Creating multiple websites with linking databases

[NikChillin]

Hi,

I'm looking for a bit of help here...or even ideas..

We want to set up 300 users on a server so they can have their own websites and individual databases for their computer science projects, it has to be internal or we can't filter them properly, has anyone done this and if so, how did you do it? We are assuming we can create many databases from a batch file

[Marci]

Presuming you're talking MySQL databases...

 

CREATE DATABASE yourdbname;
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON yourdbname.* TO username@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'thepasswordpass';

 

I tend to do this in Excel. Get all the usernames in an excel table, along with passwords and desired db names. Then use Concatenate to build the commands for each student, and copy and paste the output column of the concatenation into anything that can run a MySQL Query (eg: MySQLfront), and run.

 

Voila. All databases created & users assigned in one hit.

[GTX]

Why not use a free control panel? Like kloxo.. They will be able to have their own Panel logins, FTP and databases?

[FN-GM]

Why not use a free control panel? Like kloxo.. They will be able to have their own Panel logins, FTP and databases?

 

cpanel is free for education

[GTX]

Oh really? i didnt know that. I love cPanel.. You could get softaculous to install there website/scripts

[Marci]

BUT... generally a cPanel account is tied to a domain name. Guessing you're not providing a unique domain name per student...

[GTX]

You could use subdomains.

[Marci]

But, when you create a subdomain, the cPanel login that you'd have to issue wouldn't be restricted to JUST that subdomain's administration would it?

 

We've done it in cPanel via subdomains, bulk created the ftp accounts and MySQL dbases / accounts and given these to students, but have never provided them with direct access to the cPanel interface...

[GTX]

But, when you create a subdomain, the cPanel login that you'd have to issue wouldn't be restricted to JUST that subdomain's administration would it?

 

We've done it in cPanel via subdomains, bulk created the ftp accounts and MySQL dbases / accounts and given these to students, but have never provided them with direct access to the cPanel interface...

 

Not at all. Go create a new user on the cpanel.. Then where it says domain.. type subdomain.domain.com and look.

 

Plus you can set what they can and cant do on it.

[Marci]

I get an error when i attempt to do so. I think your approach only works if you're not using cPanel on the same server for the main domain/site.

[GTX]

I get an error when i attempt to do so. I think your approach only works if you're not using cPanel on the same server for the main domain/site.

 

Ah i see.. You could try 2 subdomains.. Should work.. I take it your server is Cpanel.yourdomain.com you could always try student.cpanel.yourdomain.com. That may work as that subdomain is the child of the 1st one

[Marci]

Nope... same error - you can't have the top domain on the box. (see cPanel - Multiple Accounts Under Single Domain - Ashworth Creative)

 

So, yes, your approach will work with a clean cPanel server that doesn't have an account existing for the root domain, but if you're already using cPanel for your main site, and intend to use the same server, this approach won't work. You'd have to commission a separate cPanel server, which would need a second dedicated public IP differing from the first, and a dedicated route out so that it reports as being this IP specifically (or the license would fail).

Edited June 10, 2013 by Marci

[GTX]

Im not sure about that, Every time i have done it on my dedicated server i have never have any problems..

 

Most be something im missing with your setup.

[SovietRussia]

I just tried it on my cPanel, works fine for subdomains.

[GTX]

I just tried it on my cPanel, works fine for subdomains.

 

1-0 to me

[Marci]

Bizarre...!! We are talking adding a new account in WHM aren't we, targetted at the subdomain...?

[SovietRussia]

Yeah, I used WHM - Account Functions - Create a new account.

[Marci]

*stumped!*

[NikChillin]

Thanks for your recommendations, we decided to setup a separate domain for the 1000 user accounts, it will be running Win server 2008 with MS SQL for the databases, these programs seem to only work with MYSQL....

 

Haven't had much experience with MYSQL/Apache etc... but willing to give it a try

Edited June 10, 2013 by NikChillin

[SovietRussia]

MySQL is your best bet, its robust and can handle millions of rows - I once got mine up to 16 million rows, but then the project closed

 

Tip: Its important to use the correct DB Engine - Research MyISAM vs InnoDB

[NikChillin]

Tip: Its important to use the correct DB Engine - Research MyISAM vs InnoDB

 

I think the InnoDB is the one to use but there is a built in one, why would I then need the plug in instead?