Quote by Richard Nero: I run a web hosting company and we use PLESK. The servers OS is RedHat Enterprise ES 3. It runs really smooth and allows full administration over every account. We get really good feedback from our clients claiming it to be the best experience. So all in all I say use PLESK.
RLNERO.COM
http://www.rlnero.com
Plesk is an RPM based distribution that requires MySQL info and rewrites .conf files every change you make. You "should" use proprietary RPM's that are "Plesk-safe" (which SWsoft themselves don't release) or risk breaking the control panel. The configuration for Apache alone is convoluted and down right disturbing (httpd.conf, httpd.include, seperate httpd.include for every domain, vhost.conf (special config file for custom config)), doesn't include any options to disable php openbasedir or php-cgi. Also, the prices are absurd - domain licenses, proprietary antivirus ($300USD when clamav would work just as well). The
only good thing about Plesk is qmail, which is a null-void statement in the fact that its a proprietary bastardized implementation - It would be better to setup vpopmail w/qmail than use Plesk. Dare I forget the "Power Pack" that is required to use Tomcat, Spamassassin, Addon scripts, etc.
I would personally recommend
cPanel. Compile from source (Apache, PHP and modules), no background MySQL requirement, doesn't break as often, supports good opensource apps (spamassassin, clamav) as well as addon scripts (geeklog, phpbb, e107, etc) without having to pay for the "Power Pack" - its all included.