WHC Web Hosting Pro - My first impressions (1.Viewing)

I started fooling around with cPanel on the WHC Web Hosting Pro account and they have a built in Backup system called Jet Backup 5 which looks quite interesting and it automates most everything about the system backups. Looking at it I am impressed but I also have a concern. cPanel comes with a built in backup system (picture above) that allows you to import and export anything from the file directory to the entire account.

The Jet Backup is excellent for backing up but limited for importing in. To me it was clear the tool was mostly for restoring backups created by Jet Backup. That might make moving in and out of WHC a bit difficult for those people acustomed to using the built in cPanel backup/restore system.

So my biggest concern is the universal part of cPAnel backup, so far I have not found where I can do a complete cPanel restore from my previous host. In fact I have not even found where I can do a directory import from my previous host. I am sure if I search a bit more there will be a way to do this but it is a bit worrisome to me because I am so accustomed to using the standard cPanel backup system to preserve local copies of my file directories and complete account backups. I have a tendency to believe in redundancy and nothing for me is safer than a locally stored backup combined with one at my webhost.

So right off the bat I wish WHC did not deactivate the built in backup system that cPanel comes with.


I will fool around with things a bit more, the above is just my first impression trying to import in a very small website as a new client totally unassisted. So far if I were an ordinary client coming in for the first time that part would be frustrating. In my case I can easily upload the files using file manager because the site is only two pages and a few folders.

That said, I will continue to look and see if I have missed something, feel free to comment.

So the only thing I could find was not in cPanel but in my WHC control panel and that is a service to bring the site in.

All in all $90 is reasonable for a complex site migration in but in most cases clients can do that themselves using the built in cPanel system.


I am currently with a full featured HostPapa plan and comparing Apples to Apples I am actually pleasantly surprised to say WHC has a number of cPanel features HostPapa does not. Nothing major but definitely some additionals in there.


Can I see myself running with WHC hosting in the long term?
Yes but only for my MapleDots site because it is quite small and compact, for some of my other businesses it would not be feasible without cPanel backup and restore. I do like the Jet Backup but it makes you rely on that system that is not universally accepted like cPanel Backup and if you ever want to move out you may find your files incompatible to for an easy import to a new host.

Would I use Jet Backup?
Absolutely, it looks like an amazing automated backup tool where you can just set it and forget it, but again that is only good for as long as you stay with your host. To me it looks like you cannot transfer in a cPanel backup or transfer the files out as a cPanel backup.

So if I was transferring in even a regular sized website I would be stuck and would have to use WHC support to migrate in. cPanel was built to avoid that and I can see why WHC disabled it. First because it is probably the system they use to import sites in so it makes it a revenue stream and secondly it might get confusing to an end user to see multiple backup systems in the control panel.


So if you are starting from scratch WHC hosting is great but if you have a current website you will have to either pay to have it imported or you will have to upload the files manually and reconfigure your settings again. Having created numerous websites I have always looked to cPanel as my trusted panel and have shied away from hosts using their own in house control panel. It's great to see WHC using the industry standard but leaving out backup hobbles the control panel for any serious webmaster.

My hosting contract is up in June, I'm considering whc but without the import/export I won't be moving.

This button for file manager goes to french too and all the ones under the 3 dots.
Webmail goes to english.


With WHC being a nation wide company and the majority of provinces using english as their first language I thing WHC has it a bit backwards having french set as the dominant language.

Best solution would probably be to run both french and english servers and assign them via postal code when people sign up. This way if a mix up occurs one could request a move from french to english or the other way around.

MapleDots said:

So right off the bat I wish WHC did not deactivate the built in backup system that cPanel comes with.

Click to expand...

Oh dear that's an integral part of cpanel

Hey! I'll check with our teams to find out all the information you need. I'll get back to you as soon as I know more!