirmation that a Windows VPS will give me all of the following:

1. Integrate with WHCMS (plesk 8.x)
2. Cpanel access for domains hosted
3. Allow me to customise CPanel to remove some options e.g. File Manager
4. Multiple MySQL databases (I assume MYSQL runs on the VPS server so is accessed as localhost?)
5. PHP5 with GDLibrary, Curl installed
6. Access to amend php.ini (e.g. for Ioncube loader or to parse .html files)
7. Ability to create MYSQL database in PHP script (am told this can not be done on reseller shared host plan)
8. Daily backup and ability to request restore on demand
9. MYSQL backup via cron
10. Multiple cron jobs per domain
11. multiple pop email accounts per domain

Addiitonally, is it possible to have more than 1 domain skeleton (ie set up multiple WHM accounts on a single VPS)?

Finally, I know it is managed but who is responsible for server hardening .. would that be me as the VPS customer e.g. setting up IIS Lockdown or URL Scanner, installing Windows updates etc.

thanks
Graham

[eUKhost.com]

Hi Graham,

I have answered all your questions as following :-

2. Integrate with WHCMS (plesk 8.x)
   Ans :- WHMCS has no problem with plesk integration. All you need to do is add plesk admin login information in WHMCS while adding a new server.
   
   
3. Cpanel access for domains hosted.
   Ans :- cPanel works on Linux only. You will need to continue your existing reseller plan if you wish to provide cpanel as well to your customers. You can provide with separate plesk control panel access to all your customers which you will host on your windows plesk vps.
   
   
4. Allow me to customise CPanel to remove some options e.g. File Manager
   Ans :- This can be done through your WHM incase of cpanel server. You will get similar feature in plesk as well.
   
   
5. Multiple MySQL databases (I assume MYSQL runs on the VPS server so is accessed as localhost?)
   Ans :- Yes. You can add n number of MySQL databases on your VPS.
   
   
6. PHP5 with GDLibrary, Curl installed
   Ans :- Yes. You can request our support team to get this done if these 2 modules don't come pre-installed with the VPS.
   
   
7. Access to amend php.ini (e.g. for Ioncube loader or to parse .html files)
   Ans :- Yes. You will get full access to your PHP.INI on your VPS.
   
   
8. Ability to create MYSQL database in PHP script (am told this can not be done on reseller shared host plan)
   Ans :- This is possible on VPS or Dedicated Server only.
   
   
9. Daily backup and ability to request restore on demand
   Ans :- We maintain daily backup of MySQL databases only. You will get weekly backup of your full VPS which is executed on Saturday Night. You can order one of our Backup plans from Offsite Backup Service | Backup Solutions | Remote Data Backups if you need daily backup of your full VPS.
   
   
10. MYSQL backup via cron
    Ans :- Yes. We take daily MySQL backups using our scripts which run through cronjobs or scheduled tasks.
    
    
11. Multiple cron jobs per domain
    Ans :- Yes. You can setup n number of cronjobs for a domain.
    
    
12. multiple pop email accounts per domain
    Ans :- Yes. You can setup n number of SMTP or POP email accounts for all domains.

Q.Addiitonally, is it possible to have more than 1 domain skeleton (ie set up multiple WHM accounts on a single VPS)?
Ans :- Multiple WHM accounts can be setup on a Linux VPS only. There's no such concept in Plesk control panel.

Q.Finally, I know it is managed but who is responsible for server hardening .. would that be me as the VPS customer e.g. setting up IIS Lockdown or URL Scanner, installing Windows updates etc.
Ans :- We will take care of hardening your VPS if you contact us and ask us what you expect from us.

[Scott]

Hello Graham,

Integrate with WHCMS (plesk 8.x)
>> You can integrate WHMCS with plesk panel, for automatic account creation.

Cpanel access for domains hosted
>> We can not install cPanel on windows vps. You can access plesk panel for every domain hosted on windows vps.

Allow me to customize CPanel to remove some options e.g. File Manager
>> You can create domain templates in plesk control panel to achieve this.

Multiple MySQL databases (I assume MySQL runs on the VPS server so is accessed as localhost?)
>> MySQL can be accessed using localhost or using ip address. You can create unlimited MySQL/MSSQL database for domains. No problem with it.

PHP5 with GDLibrary, Curl installed
>> Plesk control panel provides php4 as well as php 5 with all necessary modules, on windows vps.

Access to amend php.ini (e.g. for Ioncube loader or to parse .html files)
>> You will have full Administrator RDP access to modify any configuration file.

Ability to create MYSQL database in PHP script (am told this can not be done on reseller shared host plan)
>> Yep. It is possible on vps.

Daily backup and ability to request restore on demand
>> We can setup scheduled task from plesk to create backup of all hosting accounts.

MYSQL backup via cron
>> It is possible to take mysql database backups seperatly using scheduled task.

Multiple cron jobs per domain.
>> You can add multiple scheduled tasks for each domain.

multiple pop email accounts per domain.
>> You can create unlimited pop3 email accounts from plesk panel.

multiple WHM accounts on a single VPS.
>> You can create reseller accounts from plesk control panel.

who is responsible for server hardening.
>> We will take care of firewall installation and configuration part. Please note that you can not install windows updates or service pack inside the windows vps as it is not allowed by Virtuozzo virtualization system. We always installs necessary windows updates on main node which updates all vps automatically.

I hope this answers your questions and concerns. Please feel free to contact VPS department if you have any more questions. You are most welcome !

[the-ferret]

Thanks Guys, I will sign up just as soon as I finish writing the PHP scripts!
Graham