Plesk 11.0 Previews

[Sergey L]

Hello,

Plesk 11.0 previews are available at http://www.parallels.com/download/plesk/11 and will be updated weekly.

You can download a build and a license key there.

The recommended evaluation path would be either to restore backup of live machine there or clone a live machine and attempt upgrade. In case there would be a problem, either you would notice it as a result of this operations OR it will be noticed by Parallels (in case you didn't choose to block sending problem reports).

Changelog is available (but yet more items to be delivered in next builds). Things to pay special attention at:
- discontinued Windows 2003 support
- download of Webmatrix config
- uninstall (!!)
- cloning feature makes preparing dumps (sysprep) easier

Regards

 

[Sergey L]

Yesterday we have updated downloads for Plesk 11.0 Preview - http://www.parallels.com/download/plesk/11

Parallels Plesk Panel 11.0.1

[+] Specify required Apache modules for APS apps. We extended the support for the Apache aspect, so APS applications are now capable of checking whether certain Apache modules are available to ensure the app operability. Learn more about the supported APS aspects in Parallels Panel.

[+] Specify PHP requirements for APS apps. We extended the support for the PHP aspect, so APS applications are now capable of checking whether specific PHP settings and limits are set to ensure the app operability. Learn more about the supported APS aspects in Parallels Panel.

[+] (Only for Windows) Install Web Deploy as a component. Administrators can install Web Deploy during the Parallels Panel installation. This automates the component installation process and reduces the number of steps administrators should perform to set up Web Deploy. Read more about installing Web Deploy.

[*] Integration with the Parallels Panel page on Facebook. Administrators can Like the Parallels Panel page on Facebook from within the control panel itself. This feature can be hidden by modifying the panel.ini file. Learn more about managing the button visibility.

[*] Product rating widget. Administrators can rate Parallels Panel and provide their feedback after one month since their first login. This feature can be hidden by adding the following lines to the panel.ini file:
[rating]
enabled=false
showAfterDays=30
The location of the ini file is as follows:

%plesk_dir%\admin\conf\panel.ini
If the file does not exist, create it.
[*] Use either 11.0 or 10.4 theme after upgrade. After upgrade, Administrators can either try the new 11.0 interface theme or continue using the previous one, which was used in 10.4. If the administrators decide to change the theme later, they can do it in Tools & Settings > Panel Branding. Read more about changing branding and themes.

[*] (Only for Windows) Links to Parallels Panel in WebMatrix. If a customer decides to use WebMatrix to write code and publish it to their customer account, they should provide WebMatrix with publishing settings. The tool uses these settings to connect to the customer account. Customers can provide the publishing settings either manually or by importing their profile to WebMatrix. Parallels Panel automatically generates such profile files for each customer account. If a customer prefers to import the profile, WebMatrix will additionally show the link in various places of the customer's control panel. This provides customers with an easy way to launch Parallels Panel in a browser. Read more about configuring web publishing with WebMatrix.

[*] (Only for Windows) Include passwords in the files that keep WebMatrix publishing settings. To quickly connect WebMatrix to a customer account, Panel generates an XML file called profile. Customers can import the profile to WebMatrix instead of manually entering connection settings. Such files contain the password to a customer account. Administrators may wish to improve the security of the system and prevent stealing the passwords by instructing Parallels Panel to exclude the passwords from the XML files. The customers will then have to enter the passwords directly in WebMatrix. Read how to exclude the passwords from the profiles.

[*] (Only for Windows) Extended PVC template is not supported. We discontinued the support for Parallels Panel for Windows Extended PVC template ("PanelExt").

Parallels Customer and Business Manager 11.0.1

[+] Pay-as-you-go hosting. Administrators and resellers can create hosting plans that let subscribers consume more resources than initially provided and additionally pay for extra resources. Learn more about the pay-as-you-go hosting.

[+] Selling domain names and SSL certificates from Customer & Business Manager in Panel. Customers can order domain names and SSL certificates from their providers’ online stores through the Control Panel. Learn more about selling domain names and SSL certificates.

[+] Promoting plans with affiliate programs. These programs are available to customers with hosting plan subscriptions. Administrators and resellers can involve such customers in promoting their plans: customers distribute links to their providers’ online stores and earn commissions for each sign-up under their links. Learn more about affiliate programs.

[+] Improved task management. We reworked the tasks (former events) management page to improve its usability and increased the task manager performance. Learn more about task management.

[*] The PayPal PayFlow Pro gateway supports recurring payments.

[*] Administrators and resellers can adjust the format of invoice numbers. Schet-factura numbers are customizable as well. Learn how to change the invoices and schet-facturas formats.

[*] (Only for Windows) Customer & Business Manager shows action log during the installation and upgrade processes.

Parallels Web Presence Builder 11.0.1

[+] Website Dashboard. Website Dashboard is a one-stop information hub where a website administrator can see the current state of their website. The Dashboard provides one-point access to such vital information as visitor statistics (based on Google Analytics), Comments (based on Disqus) and E-Shop orders (based on Ecwid).

[+] Columns. Customers can add modules via drag-and-drop not only one under another, but also next to each other, automatically creating columns. Up to three columns can be created.

[+] Flexible layout. Customers can change the elasticity of various website areas independently of each other – for example, making header elastic while keeping fixed width of the remaining content. It is also possible to make sidebars start next to the header, as opposed to under it.

[+] Round corners. Customers can make corners round for any given website area (header, footer, sidebars, content).

[+] The Logo module. The website logo is now a separate module that can be added outside the Banner module.

[*] Site-wide concept changes. Header and Footer are now site-wide areas, so every module put in them is displayed on the whole website. Sidebars and Сontent have a page-specific area in the center and site-wide areas at the top and the bottom.

[*] The Design tab. Layout and Style tabs were combined into one Design tab to improve usability.

[*] Image Gallery paging. The Image Gallery module has customizable paging, making life easier for the owners of huge galleries and their visitors.

[*] Mobile websites. Websites are now optimized for viewing on smartphones and tablets.

[*] Hiding the SiteBuilder 4.5 import feature. Administrators can hide the SiteBuilder 4.5 import feature to make it unavailable from the GUI.

 

[StephenE]

What about SQL 2012, is it supported on Plesk 11? MS has released 2012 now, and GA will be April 1.

 

[Sergey L]

Sorry for late response - MS SQL 2012 isn't yet supported, but may be next version.

Meanwhile Plesk 11 preview #5 is shipped - http://www.parallels.com/download/plesk/11

Among other items this update includes

[+] Better Security. Panel 11 has put significant efforts into improved password encryption and other security improvements to avert vulnerabilities. Hosters and website owners concerned about security should upgrade to Panel 11 for enhanced protection. The main improvements are as follows:

* Hosting providers can control the availability of the password encryption feature to Panel administrators.
* Sensitive part of backups can be encrypted as well. Learn more about how to protect backups in Panel.
* Administrators can force Panel users to employ only those passwords that meet the minimum strength requirements. There are five password strength levels which will help to get the right balance between required protection and password complexity. Learn more about the password strength.

[+] Software Development Kit for writing extensions. Adding new functionality to Panel has never been so clear. Use the new SDK (the replacement of former Modules API) to learn how to extend Panel to meet your unique needs.

See more at http://download1.parallels.com/Plesk/PP11/parallels-plesk-panel-11-windows-updates-release-notes.html#1104

See all features of 11.0 at http://download1.parallels.com/Plesk/PP11/11.0/release-notes/parallels-plesk-panel-11.0-for-windows-based-os.html

 

[flacodirt]

Eta?

Do you have an expected number of previews to publish before going live, or do you have a goal set for a stable release date?

 

[Sergey L]

We will probably ship 3 or 4 more previews before we consider Plesk 11 ready for public release.

 

[Speedy059]

How about support for remote email servers running SmarterMail??????

 

[Sergey L]

Hi, Plesk doesn't support remote mail server at this moment.

 

[Speedy059]

So if we want to use SmarterMail, we have to buy a license for EACH server!? Plus, SmarterMail has new version updates like every year...meaning more licenses to upgrade. Those things aren't cheap I mind you..

You guys seriously need to support remote email servers. Have been waiting since Plesk 8 to support remote email server, still no luck. After all these years, we still can't use Plesk. Plesk seems to be more of a hobby panel then a real commercial panel.

 

[Sergey L]

So far I can tell that you probably will need to wait a bit more till support of remote mail servers.
Though it might make Plesk not 100% perfect for you, the size of Plesk for Windows audience would not let consider Plesk a "hobby panel".

Regards

 

[Speedy059]

The reason I call it a hobby panel is because you can't sensibly offer any real "Windows" services that a panel should provide. Such as SmarterMail, Exchange, etc. Having to buy those expensive licenses for each and every server would be crazy. Plesk is great if you use the free emailing software that comes with it, but most people who pay a premium for Windows want nicer collaboration tools that SmarterMail and MS Exchange offer. And to offer those tools, it would only make sense to do it on a remote server so you can fully utilize your licenses correctly.

 

[Sergey L]

There is another solution in development which may fit you and which is supposed to have centralized mail option. It has been announced in Parallels Summit 2012 and World Hosting Day Europe. Drop me a private message if you are interested in learning more about it.

 

[Speedy059]

I have sent you a PM. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to questions. Very much interested in learning about this centralized mail option you guys announced.

 

[NeuroPsyche]

Parallels Plesk v11 Release Date?

Do you have an expected number of previews to publish before going live, or do you have a goal set for a stable release date?

I'm putting off staging another Plesk server until v11 is released... It would be nice to know
a window for release of the new version. Online Parallels is announcing release soon... but this has been
listed this way for about a month now.

Even if Parallels does not know of the exact release date is it possible to even get what month it'll be released?

Thanks,
Dave.

 

[Sergey L]

Hello,

Parallels partners were sent notification of upcoming release date. I think there should be another communication next week or so. I am sorry, the dates are communicated through other channel than this forum.

"soon" on parallels.com is listed for about 2 weeks (since 23 May).

Regards

 

[NeuroPsyche]

Plesk v11... is dl on site Production or Trial

Sergey...
Hello there...
I wrote, and called Parallels about Plesk 11 being on Parallels site for dl, showing as "Latest Release" but after letting Auto-Installer install, found that it was a trial. ... how are we to know if Plesk v11 is really truely the "Latest Release" or a trail? The site does not say...

Thanks,
Dave.

Hello,

Plesk 11.0 previews are available at http://www.parallels.com/download/plesk/11 and will be updated weekly.

You can download a build and a license key there.

The recommended evaluation path would be either to restore backup of live machine there or clone a live machine and attempt upgrade. In case there would be a problem, either you would notice it as a result of this operations OR it will be noticed by Parallels (in case you didn't choose to block sending problem reports).

Changelog is available (but yet more items to be delivered in next builds). Things to pay special attention at:
- discontinued Windows 2003 support
- download of Webmatrix config
- uninstall (!!)
- cloning feature makes preparing dumps (sysprep) easier

Regards

 

[Blake@Parallels]

http://forum.parallels.com/showpost.php?p=627434&postcount=7