When I first started using webservers I leased shared hosting. Then I moved to vps. Then to dedicated. In all that I was with various control panels. In almost all cases bugs in those control panels would cause all sorts of issues. (ensim, cpanel, plesk). The load on the server seemed greatly increased (especially with ensim).
When I built my first server 4 years ago I decided to heck with control panels. I looked at what I was using the control panel for, mainly for adding users, protecting directories or adding a new website.
Seriously, I found the original setup daunting as a step by step is not really available for a new admin. But I did it. Without a control panel.
Now my new server went all virtual and still no control panel. I looked at them but just adding one seemed to install a gazillion programs, overtake my system, and seemed to prevent me from updating the servers until the panel was updated.
And they seem buggy and insecure.
I understand for webhosting it might seem practical to add them, but with the issues and bugs they present the techs on my vps/dedicated sure spent a lot of time on the phone with me. That is costly.
Do you use control panels? Why? Like/dislike?
For some family and friends who I host a site for I found the setup of an additional server quite easy. A simple one page explanation of adding/deleting ftp, mail, or shell users, protecting directories, etc seems to suffice.
I feel control panels are not needed and detract from being a knowledgeable admin. I can see if you are very new to running a centos server it would be helpful, but in the end run it seems to keep people from learning how to manage things.
From a tech view, paid by the hour, I imagine those guys and gals love control panel issues... more money for them to fix things.
Interested in where anyone else sits on this issue. I read a lot of articles on them but cannot find a solution where I think they would be better to use, at least not yet. I am open-minded about it though...