Setting up subdomains through my own interface

[jylyn]

I have some questions before signing up for a reseller account.

I need to provide the ability for my customers to create subdomains using my interface, ie not through cPanel. For example, user Jimmy comes to my site 'www.besteversite.com' and creates a login 'jimmy'. Upon creation of that login, the subdomain 'jimmy.besteversite.com' is automatically generated. The subdomain does not need to have FTP access or any sort of billing or account management associated with it. Just a simple subdomain. Is there a way to do this on a host9 reseller account?

Also I'm wondering if the reseller accounts use phpsuexec?

[kingaman]

Yes, phpsuexec is used on all H9 servers - including resellers.

As for the subdomains, you can do that using the cpanel API. Or you could use a simple script such as this http://www.scripts.com/php-scripts/s...mains-creator/
I've just had a breif look at it and may not be exactly what you want, but you sound like a bit of a coder (otherwise i wouldn't have thought you'd be thinking of trying this) - so you should be able to work it out.
(The idea behind that script can be used for all cpanel features aswell)

[jylyn]

Thanks for the reply...

It's funny you should point me to that script because I've already been using it, and my current host says it has been crashing the server every time someone runs it! I've looked right through it and can't find anything wrong with it, which is why I'm looking for another solution.

It occurs to me that using wildcard subdomains would probably work, but I don't know anything about setting them up, and from what I've heard most hosts don't allow it anyway. I don't suppose host9 is any exception?

[kingaman]

I can't see how that script would be crashing the server - although a lot of hosts do have strange setups that means that seemingly harmless things so do a lot of bad - or they're just using it as a cop out for their own problem/to get rid of you (generally because they think you're doing something to their server they don't like but have no proof).

That script is actually a pretty dodgy way to do it - there is a better API to use but I myself have never used it.
http://www.cpanel.net/plugins/api2/index.html
It doesn't look like it is a complete solution in that it appears functions are missing, so maybe have a play around trying to guess the one you want.

On the other hand, HostNine does offer wildcard subdomains - you just need to submit a support ticket to get it setup. - I don't know exactly what you want to acheive, so that may work fine. It would also remove the DNS propogation issues that you may have at the moment.

There are many scripts available like this throughout the internet. As long as its using cPanel API, I would assume it would work.

[ttremain]

Just a simple subdomain with no FTP? What will they be using it for? Is cPanel even going to be needed?

If you don't need cPanel, and you have a wildcard sub-domain, you can create additional subdomains just by modifying your .htaccess file. You don't need a heavy duty script for this, something simple should do it, maybe not much more than a few lines of code.

Be sure you know what you are handing out though, and how people can abuse it.

[jylyn]

Thanks for the replies. I've got it all set up now using wildcards and it's a much cleaner solution than my old one! All the requests get redirected to a single php file which sorts out what to do with them.

The site basically lets people set up their own website using a very specialized template. They don't get cPanel or FTP access because everything is done through my own CMS. I think the worst that could happen is somebody could pick an inappropriate word for their subdomain but they don't have much control over the content so I can't see that there'd be much point in them doing that...

[DeanClinton]

No, but if it get's googled, with the adult words in the title/domain name, kiss goodbye to your family friendly ratings...