In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, managing hosting environments efficiently is paramount for businesses and individual users alike. Plesk, a leading web hosting platform, has been continuously striving to enhance its product offerings to meet the growing demands of its users. The latest iteration, Plesk Obsidian 18.0.68, introduces a series of significant updates and new features aimed at improving performance, streamlining operations, and enhancing security. In this informative report, we delve into these new enhancements to help you understand how they can benefit your hosting experience.
Panel and Hosting Improvements
CloudLinux 9 Support
With the release of Plesk Obsidian 18.0.68, support for CloudLinux 9 has been introduced. CloudLinux is an operating system designed specifically for shared hosting environments, offering enhanced security and performance. Users can now leverage CloudLinux 9’s capabilities, which will be supported by Plesk until 2032, ensuring long-term stability and security for their hosting environment.
Watchdog 3.0 Revamp
The Watchdog tool, a crucial component for monitoring and maintaining server health, has undergone a comprehensive revamp. This update includes a user interface overhaul, employing modern user experience (UX) libraries to enhance usability. Additionally, the tool now boasts enhanced compatibility, making it functional across all modern operating systems. This ensures that users can seamlessly monitor and manage their servers, irrespective of the underlying OS.
Prohibited Domain Names
In an effort to bolster security against phishing attempts, Plesk Obsidian now includes a feature that prevents the creation of domains that resolve to other servers. This measure is designed to safeguard users from malicious activities, providing a more secure hosting environment.
Customizable Mail Helper
Email configuration can often be a daunting task for users. To mitigate this, Plesk Obsidian introduces a customizable mail helper feature, aimed at assisting administrators in guiding their users through the email setup process. This includes:
- Tailored Configuration Instructions: Administrators can customize the "Configure Mail Clients" helper’s text, links, and formatting using Markdown. This customization allows the instructions to align with the brand’s voice and style, making it easier for users to follow.
- Convenient Sharing: The new "Copy the setup wizard link" option enables administrators to share email configuration steps directly with users, even if they lack access to Plesk. This feature simplifies the setup process and reduces the need for support queries.
- Simplified Email Management: By providing clear and concise instructions, users can manage their email settings with ease, resulting in fewer support requests and a more empowered user base.
Small but Mighty Improvements
Plesk Obsidian 18.0.68 also introduces several minor yet impactful improvements designed to enhance user experience:
- Domain Mail Service Update via CLI: Users can effortlessly change settings from "Not configured" to "Disabled for incoming mail" using the command-line interface (CLI). This streamlines the process for those who prefer command-line operations.
- Reseller Plans Sync: The synchronization mechanism for reseller plans has been improved, with validation for permissions and the automatic creation of default plans within admin-defined limits. This ensures that resellers have the appropriate permissions and plan configurations.
- Enhanced Domain Card View: The domain card view has been redesigned for a cleaner, consolidated layout, displaying all controls in one place for easier management.
- Password Management Upgrades: Users can now copy passwords immediately after generation, skipping extra steps with direct copying functionality. This enhances the overall user experience by simplifying password management.
- Improved Linux Package Handling: Updates are blocked if inconsistencies in APT or DPKG tools are detected, with instructions provided for resolution. This ensures that package updates are conducted smoothly and without errors.
Deployment Updates
Windows Hosting
For users hosting on Windows platforms, Plesk Obsidian 18.0.68 replaces the deprecated MySQL Connector/ODBC versions with the MariaDB Connector/ODBC 64-bit 3.2.4. This ensures that deployment practices remain up-to-date and secure, aligning with industry standards.
Plesk Obsidian Stability and Security Enhancements
Plesk is committed to providing a stable and secure hosting environment for its users. As part of this commitment, the latest update includes:
- Bug Fixes: Numerous customer-reported bugs have been resolved, contributing to a more stable and reliable platform.
- Third-Party Component Updates: The update includes upgrades for third-party components across both Linux and Windows platforms. For Linux, phpMyAdmin has been upgraded to version 5.2.2. On Windows, updates include PHP 8.3.17, BIND 9.16.49, libcurl 8.12.1, Node.js (v20.18.2 and v18.20.6), MailEnable Standard 10.50, and Git 2.47.1.2. These updates ensure that users have access to the latest features and security enhancements.
Why Stay Updated?
Keeping your Plesk environment up to date is crucial for ensuring optimal performance, advanced security, and access to the latest tools and features. These updates are designed to make hosting management easier and more efficient, enabling users to focus on their core business activities without worrying about technical issues.
In conclusion, Plesk Obsidian 18.0.68 introduces a host of improvements and new features aimed at enhancing user experience, security, and performance. Whether you’re a seasoned server administrator or a newcomer to hosting management, these updates provide valuable tools to streamline your operations and protect your environment. For more detailed information on these updates, you can view the full changelog on the Plesk website or dive straight into Plesk to explore the new enhancements for yourself.
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