The State of Docker in Hosting Panels
Containers have become the standard deployment method for modern applications. Yet most traditional hosting panels treat Docker as an afterthought. Panelica is a modern hosting control panel designed for multi-server environments, with Docker management built into its core architecture rather than bolted on as an extension.
cPanel and Docker: No Native Support
cPanel does not include native Docker management. There is no official Docker extension in the cPanel marketplace. Running Docker on a cPanel server is possible but requires manual SSH configuration, and cPanel officially warns about compatibility issues because cPanel requires SELinux to be disabled, which weakens container security.
What you get with cPanel and Docker:
- Manual Docker installation via SSH
- No GUI for container management
- No integration with account system or resource limits
- No Compose support through the panel
- SELinux must be disabled, reducing host security
- No per-user container isolation
For agencies deploying Node.js, Python, or Go applications alongside WordPress sites, this means maintaining two separate management workflows.
Plesk Docker Extension: Better, but Limited
Plesk offers a Docker extension that provides a GUI for basic container operations. The extension allows you to search Docker Hub images, deploy containers with port mapping and environment variables, and view logs through the Plesk interface.
What Plesk Docker extension includes:
- GUI to search and deploy Docker Hub images
- Start, stop, restart, and remove containers
- Environment variable and port mapping configuration
- One-click Portainer deployment (since Plesk Obsidian 18.0.66)
- Container logs viewer
- Remote node support (additional fee)
What Plesk Docker extension lacks:
- No Docker Compose support through the GUI
- No RBAC: all containers visible to all admin users
- No cgroup resource isolation per user
- No automatic subdomain routing for containers
- No stack backup and restore
- No WebSocket terminal into containers from the panel
Panelica Docker Manager: Native and Integrated
Panelica provides container-native deployment and strict resource isolation. Docker management is built into the panel with full API coverage, not added as a third-party extension.
Container Lifecycle Management
The Docker Manager interface provides complete container lifecycle control: create, start, stop, restart, pause, unpause, and remove containers. Real-time resource monitoring shows CPU percentage, memory usage, and network I/O for each container directly in the dashboard.
Docker Compose Support
Panelica includes a Compose service that manages multi-container stacks. You can deploy complex applications defined in docker-compose.yml files, monitor individual service health within a stack, and manage the entire project lifecycle from the GUI.
RBAC-Filtered Container Access
Every container in Panelica can be tagged with a user label. The RBAC system (Root, Admin, Reseller, User) filters container visibility automatically. Root users see all containers. Non-root users see only containers labeled with their user ID. This is enforced at the API level, not just in the frontend.
Cgroup v2 Resource Isolation
Containers deployed through Panelica can be assigned to user-specific cgroup slices. This means a container deployed by one user cannot consume resources allocated to another user. The cgroup parent is set using systemd slice names, ensuring proper integration with the five-layer isolation architecture.
App Templates with Subdomain Routing
Panelica includes pre-built app templates for common self-hosted applications. Deploying an app template automatically configures Nginx reverse proxy with SSL, assigns a subdomain, and sets up environment variables. Templates include Umami Analytics, Chatwoot, Uptime Kuma, n8n, and more.
Container Terminal and File Manager
A WebSocket-based terminal allows direct shell access into running containers from the browser. A dedicated container file manager lets you browse, edit, upload, and download files inside containers without SSH.
Stack Backup and Restore
Docker Compose stacks can be backed up and restored, including volume data. This feature does not exist in cPanel or Plesk.
Feature Comparison Table
- GUI Container Management: cPanel (No), Plesk (Yes, extension), Panelica (Yes, native)
- Docker Compose: cPanel (No), Plesk (No GUI), Panelica (Yes)
- RBAC Container Filtering: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
- Cgroup Resource Isolation: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
- App Templates: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
- Container Terminal: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes, WebSocket)
- Container File Manager: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
- Stack Backup: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
- Subdomain Auto-Routing: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
- Image Management: cPanel (No), Plesk (Yes), Panelica (Yes)
- Volume Management: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
- Network Management: cPanel (No), Plesk (No), Panelica (Yes)
When Plesk Docker Extension Is Enough
If you need to run a few isolated containers on a Plesk server and your team is comfortable with Portainer for advanced operations, the Plesk Docker extension works. It covers basic use cases and the Portainer integration adds significant capability.
Conclusion
Docker support in hosting panels ranges from nonexistent (cPanel) to basic (Plesk) to comprehensive (Panelica). For hosting providers and agencies deploying containerized applications alongside traditional websites, the depth of Docker integration directly impacts operational efficiency. Panelica empowers sysadmins with RBAC and automated security tools, making container management a first-class feature rather than a third-party add-on.