Do I even need a control panel?

[URDead2]

Not being able to find a control panel I was happy with has so far been a blessing because I can now manually setup a server in a few minutes.

With most server commands available through rcon, now I'm wondering if I even need a control panel.

So...for those of you using control panels, what's the real advantage?

I know if you have a thousand clients they might be a necessity, but what about for the rest of us?

[trewq]

(12-29-2009, 03:58 PM)URDead2 Wrote:  Not being able to find a control panel I was happy with has so far been a blessing because I can now manually setup a server in a few minutes.

With most server commands available through rcon, now I'm wondering if I even need a control panel.

So...for those of you using control panels, what's the real advantage?

I know if you have a thousand clients they might be a necessity, but what about for the rest of us?

Clients like to be able to control the servers for themselves not have to ask someone else to do it for them.

[URDead2]

(12-29-2009, 04:17 PM)Goilio Wrote:  Clients like to be able to control the servers for themselves not have to ask someone else to do it for them.

Can't they do that through rcon and HLSW with ftp access?

[loopyman]

They could, but it just doesn't provide the pretty gui they are used too.

[URDead2]

(12-29-2009, 06:13 PM)loopyman Wrote:  They could, but it just doesn't provide the pretty gui they are used too.

ah, ok

[loopyman]

People like flashy buttons and gui... Its hard to sell game servers to complete noobs who expect "CLICK HERE FOR MODS" "CLICK HERE FOR START". And professionals will just host game servers themselves or just don't rent from companies.

Bottom line, provide some kind of gui if you expect to get sales, else you're in a very small market.

[Beaverbeliever]

Customers expect panels, so plan on getting one in the near future. They want to be able to restart and stop their server when they want to, and don't want to have to go to you with everything (which I'm sure you don't want that either). Panels make simplicity for everyone

[URDead2]

OK, thanks for the tips.

Now, back to the control panel search...

[killklli]

a free one is ugcc from the brainless people

[trewq]

I like to use SwiftPanel.

[killklli]

yea see i tried that but then it started being stupid

[Beaverbeliever]

I use and love SwiftPanel.

[Derek]

(12-30-2009, 02:46 PM)Beaverbeliever Wrote:  I use and love SwiftPanel.

Sure, if you want a panel that isn't updated and the developer has been MIA for 4 months.

cough secruity

[ilinx]

Couldnt agree more. SwiftPanel is full of security holes, using it is like using a 4 year old as a bodyguard, i've seen a few hosting companies go down now because of 'SwiftPanel Security'.

If you want a secure panel either buy a real panel, make your own or dont use one at all. If you stick with using shell access (im assuming your connecting to a linux server using a client like putty), you should deny connections to all ip addresses except your own ip range in iptables or a similar firewall, just to keep out bruteforce and other possible exploits.

[hankinator]

Out of curiosity, what would you have to prevent? because my friend and I are designing a linux + windows game server panel. What would we have to protect against?