Keeping a record of utilization, performance, and possible maintenance issues is complicated. Higher complications occur when you build up your infrastructure, including multiple components like server, database, messaging, authentication, load balancer, etc. When you have 1 or 2 servers, it is probably easy to manage manually, but when dealing with hundreds or thousands, you need a tool. An intelligent tool that can help speed up administrative tasks like installation, patching, configuration, monitoring, etc. Imagine you are a sysadmin and manage 50 servers without a tool. You will be busy all the time! Here are some of the tools you can leverage for an easy and better life. Some are free, so you don’t have to convince your boss about the payment.
Cockpit
Cockpit is an open-source Linux server administration solution. You can do things like starting containers, managing storage, configuring the network, inspecting logs, etc. It is capable of controlling and monitoring multiple servers at the same time. All you need to do is include the systems you want to monitor, and Cockpit will see after them. Some of its features include:
Visualize system performanceManage Docker containerWeb-based shell in a terminal window.Manage user accountsGather system configuration and diagnostic informationModify network settings
With their excellent documentation, you can get it installed and start monitoring your servers quickly.
Ajenti
Ajenti is a popular open-source solution that offers a browser-based server admin panel. You can install packages and run commands, and view necessary server information such as RAM in control, free disk space, etc. If you are looking to manage multiple websites, you may consider using an add-on called Ajenti V. It allows you to manage sites based on PHP, Python, Ruby, and Node.js. Ajenti is a highly modular and extensible framework, remarkably useful for various use cases. Some of its features include:
Clean and well-documented interfacesGUI based on Google’s AngularJSSingle-page AJAX-based frontendResponsive layoutNotifications, modals, and live updatesPluggable Authentication and authorizationFirewall
Webmin
Webmin, as the names indicate – a web-based admin panel for a system administrator to manage Unix servers. It supports more than 100 Unix flavored OS. It acts as a comprehensive interface to the underlying applications on servers, including support for configuring applications like FTP, ssh, mail, Web, databases, and more. Webmin is module-based, making it easy to add new functionality and possible for anybody keen on writing plugins for server management. There are more than 100 modules available to help you get started.
InterWorx
InterWorx contains two modules.
NodeWorx for managing serversSiteWorx for managing websites and domains
It has application-based support, including Apache, PHP, MySQL, Perl, and Djbdns (DNS) and has email-based support, including POP3, IMAP, and SMTP services using Qmail. Some of its features include:
Manage backupsBandwidth usageGet notified when things go wrongCLI, API, and support for pluginsClustering for high-availability
cPanel
cPanel is for Linux, which automates web hosting tasks with its simple GUI, and it helps you manage your servers and websites with ease. It has one of the best web hosting control panels in the industry. This control panel has options to publish a website, create email and calendars, manage files securely, manage domains, launch databases, add or remove DNS, configure FTP, schedule cron jobs, provide log stats, etc. If you don’t prefer cPanel, you may check out these alternative hosting platform control panels for WordPress and others.
Plesk
Plesk is for everyone to manage cloud servers, WordPress, Joomla, etc. It got more than 100 extensions. Why choose Plesk for web hosting?
User-friendly interfaceSupports multi-tenantRobust securitySEO toolkit
Any web professional like IT admins, infrastructure providers, developers, digital agencies, and content managers are Plesk users. Its main competitor is cPanel, which I mentioned above.
DirectAdmin
DirectAdmin is a web hosting control panel with three default access levels – admins, resellers, and users. The different level has different features.
Admins have DNS administration and clustering, IP management, user management, software upgrade, etc.Resellers have account and package management, user communication, and system info features.Users get file and database management, email administration, FTP management, site backup, etc.
Virtualmin
Virtualmin is a powerful and flexible web hosting control panel for Linux and BSD systems. It has a very easy-to-use user interface on Desktop, Mobile, and tablets. Virtualmin is open-source with premium support. With 100,000+ installations, it is one of the widely used virtual web hosting solutions. When you install Virtualmin, you get full features of the web hosting stack like web, email, domain, DNS, analytics, reporting, etc. It also offers a few exclusive features such as 2-factor authentication, LDAP authentication, command-line management, and many other advanced access controls.
Conclusion
Logging into each server and manually checking their operation is very time-consuming for a user. Server management has taken so much of our attention over time. If you are not ready to install and manage control panel software yourself, you may consider leveraging a cloud-based control panel to manage servers and applications.
