StartLogic Hosting Plan

Most StartLogic users are not aware that the hosting company offer bunch of handy web tools and scripting references. In case you are one of them, check out “CGI and Scripted Language Support” when you logged into StartLogic control panel (vDeck).

Click-Through Tracker

One of my favorite tools on the list is Click-Through Tracker. Using Click-Through Tracker, you get to check how traffic flows through your site.

To start tracking your site click-thru, you’ll need to first create a tracking URL. In the Add a URL section:

1. Enter the URL you want to track.
2. Enter the name of the link.
3. Click Add URL.
4. Copy and Paste the tracking code in your web page to track the click throughs.

Sample of the tracking code.

Reporting on Click-Through Tracker

In the URLs Being Tracked section:

• Count – Number of clicks to the URL
• Reset – Click on the Reset link if you want to reset the count of the tracking URL
• Remove – Click on the Remove link to delete the tracking URL to remove the tracking code from your web page

As mentioned in my previous post, Startlogic is one of the very few web hosting that offers vDeck as their hosting control panel.

Users who are unfamiliar with vDeck are advised to take the startlogic product tour or visit the startlogic vdeck demo login first. For your instant guides, here is how vDeck (in StartLogic) front page looks like this:

Specifications for StartLogic vDeck.

• Platform Type: Debian
• MySQL Version: 5.0.45
• Perl Version: 5.8.8
• PHP Version: 4.4.7
• Path to SendMail: /usr/sbin/sendmail
• Path to Perl: /usr/bin/perl
• Path to PHP: /usr/local/bin/php

Not sure if StartLogic will be upgrading on its vDeck version or not but good news is that vDeck is cooking something new in their R&D department. A sneak preview on what you can do with the new vDeck 3.0:

Web site Management

• iPage site-creation tool
• SiteDelux site-creation tool
• WebSite Creator, powered by CM4all
• FileManager
• FTP Manager
• FrontPage Extensions
• CGI Support
• Enhanced Script Library
• MySQL Management
• Site Backups and Restore
• Gallery 2
• phpBB
• WordPress
• Gbook

E-mail Management

• Manage autoresponders
• More powerful spam and virus protection
• Direct WebMail Access
• iContact e-newsletters
• Constant Contact e-newsletters

Domain Management

• DomainCentral
• Manage subdomains
• Private nameservers

E-commerce Services

• osCommerce
• ShopSite NEW!

Marketing Services

• Search engine optimization services
• Search engine submission services
• Free search engine coupons ($30 or more)
• Pay-per-click advertising NEW!
• E-mail newsletter creation and distribution services
• Logo design services NEW!

Account Management Services

• Online Billing Console
• Online Support Ticketing Syste
• Customizable control panel design layouts

Reseller Account Management Services

• Historical billing records and cost breakdowns for each account.
• Detailed monthly invoices and printable receipts.
• An option for grouped billing and consolidated invoices.
• The ability to brand your client control panel with your logo, colors and fonts.

To learn more, check out vDeck official website.

Nowadays most hosting are dominate by cPanel control interface.

Without doubt cPanel is one of the best control panel we can ever get online but hosting control panel software is not a one-size-fit-all thing. I am sure there are plenty users that are unhappy with cPanel and wish for something different.

Well, if you’re one of those who crave for a different hosting control panel, vDeck/StartLogic is your answer.

Frankly I respect StartLogic’s apprach in being different from the majority and to go with vDeck. IMHO, both vDeck and cPanel are more or less the same and they should be given even attention since both are serving the same industry.

About vDeck?

vDeck is the GUI for hosting server control panel. The system is mainly used for web hosting server management but it can be used as marketing tools and site building tools. For your quick reference, here’re the message I quoted from vDeck official website.

More than just a control panel, vDeck is the next generation in Web site management. With vDeck, creating, managing and promoting your Web site is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Build Your Site

vDeck is deeply integrated with several easy-to-use site creation tools—choose from hundreds of professional design templates to create your site without any HTML experience.

Available features include:

• Choice of three site-creation tools
• Hundreds of professional design templates
• Design editor
• Content manager
• Graphics editor
• Pre-installed CGI scripts
• Integrated e-commerce solutions

2. Manage Your Site

vDeck makes it easy to manage your Web site, e-mail and domain name from one central location. Take advantage of these vDeck 3.0 features:

• Billing & account management
• Comprehensive FileManager
• MailCentral for easy e-mail management
• Microsoft Exchange Hosting
• DomainCentral for easy domain management
• Install wizards for popular open source applications (such as WordPress)
• Web site statistics programs

3. Promote Your Site

vDeck 3.0 offers access to several marketing services to help you promote your site. Available services include:

• Search engine optimization services
• Search engine submission services
• Free search engine coupons ($30 or more)
• Pay-per-click advertising services
• E-mail newsletter creation and distribution services
• Logo design services

As you might be already aware, StartLogic hosting is using vDeck as its control panel. Thus most hosting operation will be slightly different than the usual cPanel control panel. To be honest I am new to vDeck as well but I find it’s easy to use so far.

Adding a new e-mail address using vDeck

Take example of adding a new email using vDeck, here’s how you can do it in a few simple steps. First get to mail central from the login front page.

Mail central is where you can control all your email inbox configurations. Do note that there’s a catch-all email in default. To create a new email address, click on the ‘Create Mailbox’ button.

On the pop up page, keyin your desired email address as well as its quota limitation, move on when it’s done.

You’ll be directed back to the Mail Central once your mail box is created. If everything goes right, you should see your new mail box listed on the page. Whenever you feel like editing the mailbox setting or adding/deleting the mail box at your hosting, you can always come back here and click on the ‘edit’ link. It’s simple.

Well then, you have a new email address on your hosting now.