The Need For Three Control Panels
Inphase, when it first started business, needed three control panels:
- One to control it's servers (which in trun provides all clients with the services they need to host their websites)
- One to give to you so you could control your own hosting account, seperate from all other clients
- One to manage our ordering and billing processes
To achieve the first two requirements, we went with WHM (Web Host Manager) that provided cPanel (a control panel for client accounts). The two panels, manufactured by the same company, work hand-in-hand. We still needed a panel to control or ordering and billing process.
Two Client Control Panels
Inphase designed its own ordering and billing program that allowed us to send Invoices and collect payments manually. It didn't give the client any type of control. This setup was supported until we planned to automate our billing process. And when we did automate, we decided to go with the most popular and best supported system (WHMCS which stands for Web Hosting Management Complete Solution).
The cPanel and WHMCS setup gave you two control panels to manage your accounts: one for hosting (cPanel) and one for billing (WHMCS).
Around 2016, WHMCS and cPanel linked together. Now you can reach cPanel from WHMCS or reach WHMCS from cPanel, omitting the need for two panels.
When to use cPanel and when to use WHMCS
Now that cPanel and WHMCS are linked together, you do not need two control panels. So, when you create an account with Inphase, you will create it using WHMCS since it gives you control over ordering, billing, and personal profile page which was lacking with the other panels.
Over 95% of Inphase clients use only the WHMCS panel to control their billing. They have some type of Management services with Inphase, allowing Inphase to control and manage the hosting for them. This frees up the client's time allowing him/her to run his/her business and having Inphase manage the technical aspects of the account. Because of the 95/5 percent ratio, we never mention two control panels unless the client wants to manage her or his own hosting account. If that's the case, the client needs two control panels, or even more, if he or she uses an app that requires its own control panel (as some CMS software, photo albums, etc.).
We still leave the cPanel in tact for you. You will want to use it in conjuction with your billing, if you plan to manage and develop your own site.
