User Guide - Plesk Reseller VPS Plans

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Applicable Plans: Plesk Gold VPS, Plesk Platinum VPS Plans

eApps Hosting provides two types of VPS hosting plans:
  • General Purpose VPS plans - these plans are designed for Java, PHP, and Ruby on Rails sites and applications using a comprehensive set of eApps provided applications. They allow the creation of multiple sites/domains but do not support resource management and administration at the site/domain level.
  • Plesk VPS plans - these plans are designed for advanced management of the overall VPS down to the site/domain level. Resources can be allocated and managed at the site/domain level and second level administrative access can be set up for the individual site/domain. This user guide is applicable only to the Plesk Gold and Plesk Platinum VPS plans.
Please make sure that you have purchased the correct type of VPS plan. If you are not sure, check out the detailed explanations of each type of plan under the Managed Hosting menu on the http://www.eapps.com web site and the Plesk control panel vendor's web site at http://www.parallels.com/plesk.

Contents

Control Panels:
Adding Domains to your VPS
Configuring Domains to use Postini SPAM/Virus Filter Service
Using Applications
Upgrading:

Overview of Plesk VPS Plans

Parallels Plesk is a comprehensive control panel solution offered by many hosting providers throughout the world. The control panel is designed to simplify the management and administration of web sites. It is generally used by developers and technology services providers that want to retain the hosting services relationship with their customers.
 
This user guide is to help you accomplish some basic administrative task for your eApps Plesk VPS service. It is not a replacement for the Plesk User Guide provided by the vendor of Plesk. For advanced administration guides please refer to the Official Parallels Plesk Administrative And User Guides at http://www.parallels.com/en/products/plesk/docs/.

PBA Control Panel

Purpose: The Parallels Business Automation (PBA) Control Panel provides access to billing and account information for your eApps service. It also provides several key technical functions for the administration of your service as explained in this User Guide.
 
How to Access: The email address that you specified for your Account when you purchased the service is the login ID. Go to http://cp.eapps.com/cp. There is a "forgot password" feature if you do not know your password. Upon request by the owner of the account we can add additional login users to the PBA Control Panel. Please note that PBA Control Panel access is extremely powerful, allowing for full control of any and all VPS subscriptions in the Account.
 
What you can do with PBA Control Panel: Three primary functions are available as follows:
  • My Account tab - Manage account information, pay bills, change payment methods, view billing history, see information about all services purchased under the account, buy additional VPS subscriptions.
  • Upgrade Center tab - Upgrade/downgrade your plan, purchase IP addresses and other resources, upgrade your Plesk license to obtain more domains.
  • System tab - Manage eApps provided applications, purchase domains, see resource usage for the VPS.
  • Help - Submit tickets to eApps Support and view ticket history.

Plesk Control Panel

Purpose: The Plesk Control Panel is a very powerful administrative interface. It is the reason you bought a Plesk VPS plan instead of one of our general purpose VPS plans. It supports numerous features for the overall administration of your VPS environment and also allows for the establishment of user logins at the site/domain level. This latter capability allows for the site "owner" to perform some administrative tasks without the involvement of the administrator of the overall Plesk VPS.
 
How to Access: To access the Plesk Control Panel you must first obtain the default administrative login information from your PBA Control Panel. Login to your PBA Control Panel, click System tab, look for the Applications area and click the Plesk icon. Your Plesk Control Panel URL and the default administrative login information will be displayed. The first time you access the Plesk Control Panel you will have to perform a setup process. It is very important that you set a new and secure password when you go through the setup process.
 
What you can do with Plesk Control Panel: The primary functions are available as follows:
  • Manage Clients- Setup and administer clients that will be using your Plesk VPS
  • Domains- Manage domains
  • Server Administration- Manage and administer many aspects of your Plesk VPS container including system settings, services, tasks, applications, backups, control panel configuration, access rights, stop and start your VPS, view statistics, and more
  • Virtuozzo Power Panel - access the integrated Virtuozzo Power Panel will provides valuable system information and additional administration features
  • Help - access documentation

Virtuozzo Power Panel

Purpose: The Virtuozzo Power Panel is a supplementary Control Panel that is integrated into the Plesk Control Panel. It is listed separately because it can actually be used in a stand-alone mode from the PBA Control Panel. The Virtuozzo Power Panel provides some useful features for the administrator of the VPS service. It is basically an external interface that accesses the VPS with root level privileges for the purpose of presenting operational information as well as providing ease of use features such as a built in SSH client and a nice File Manager.
 
How to Access: You can access the Virtuozzo Power Panel from the System Menu area of the Plesk Control Panel or the System tab of the PBA Control Panel. If you access it from the PBA Control Panel you must login. The login ID is 'root' and you would use your root user password. If you do not know the root user password, it can be reset from the Users area on the System tab of the PBA Control Panel.
 
What you can do with Virtuozzo Power Panel: The primary functions are available as follows:
  • Manage the VPS Container - File manager, resource meter, application list
  • Manage Services- configure system services, view active processes, manage VPS level firewall rules, access built in SSH client
  • Work with Logs - view and access various logs

Setting up Private Name Servers

You can setup private name servers which your site/domain users can assign at their registrar. The private name server setup requires 2 IP addresses which will be assigned to ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com (where 'yourdomain.com' represents the domain name you want to use for your name servers). Please see the section Adding an IP Address in this guide. You will first need to decide which of your domains you want to use to define the name servers. WARNING: Some registrars have strict rules about the use of name servers and will not allow you to add these names servers to a domain because both name servers are running on the same VPS server. Please replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain as you go through the following steps.
  1. Log into your Plesk Control Panel and click Domains on the top left General menu
  2. Click on the domain you would like to use from the list of domains
  3. Select the DNS icon from your services list
  4. Select the link yourdomain.com from the Host list, with the record Type NS and the Value ns.yourdomain.com
  5. In the Enter nameserver field change ns.yourdomain.com to ns1.yourdomain.com and click OK
  6. You will be warned about the changes and asked to apply the update. Click Update to save the changes
  7. From the Tools area click Add Record. For Record type select NS and enter ns2.yourdomain.com in the Enter nameserver field and click OK
  8. You will be warned about the changes and asked to apply the update. Click Update to save the changes
  9. Select from your host list ns.yourdomain.com with Record type A and change the value to ns1 and click OK
  10. From the Tools area select Add Record again. For Record type leave as A, in the Enter domain name add ns2, in the Enter IP address enter your second IP address that you are going to use and click OK
  11. You will be warned about the changes and asked to apply the update. Click Update to save the changes
  12. You should now have 2 Record types with the NS value of ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com. Under the Host list you will also have ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com with the Record type of A and they will have 2 separate IP's.
The next set of steps is to add these name servers to your Plesk DNS template so they will be assigned to domains when they are added.
  1. Click on Server from your left menu
  2. Click on the DNS icon from the Service list
  3. From the Host list select with record type NS and enter ns1.yourdomain.com in the Enter nameserver field and select OK
  4. From the Tools area select Add New Record. Change the Record type to NS and in the Enter nameserver field input ns2.yourdomain.com and select OK
The final step is to create the ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com records at your registrar and have them point to your Plesk VPS at eApps. You will need to log into the management panel provided by the registrar and add 2 A records. One for ns1 and one for ns2 that point back to the IP addresses assigned in your Plesk control panel.

Adding Domains to your VPS

If you plan to use the Postini SPAM/Virus Filter service you must first add your Domain to your VPS using the PBA Control Panel. The reason for this is because the Add Domain function in the PBA Control Panel will create the appropriate entries in the Postini SPAM/Virus Filter service. If you DO NOT plan to use the Postini SPAM/Virus Filter service you may skip this step and proceed to the instructions for adding your domain into the Plesk Control Panel. Please note: if you skip this step, and decide later that you want to use Postini, there will be a service fee because we will have to configure your domain in Postini manually.
 
Adding the Domain in the PBA Control Panel - Use the following steps:
  1. Log into your control at http://cp.eapps.com/cp
  2. From the System tab Domain Management click All My Domains
  3. Click Add Domain
  4. Enter the domain name in the New Domain field
  5. Check Host domain in eApps DNS
  6. Select the Plesk subscription from the 'Used by subscription' drop down
  7. Click Save
Adding the Domain in the Plesk Control Panel - You can add the domain in the Plesk Control Panel using the following steps:
  1. Log into your Plesk control panel
  2. Click Domains
  3. Click Add New Domain
  4. Click on the client name you will like to add the domain for
  5. Complete the form with the domain name and click OK
For further details please visit the Plesk documentation at http://www.parallels.com/en/products/plesk/docs/
 
Configuring Plesk Domains To Use Postini (if you are using Private Name Servers) - If you (the Plesk Administrator) are using your own private name servers describe in the section “Setting Up Private Name Servers” you will have to add the MX records to the DNS settings in Plesk manually. Please Note: you can skip this step if you DO NOT plan to use the Postini SPAM/Virus Filter service or you DO NOT use the Private Name Servers feature.

After your domain is added in the PBA Control Panel, four (4) MX records will be created. These records are very similar to what you need to enter into the Plesk Control Panel manually. Your can see the records in the 'DNS Zone' tab for your Domain in the All My Domains area of the PBA Control Panel. The records will look like the examples below (replace 'yourdomain.com' with your actual domain).

yourdomain.com MX 100 yourdomain.com.s7a1.psmtp.com
yourdomain.com MX 200 yourdomain.com.s7a2.psmtp.com
yourdomain.com MX 300 yourdomain.com.s7b1.psmtp.com
yourdomain.com MX 400 yourdomain.com.s7b2.psmtp.com

By default there is one MX record in the DNS template inside the Plesk Control Panel. You will need to modify the default record and add the other three (3) records. You also will need to change the priority since Plesk does not allow 3 digit priorities. Please follow these steps to manually create the required MX records:
  1. Log into your Plesk Control Panel
  2. Click Domains or Home from the top left menu
  3. Click the domain you would like to modify from the list of domains
  4. Click DNS Settings from the Services area
  5. Click yourdomain.com with a Record type MX(10)
  6. In the Enter mail exchanger field enter yourdomain.com.s7a1.psmtp.com
  7. Click OK
  8. You will be warned about the changes and asked to apply the update. Click Update to save the changes
Now complete the steps below for the remaining records:
  1. Click Domains or Home from the top left menu
  2. Click the domain you would like to modify from the list of domains
  3. Click DNS Settings from the Services area
  4. Click Add Record from the Tools area
  5. From the Record type drop down select MX
  6. Assuming your domain name is yourdomain.com add yourdomain.com.s7b2.psmtp.com to the Enter mail exchange field
  7. From the Specify priority of mail exchange server drop down select 20
  8. Click Ok
  9. You will be warned about the changes and asked to apply the update. Click Update to save the changes
Repeat these same steps for the last two MX records, setting the priorities to 30 and 40.

Using eApps Applications

eApps provides a set of application that are either not available from Plesk, are more up to date, or have additional features. These applications are provided to give you improved functionality and power in your Plesk environment.
 
Included Applications: Your eApps Plesk VPS has an up-to-date and comprehensive version of PHP and MySQL. You do not have to install these applications, but should look for announcements from eApps Hosting on the availability of updates. All eApps provided applications must be upgraded from the Upgrade Applications area on the System tab of your PBA Control Panel.
 
Installable Applications: eApps Hosting also provides several one click installable applications that are not only up to date, but are supported by eApps. These applications include Linux Development Tools (compiler and other tools), eAccelerator, IconCube-Loader, ZendOptimizer and PostgreSQL. To install these application, follow the steps below:
  1. Log into your PBA Control Panel at http://cp.eapps.com/cp
  2. Click on System tab
  3. From the Applications area click Add Application
  4. Select the application of your choice and Click Next
  5. Your application will be installed within a few minutes (Development Tools may take 15 minutes or so)

Using the Plesk Application Vault

Plesk provides a feature called the Application Vault. This feature allows you to install applications into your Plesk VPS. To install applications from the Application Vault, please use the following steps. For more information consult the Parallels Plesk User Guide.
  1. Log into your Plesk Control Panel
  2. Click Domains or Home from the top left menu
  3. Click on the domain you want to manage
  4. Click Web applications, Add New Application
  5. Click on the application category
  6. Click Install next to the application of your choice from the list on the right panel
To uninstall applications:
  1. Complete Steps 1 to 3 above
  2. Click Web applications
  3. Check off the application you would like to uninstall and click Remove Selected
  4. Confirm removal and click OK

Using Application Packaging Standard (APS) Applications

APS is a specification for the packaging of applications for deployment in a hosted environment. Parallels, Inc., the vendor of Plesk, is the primary force behind the specification. Plesk is compatible with applications that conform to the APS. You can find a list of these applications at http://apsstandard.com/app/. PLEASE NOTE: Many applications at this site are already available to you in the Application Vault. To install applications from this site, use the following steps:

  1. Download the application from the APS site (http://www.apsstandard.com/app/) to your local desktop
  2. Log into your Plesk control panel
  3. Click Application Vault from the Service area
  4. Click Add New Application Distribution Package
  5. Click Browse and select the downloaded archive and click OK in complete the installation

Using Other Applications

Your eApps Plesk VPS service allows you to have root access. You can upload applications or software modules and install them in your VPS. Please ensure that the application is compatible with the operating environment of your VPS and that you understand how to install and configure the application.

 
Please note that eApps does not provide free support for applications that you install. You are responsible for support and also are responsible for ensuring that any software you install does not have security vulnerabilities now, or in the future.
 
If you would like assistance installing and configuring applications from eApps on a billable basis, please contact the eApps Sales department.

Adding an IP Address

Your Plesk subscription includes one IP address. To add additional IP addresses to your VPS you must purchase them from the Upgrade Center tab of your PBA Control Panel.
  1. Log into your control panel at http://cp.eapps.com/cp.
  2. Click the Upgrade Center tab
  3. Click Buy Resources
  4. In the “Number of Static IP addresses” area change the New Limit to Current Limit plus the amount of IP addresses you want to add. So if the Current Limit is set to 1 and you want 2 additional IP addresses then New Limit should be changed to 3.
  5. Click Next, accept the user agreement and click Place Order
  6. Pay for your order.
After your order has been paid it will go into a processing queue in our Billing department. Once the Billing department processes the order, additional IP addresses will be listed in your Plesk Control Panel. PLEASE NOTE: Our billing system does not accept payments by credit card of less than $1. If your order is less than $1, please contact our Billing department. We will credit your order. To view your IP addresses take the steps below.
  1. Log into your Plesk Control Panel
  2. Click Server
  3. From the System are click IP Addresses
  4. Confirm that addition IP addresses are on the list

Upgrading to a Larger Plan

You can easily upgrade or downgrade your plan. Your billing cycle will be reset to the date of the upgrade, but there will be no impact on the operation of your site. The billing system will give you a credit for your unused portion of service. Use the following steps to upgrade your plan.

  1. Log into your control panel at http://cp.eapps.com/cp.
  2. Click the Upgrade Center tab
  3. Click Change Hosting Plan
  4. Choose your plan and click Next at the top
  5. Follow through to the order
  6. Pay the order
The paid order will go into the Billing Department processing queue. Once it is processed your plan will be changed automatically with no impact on your service.

Upgrading your Plesk License for more Domains

Your Plesk VPS services comes with a 10 domain license. You may upgrade to a 100 domain license or an unlimited domain license. Please follow these instructions to upgrade your Plesk license.
  1. Login to your PBA Control Panel
  2. Click on the Upgrade Center tab
  3. Click on Upgrade License link
  4. Choose the upgrade you want, continue through and pay your order
The paid order will go to the eApps Billing department. Upon processing, your license will be upgraded automatically.

Purchasing Language Packs

Please contact the eApps Sales department for information on how to buy additional language packs.

Obtaining Support

The Plesk Control Panel is a licensed product from a company called Parallels, Inc. In general, if you have a problem with the Plesk functionality, the overall operation of your Plesk VPS, or any application provided by eApps Hosting, you should submit a support request to eApps Hosting. If you choose to use applications installed from the Plesk control panel or third party applications you will have to refer to the sources or communities of those applications for assistance.
 
eApps Support responsibilities - All support requests to eApps must be sent to support@eapps.com, by calling USA US +1 7704482100 Call option 2, UK: GB +44 2081336940 Call option 2, eappshosting using Skype (VOIP), by using the online support form at http://support.eapps.com, or via the Chat system from the eApps.com web site (please have a ticket number to use Chat). Please include your Plesk administrator username and password with your request and be able to provide them if you contact support by phone. If you are concerned about security, please use our encrypted form at http://support.eapps.com or the Chat system, which is also encrypted.
 
Here are some guidelines to follow when deciding where to submit your support request.
  1. Installation of Plesk – We will ensure that the most recent available version of Plesk is installed in your VPS. If you mis-configure Plesk to a point that it is not functional we can assist you with re-installation. This process may lead to data loss and potentially may be a billable service if the problem was caused by you. Any installation problems directly related to our automation process will be supported by us.
  2. Plesk License – We are responsible for making sure that a functional Plesk license is installed in your VPS when you purchase your subscription.
  3. Applications Provided by eApps – The application listed below are provided by eApps. If you encounter any technical issues directly related to their functionality please contact the eApps Hosting support team. We will troubleshoot and fix the problem. If is is determined that Plesk is the source of the problem we will open a support request with Parallels, the vendor of Plesk, from your Plesk control panel.
  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • eAccelerator
  • IonCube Loader
  • PHP
  • ZendOptimizer
  • mod_ssl
  • Apache Web Server
  • Linux Development Tools
Customer Responsibilities - As mentioned previously, we will do our best to assist with issues related to the use of the Plesk control panel, but for many of these issues we rely on the vendor to assist us. You have the option of buying a Plesk support contract directly from the vendor, Parallels. We recommend that you read the Plesk User Guide and ensure that you are using Plesk properly. We do not provide free support on the use of the applications from the Application Vault, Application Packaging Standards site, or other third party applications. You should consult the source provider and/or community of the application itself for assistance. If you have problems with your own site or any of these applications eApps Hosting may be able to assist you on a billable basis.

To submit a support request related to the Plesk environment or the application services provided by eApps Hosting, use the Submit a Ticket features on the eApps Support site at http://support.eapps.com or send an email to support@eapps.com.
    Official Parallels Plesk Administrative And User Guides - The following documentation will be very valuable in your use of the Plesk Control Panel.

    Plesk Documentation
    http://www.parallels.com/en/products/plesk/docs/

    Plesk Flash Tutorials
    http://www.parallels.com/en/products/plesk/tutorials/

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