Plesk 18 (Obsidian) Review – What is Plesk Control Panel
Plesk 18 (2024) Review and Why You Might Need It
Introduction
UKHost4u now offers the latest version of Plesk with all of our VPS and Dedicated Server products. Why is this important development a huge step forward? Plesk runs on over 400,000 servers worldwide and has integrated solutions with over 3,000 service provider partners. These companies, which provide everything from financial services and e-commerce portals to security solutions, healthcare networks, and web development services, all rely on Plesk to manage their daily infrastructure maintenance, security, and deployment needs.
Plesk 18 comes with enhanced features and improved performance, making it an even more powerful tool for server management. In this article, we’ll explore the features of Plesk 18, its benefits, and why it might be the perfect solution for managing your server environments. From streamlined workflows to robust security measures, discover how Plesk 18 can elevate your server management experience.
What is Plesk?
As a hosting company, your focus is to provide valuable services to your customers. You want to concentrate on your core competencies and leave the intricate technical server management tasks, cost streamlining, running instances, backups, and account management to a dedicated system designed precisely for this purpose. In short, if you are tired of managing infrastructure and security when you want to focus on coding and enhancing your product or service offering, Plesk is the ideal solution.
Simplify Server Management with Plesk
Plesk allows a server administrator to set up new websites, manage accounts and email, and oversee DNS entries and other relevant networking data and specs through a web-based interface. It is a simple, intuitive control panel that any customer can easily use. The latest version of Plesk for Linux/Unix supports multiple platforms, including Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat Linux, and CloudLinux. This compatibility ensures that you have even less to worry about if you have a customized network setup or if you are unsure about compatibility.
Comprehensive Features and Compatibility
Plesk not only simplifies server management but also integrates seamlessly with various third-party applications and services, providing a comprehensive solution for all your hosting needs. Whether you are managing a single server or an entire fleet, Plesk’s user-friendly interface and powerful features make it an indispensable tool for modern web hosting environments.
By leveraging Plesk, you can streamline your server operations, enhance security, and focus on what you do best—delivering exceptional services to your customers. With Plesk’s extensive support for different operating systems and its robust feature set, you can ensure optimal performance and reliability for your hosting infrastructure.
Latest Features in Plesk Obsidian:
- Advanced Monitoring & Grafana Extensions
- Moving Domains Between Subscriptions
- Composer V2.0 – PHP Dependency Manager
- SSH Access No Longer Needed for PHP Composer
- Dependencies – Just Click to Install and Update
- Update Dependencies When Everything Looks Safe
- Get the Correct PHP Version Automatically
- Improved File Manager UX
- Repair Kit: Self-Repair Tool
- Server-Side Restrictions for Plesk Admins
- SSL It!
- SNI for Mail Services
- Personalized HTML Notifications
- Backup Optimizations
- Revised Plesk UI and More Key Improvements
Benefits of Using Plesk:
Secure
Security is paramount for any website. Many well-functioning websites often overlook security concerns, which can lead to significant negative consequences. An estimated 90% of web developers realize specific security concerns or loopholes in their applications only after it is too late. Plesk handles all security protocols and takes necessary measures for you automatically, ensuring your services remain secure.
Build
Plesk’s easy-to-use intuitive interface provides an environment for web professionals to code directly in. This allows developers and designers to focus on their business and develop web apps and sites that scale in the cloud. Plesk simplifies the development process, making it more efficient and less time-consuming.
Manage Your WebOps
In the past, a team of tech specialists was needed to ensure everything worked together throughout the running and deployment of any given web application. This meant having dedicated personnel to handle deployment, running, maintenance, security, patching, and repairing of your app or system to ensure smooth operation.
However, with advancements in automation, these tasks have become more streamlined. You no longer need the same expensive technical resources as before. Plesk offers significant cost savings by offloading WebOps management, taking care of all these tasks and processes directly. This allows you to focus on core business activities while ensuring your web applications run smoothly and securely.
Features in a Nutshell
Here are some of the features in Plesk 18, the latest version offered by UKHost4u:
Intuitive Interface
Plesk 18 boasts a user-friendly interface that requires no installation of multiple components. It ships with a single component that provides access to everyone in your system loop. Simply set access privileges, and you’re set. Whether you are an end-user, developer, or back-end admin, you will have a single, easy-to-use interface accessible across all devices.
- Retina Support: Enhanced visual clarity for retina displays.
- Browser Compatibility: Supports all major browsers.
- Role-Based Access: Provides user access based on roles for better security and management.
Mobility
Plesk 18 is designed with mobility in mind. Its responsive design and mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone allow you to manage your system on the go. With native support for over 26 languages and additional community language support, Plesk is suitable for deployment across diverse geographical locations.
Skins & Customizations
Customizable skins allow you to create and brand the UI to suit your needs. You can integrate Plesk with existing systems within your infrastructure, such as billing systems, internal CRMs, or helpdesk systems. Plesk supports XML RPC API, CLI API, and powerful SDKs, and you can even create your own Plesk extensions.
What Can a Control Panel Offer?
The goal of this release is to make Plesk a better, more reliable, and more secure tool for both web hosts and website owners. It offers improved database management, support for in-place upgrades to major releases of Debian, and other enhancements.
- Multiple PHP Versions: Plesk installer integrates with the most common versions of PHP out-of-the-box, powering millions of web pages worldwide.
- Task Scheduling: Automate specific commands or tasks by configuring their execution time and date, freeing you from low-level work.
- Interface Improvements: A major UI update with a new theme and fully responsive design improves usability and navigation. Features include restricted access for authenticated users, bookmarking, and an auto-login feature for convenience.
- Improved Database Management: Set roles and permissions, check database integrity, move databases between subscriptions, calculate disk space per database, and associate databases with specific websites using the Plesk interface.
Additional Features
- Multi-Language Support: Enhanced support for various languages to cater to a global audience.
- WordPress Toolkits: Improved toolkits for easier WordPress management.
- Backup Optimizations: Enhanced backup capabilities for better data protection.
- Upgraded Extensions: A variety of updated extensions to extend functionality.
- Detailed Web Statistics: Comprehensive analytics to monitor and improve website performance.
Plesk 18 offers an unparalleled level of power and customization, making it a comprehensive solution for WebOps, customization, server management, and network administration. With its robust feature set and ease of use, Plesk is rapidly being adopted by an increasing number of high-tech players.
Conclusion
Overall, we are pleased with the new Obsidian version 18. It looks better, responds faster, and adds many new features that enhance the user experience and functionality.
If you’re on the fence between Plesk and the competition and wondering whether it’s for you, rest assured that Plesk just got better. With its intuitive interface, robust security measures, and extensive customization options, Plesk 18 is a top choice for web hosting management.
For those considering Plesk, our team is happy to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to explore more about UKHost4u or reach out to us directly. Additionally, you can find more detailed comparisons and user reviews on HostingAdvice, a reputable site for hosting solutions.
By choosing Plesk 18, you are opting for a solution trusted by thousands of professionals worldwide. It’s designed to simplify your server management tasks, allowing you to focus on growing your business. Don’t hesitate to contact our support team for more personalized guidance and to see how Plesk can benefit your specific needs.
About Paul Hughes
With over 20 years experience in the web hosting industry I have a passion for technology and security solutions.
