Which Control Panel is Better, DirectAdmin or Cpanel?
DirectAdmin
Control Panel
- DirectAdmin's interface seems to be a bit easier with regards to the number of ports and access levels.
- All interfaces (both SSL and non-SSL) served via port 2222 by default.
- 3 access levels: admin, reseller, user (there is also an optional 4th email-only access level plugin)
- You can switch between all user levels in the same interface if logged in as admin, and can log in as any user.
- Ability to create multiple top-level 'admin' users if desired
- You can switch between all user levels in the same interface if logged in as admin, and can log in as any user.
- DirectAdmin's management interface may seems simpler to use to someone that prefers to manage all accounts and/or domains themselves, though it is still simple enough to manage multiple access levels as well. The ability to create multiple users with 'admin' access levels also allows one to share the overall server and reseller/user management responsibilities with other admin users while preserving absolute root control.
Cpanel
Control Panel
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cPanel/WHM is structured with two different interfaces operating on different ports, each serving different users with different privileges.
WHM - Port 2086 (non-SSL) and port 2087 (SSL)
- Serves resellers and the root user
- Used for reseller and user account management & the configuration of services such as MySQL, PHP, and Apache.
- permits only one single user above the reseller level, which is the root user
- Cpanel
- Port 2082 (non-SSL) and port 2086 (SSL)
- Serves cPanel users created by either root or the resellers
- Used primarily for domain/subdomain/addon domain and email management
- cPanel lacks the option to manage everything in one interface, though they do permit root login to cPanel via the "List Accounts" interface (as long as this is permitted in Tweak Settings, which root controls). The highest level that one can have with WHM without using the root login is the reseller level. There is no option to create other 'admin' users to help you manage resellers, and if reseller management is necessary, one must use the root login in order to accomplish this.
