VPS Hosting

[just_starting]

Hi,

I am planning to host my website hosting on VPS Hosting package. Needed to know if you could help me setup dynamic subdomains on my VPS Hosting server. Basically, I want to setup dynamic subdomains on the fly without modifying any A records or restarting server any time someone creates a new subdomain. There also needs to be a catch-all for any non-existing subdomain. If you need more details, then please read on.

My requirement is as follows:-

1) Users will register their sub-domain names from frontend
2) imm. after registration; username.mydomain.com should take the surfers to that users page. Also, user should be able to create sub-directories which should map correctly.
like: username.mydomain.com/blogs; username.mydomain.com/forums; username.mydomain.com/parispics etc.
Each registered user needs to have their own login area where they can fully maintain their website hosting.

That's after some user registers a particular subdomain. Now say; if subdomain has not been registered; typing subdomain.mydomain.com should redirect to registration page.

Here is summary of what I want:
-> When surfer types in subdomain.mydomain.com; Apache should display the correct webpage from (say) /var/www/subdomain else redirect it to registeration page (say /var/www/register.php) if apache detects that subdomain directory does not exists.

Could you help me how to configure apache to do this? Or if this is possible.
Once I have this solution; I'll prepare my scripts and be ready to host.

As I am zero skillset in Apache; it would be great if you could be as specific as possible

So, in essence, Apache needs to capture all subdomains requests.

Warm Regards,
Arun

[eUKhost.com]

Hello Arun,

As of now this things can be easily done using cPanel and if you use some billing software like modernbill, whoiscart, whmautopilot, perlbill or lpanel then you can configure automation as you want.

Making your own script which would do all this will be quite difficult as you will need to put remote access key of WHM in your script to setup subdomains from your script. We have designed custom script which will autoinstall subdomains on the VPS Hosting but there would be one time cost for that script will will be close to £300.

Let me know how you have planned to run this service so that we can give you proper guidelines. If you are considering only VPS Hosting service then it wont be possible for us to help with customization of your script.

[just_starting]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your response.
I would not be billing anyone who registers, so perhaps won't be needing the billing software. But, if it helps me achieve the above functionality, I am willing to give it a try. Is such billing software included in plan or separate?

I am not too particular about VPS Hosting, my main requirement is as follows; I will go with whatever plan you suggest as long as it is within my budget (which is about the cost of your basic VPS Hosting package + cPanel).

My basic requirement is:
One) allow users to register at the homepage. Then give them URL such as username.mydomain.com. Within his subdomain, user can create username.mydomain.com/blog; username.mydomain.com/familyalbum etc. Within subdomain; user will have full control, except may be to run scripts to prevent server misuse. User will have a provate URL as well to maintain his website hosting.

Two) A catch-all subdomain so that if someone browses to xxxx.mydomain.com and xxxx is not registered by any user; then it is redirected to www. mydomain.com

Three) All registered subusers details to be maintained in Mysql database

Four) If possible, impose individual quota on each registered user (not really critical).

Your suggestions for appropriate configuration are welcome.

Regards,
Arun

[just_starting]

Hi Mark,

Any answers to my above query yet?

Regards,
Arun

[eUKhost.com]

Hello Arun,

We dont have any such script which will help you with the functionality you are looking for. You will need to consider a VPS Hosting to get started with this project and you will need to design your custom scripts to implement this functionality. Robert had designed similar script in past but now there's no track of it.

Only option I think is to wait for replies over here as some of our customers are really good with programming and development work and they can provide you with some suggestion.

[just_starting]

Hey Mark,

That was fast reply. Impressed.
Do you think it will be better for me to go for Windows VPS Hosting hosting (which you are due to start) or Linux in light of above requirements?
Is cPanel/Fantastico available on Windows VPS Hosting hosting plan?

And last, not least, can I take out Linux VPS Hosting package with you for a month initially to try the things out if they work. Is there any minimum contract with VPS Hosting package?

And yeah, one clarification, I am not looking for any script which does all of the above. Just the one to take care of automatic subdomain creation part will suffice. I will code the rest.

Regards,
Arun

[eUKhost.com]

Hello Arun,

Cpanel and Fantastico work on Linux Servers only. You will need to consider Linux - cPanel VPS Hosting for this requirement. Fantastico is included with the cpanel license so there's no additional cost for Fantastico.

You can try out our cPanel VPS Hosting plan for 1 month as there's no minimum contract period for any of our web hosting plans. We don't bind our customers with any contract as your stay with us should be only if you are happy and not due to any contract.

cPanel or any other control panel wont allow you to bypass its inbuilt authentication to setup subdomains or mail forwarders. You will need to design shell scripts which will add entries in httpd.conf as well as named.conf

If you make some shell scripts which will run following 2 commands then that should sort your 50% requirement.

/scripts/adduser

&

/scripts/adddns subdomain.domain.com

[just_starting]

Hi Mark,

Thanks a ton !!!
As long as I know where all I would need to make the entries; scripts won't be a problem for me. Just last question before I take the plunge.
I hope Apache will not need to be restarted everytime a subdomain is created automatically?

Once again, thanks for your help.

Warm Regards,
Arun

[eUKhost.com]

Add following line at the bottom of script :-

service httpd graceful

or

/etc/init.d/httpd graceful

this will restart apache gracefully to include changes without killing any existing processes.

[just_starting]

Originally Posted by eukhost.com

Add following line at the bottom of script :-

service httpd graceful

or

/etc/init.d/httpd graceful

this will restart apache gracefully to include changes without killing any existing processes.

Thanks Mark, that was great help from you.

[swexpert]

Hi Arun,
How good are you in PHP?

Using PHP you could do the required. Although VPS Hosting is not required but it is recommended. This will work only in Linux. Ask euk if they have HELM in windows, which also you could use.

Users Signup, the username is passed onto CPANEL which adds it as a subdomain (creating FTP user and folder in the process) and the script sends an email to the user with FTP information. They can then use as desired. You won't manually need to restart apache or BIND; Cpanel will do the needful. See cpanel.net for a partial example.

However, I wish to warn personally:
Free website hostings are generally source of trouble because people can upload all kinds of files. This can create server instability, downtime and even embarassment. Imagine your user's website hostings showing pornographic content for no fault of yours.

Still, there is a silver lining around the dark clouds. So all the best

Warm regards,
IJ