Comparison of Web Hosting with Webmin Panel

What is Webmin and what is it used for?

Webmin is a graphical interface that allows an administrator to access a server via a web browser. This package is primarily written in the scripting language Perl and runs as a standalone process on a computer, including its own web server. This means that even in the event of misconfiguration or failure of the normal web server - typically Apache2 or Nginx - Webmin remains accessible. The graphical interface of the web hosting control panel significantly simplifies complex server administration tasks, with Webmin essentially providing a unified interface for accessing various configuration files. In addition to the built-in tools, a large number of plugins are supported, allowing functions to be customised to the system. Webmin features fine-grained permission distribution, enabling precise assignment of access permissions that go beyond what can typically be achieved through terminal commands. This allows users to make changes that would normally require root administrator privileges, without granting full system access.

How has Webmin evolved?

Webmin has a long history of development, starting back in 1997 with version 0.1. The idea behind its creation was to provide a unified and clear interface for configuring various aspects of a server. Initially, the selection only included a few key services such as file transfer via SAMBA and NFS, time-based processes via CRON, or access to automatically starting services. The concept of multi-user access, with rights restricted to specific modules, was established very early on. By the time the first stable version 1.000 was released five years later, numerous bugs had been fixed and Webmin had been continuously adapted to meet the increasing security requirements of the internet. Additionally, many additional modules were created by the community, greatly expanding its functionality. Unlike many other server administration interfaces like Plesk or DirectAdmin, Webmin is not proprietary but is distributed under the open-source BSD license. This broad community support allows for unofficial extensions and provides flexibility for customisation and the development of proprietary plugins with the appropriate programming knowledge.

What costs are associated with using Webmin?

Essentially, the software package is available for free and can be distributed, copied, and modified freely. Costs mainly arise from the fact that a separate Virtual Private Server or Dedicated Server is required for installing Webmin. However, there are also various offers for affordable web hosting where the user is provided with a Webmin interface to make configuration changes within their rights. Since this is not a standard feature, it is necessary to specifically access corresponding products or make requests to the web hosting provider. The fees for installation and management are usually already included in the respective packages. Webmin also includes two other projects named Usermin for user-specific tasks and Virtualmin for advanced web hosting, offering special functions and interfaces.

What are the special advantages and disadvantages of Webmin?

Here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of Webmin:

Advantages:

• Modular system with very flexible customisation
• Easy integration of unofficial and custom plugins
• Open Source allows for modifications to the program routines
• Active community with free support for many issues
• Very stable and secure due to long development
• Intuitive, clear, graphical interface for comfortable operation
• Integrated editor and drag-and-drop file transfer
• Multi-user with precise rights allocation
• Access to entire subnets, clusters, or multiple machines in parallel
• Support for different databases, web servers, and file sharing

Disadvantages:

• Focus on server administration
• Low prevalence in web hosting
• Unofficial plugins are sometimes not regularly maintained
• Customisation is advisable during initial installation
• Limited functionality for Windows Server
• Installation requires root access

Under what conditions can Webmin be installed?

Unlike other solutions, Webmin can be easily installed at any time and poses no particular risk even during routine operations in productive systems. It fully relies on official repositories and does not require any adjustment to running software or interfere with running systems. The main requirement for its use is the need for root access to have complete control over the system. When resorting to web hosting packages, these issues are completely unnecessary. However, in these cases, a subsequent installation is nearly impossible if Webmin is not already being used as the administration interface. The resource consumption is relatively low, making it possible to install on small and relatively weak systems without any issues. Since Webmin is an interface for the operating system, it is even possible to install it in parallel with other web hosting tools such as Plesk or DirectAdmin. However, special conditions such as changed paths for configuration files must be taken into account.

What other programs besides Webmin are recommended?

Webmin is the most convenient and comprehensive software package for server administration under an Open Source license, surpassing its competitors in terms of functionality. This includes zPanel, which, however, suffers primarily from a significantly smaller community. On the commercial side, there are various solutions such as Plesk and DirectAdmin, both offering similar functionality. A key difference lies in the clear distinction of hierarchy levels, which is possible with Webmin but not integrated into the basic structure. As a result, proprietary providers primarily target professional domain traders and web space providers, while Webmin follows a universal approach with a high degree of flexibility and customisation.

Web hosting with Webmin not the right choice?

Then you can also explore alternatives such as Webmin Dedicated Server or Webmin VPS hosting.