Plesk

What is Plesk

Plesk is a commercial web hosting and server data center automation software. It provides a comprehensive graphical user interface that simplifies the management of websites, server resources, email accounts, and databases. The core purpose of Plesk is to help web professionals, IT administrators, and hosting providers to run, automate, and grow their applications and websites efficiently. Developed by Plesk International GmbH, headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, the platform has a long history and is one of the leading control panels in the industry. It is designed to work on both Windows and Linux operating systems, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of server environments.

Plesk Features

Plesk offers a rich set of features designed to cover all aspects of web and server management.

• Centralized Control Panel: A user-friendly interface to manage all your server and website services from one place. You can control domains, files, databases, and email accounts easily.
• Website & Server Management: Easily add and manage domains, subdomains, and DNS records. It includes a file manager for direct file uploads and edits, and supports databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL.
• WordPress Toolkit: A powerful, specialized toolset for managing WordPress installations. It allows for one-click installation, security hardening, staging environments, and managing themes and plugins across multiple sites.
• Developer Tools: Plesk supports various programming languages and frameworks, including PHP, Node.js, Python, and Ruby. It also integrates with Git for version control and supports Docker for running containerized applications.
• Robust Security: Comes with multiple layers of security, including the Web Application Firewall (ModSecurity), Fail2ban intrusion prevention, and easy integration with SSL/TLS certificates from providers like Let's Encrypt.
• Email Hosting: Provides a complete mail server solution. You can create and manage email accounts, set up spam filters, and configure webmail access for your domains.
• Extensive Extension Catalog: A marketplace with hundreds of extensions to add new functionality. This includes tools for backups, SEO, security scanning, and integration with third-party services.
• Reseller and Customer Management: For hosting companies, Plesk offers tools to create and manage customer accounts, define hosting plans, and manage subscriptions.

Plesk Pricing Plans

Plesk offers several licensing editions tailored to different user needs. The pricing is typically based on the number of domains you need to manage on a single server.

• Plesk Web Admin Edition: This plan is ideal for individuals or small businesses who manage a small number of websites. It provides all the essential tools for basic website and server management.
• Plesk Web Pro Edition: Aimed at web professionals and developers. This edition includes more advanced features, such as the full-featured WordPress Toolkit, subscription management, and tools for managing more complex web projects.
• Plesk Web Host Edition: This is the most comprehensive plan, designed for web hosting providers. It allows for the creation of reseller accounts, management of a large number of customers, and full control over server resources to sell hosting services.

Plesk Free Plan

Plesk is a commercial software and does not offer a permanent free plan. However, you can test the platform using a 14-day free trial. The trial provides full access to all the features of a selected edition, allowing you to evaluate its capabilities on your own server or a cloud virtual machine. Additionally, many web hosting providers include a Plesk license as part of their hosting packages, so customers can use it without a direct licensing fee.

How to use Plesk

Getting started with Plesk is straightforward, especially when it comes pre-installed by your hosting provider.

1. Log In: Access your Plesk control panel using the URL, username, and password provided by your host.
2. Add Your Domain: In the main dashboard, find the 'Add Domain' button. Enter your domain name and configure basic settings like the document root and hosting type.
3. Install an Application: Navigate to the 'Applications' section. Here you can find a one-click installer for popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal. Select an application, and follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your domain.
4. Create an Email Account: Go to the 'Mail' tab. Click 'Create Email Address', enter the desired email prefix (e.g., 'info'), set a password, and your email account is ready.
5. Manage Files: Use the 'File Manager' to upload website files, create directories, or edit code directly in your browser.
6. Secure Your Site: Go to the 'SSL/TLS Certificates' section for your domain and use the Let's Encrypt extension to install a free SSL certificate to enable HTTPS.

Pros and Cons of Plesk

Pros

• Intuitive User Interface: The interface is clean and well-organized, making it easy for beginners to navigate.
• Cross-Platform Support: Plesk is one of the few control panels that runs on both Linux and Windows servers.
• Powerful WordPress Toolkit: Its features for managing WordPress sites are considered best-in-class.
• Strong Security Features: Includes many built-in security tools to protect servers and websites.
• Large Extension Library: The ability to add new features through extensions makes it very flexible.

Cons

• Resource Usage: It can consume more server resources (RAM) compared to more lightweight control panels.
• Licensing Cost: The cost of a license can be a significant factor for users with many domains or servers.
• Complexity: For very simple needs, the number of features can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Plesk integrations

Plesk integrates with a wide variety of third-party applications and services, primarily through its extensive extension catalog. These integrations enhance its functionality and allow for seamless workflows.

• Let's Encrypt & SSL It!: For free and paid SSL/TLS certificate management.
• Cloudflare: To connect websites to the Cloudflare CDN and security network.
• Git: For deploying code directly from repositories on GitHub, Bitbucket, or a local Git server.
• Docker: To run and manage containerized applications on the server.
• Acronis Backup, Dropbox Backup: For automated backup solutions to cloud storage.
• WHMCS & Blesta: For billing and automation for hosting providers.
• Node.js, Python, Ruby: To manage application environments for developers.

Plesk Alternatives

• cPanel & WHM: The most popular competitor in the web hosting industry. It is known for its stability and comprehensive feature set, but it only runs on Linux-based systems.
• DirectAdmin: A lightweight and efficient control panel that is known for its speed and simplicity. It is a cost-effective alternative to Plesk and cPanel.
• CyberPanel: A free and open-source control panel that uses the high-performance OpenLiteSpeed web server. It is a good choice for users who prioritize website speed.
• RunCloud: A modern, cloud-based server management panel that focuses on developer workflows. It is not a traditional control panel but helps manage servers on cloud providers like DigitalOcean and AWS.

Plesk API

Plesk provides a powerful API for developers to automate tasks and integrate Plesk with other systems. It offers two types of APIs:

1. REST API (Recommended): A modern API for managing server resources using HTTP requests.
2. XML-RPC API (Legacy): An older API that is still supported for backward compatibility.

To use the API, you need to generate a secret key. You can do this inside the Plesk panel, typically under the server administrator's profile or by creating a dedicated user for API access. This key is then used for authentication in your API calls.

Here is a simple example using curl to list domains with the REST API:

curl -X GET -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H 'Accept: application/json' -H 'X-API-Key: YOUR_SECRET_KEY' https://your-plesk-server:8443/api/v2/domains

For full documentation, you can visit the official Plesk developer portal.

Plesk Affiliate program

Plesk offers a Partner Program that includes options for affiliates. By joining the program, you can earn commissions by referring new customers to purchase Plesk licenses. The commission rates are competitive, often starting around 20% for each sale made through your unique referral link. To join, you need to visit the 'Partner Program' section on the official Plesk website and fill out an application form. Once approved, you will get access to a partner portal with marketing materials, tracking links, and dashboards to monitor your earnings. Payments are typically made on a regular schedule, for example monthly, once you reach a minimum payout threshold.