Admin, Reseller and User Levels
What Is a Control Panel Reseller Account?
A control panel reseller account is a level of access that lets one person create and manage a group of customer hosting accounts from within a hosting panel. A reseller sits between the server administrator and the end user. It can set up hosting for others without having full control of the server.
This structure is what allows one server to serve many separate customers. Each customer sees only its own account, while the reseller and administrator keep oversight at their own levels.
The Three Standard Access Levels
Most hosting panels use a similar three-level structure, although each panel names its levels differently. In cPanel, the administrator works in WHM, the server-level interface. The three levels are:
- Administrator. Has full control of the server and every account on it. Administrators install software, set server-wide rules, and create resellers.
- Reseller. Creates and manages user accounts within limits set by the administrator. A reseller sees only the accounts it owns and cannot change server-wide settings.
- End user. Manages a single hosting account, such as one website's domains, files, email, and databases. The end user cannot see other accounts.
Access is layered. Each level works inside the boundaries of the level above it.
Packages and Plans as Limits
Packages, also called plans, are sets of limits and features applied to accounts. An administrator or reseller creates a package that defines the disk space, bandwidth, number of domains, databases, and email accounts. It can also decide whether features such as SSH access or a particular PHP version are allowed.
When a reseller creates a user account, it picks a package, and the panel enforces the limits. This stops one customer from using resources that another customer has paid for. Resellers usually cannot create packages larger than the limits the administrator has granted them. The same idea appears in DirectAdmin, which also uses admin, reseller, and user levels.
An Agency Hosting Thirty Client Sites
A web agency buys a server with a reseller account. It creates a basic package for small brochure sites and a larger one for online shops. Each client gets its own user account under the agency's reseller login. When a client needs more storage, the agency changes the package, and the panel updates the limit.
Clients manage their own email and files without seeing the agency's other customers. The server administrator, who may be the hosting company, keeps control of the server itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Reseller See Other Resellers' Customers?
Usually not. A reseller normally sees only the accounts it created or owns. Administrators can see every account on the server. Exact permissions depend on the panel and how it is set up, so check the documentation for the product you use.
What Is the Difference Between a Reseller and a User?
A reseller manages other people's hosting accounts and can create new ones within its limits. A user manages only its own hosting account. Resellers are often businesses that sell hosting, while users are typically the owners of individual websites.