[cpx] User prefix (December 2004) and vsap

[Fred Bloggs <verio.list.mail1@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I've never writen to this list before, but I've been lurching around ;-)

I decided it was time to check out CPX again to see if it's time to migrate 
from imanager pro  to CPX management for our Virtual Hosting plans. The 
last time we looked it was still superior than CPX for our needs. We don't 
use iManager(pro) ourselves for adding virtual hosts, but offer it to our 
virtual hosted clients to maintain their e-mail addresses, online webmail, 
and setting autoresponders.

Unfortunatly imanager pro has two limitations (PLEASE correct me if I'm 
wrong):
1. We can't let our client's domain admin aim an e-mail address at two or 
more pop accounts or other e-mail addresses. (so info@.... can't be mailed 
to boss@.... and the secreatary@....)
2. We can't define a maximum amount of pop accounts to be used for all 
domains under the domain admin's control. (we have to give him an amount of 
pop accounts per domain, not for all domains).


As it's time to re-evaluate the big picture, I added a new vps today and 
tested a clean cpx install. It looks like it has come a long way, but isn't 
there yet (I hope I'm wrong!).

Here are my questions:



Question 1:

When we receive an order for a virtual host, a shell script is run on one 
of our virtual hosting vps servers. This script:

- adds users (ftp + e-mail-admin) with random strong passwords
- a www/domain directory in the ftp users's directory,
- adds the correct config for the virtual host to www.conf
- adds the e-mail-admin (plus settings) to the imanager pro domainmaps 
config file
- sets up other things like weekly statistics processing
- sends an e-mail with all user details (domain, users passwords) to us.

If we were to migrate to CPX, Is it still the case that I can use the vsap 
API to add the virtual host, the domain admin, two standard e-mail accounts 
(webmaster@.... and info@....),  and let the rest of the existing script 
set up the stats and send me the e-mail with all details?


Question 2: (I know I should RTM)... Is it now possible to add domains and 
canonicals to Verio's DNS, using VSAP? (This could save sooo much time in 
the backroom).


Question 3:

I backtracked the CPX list to see if the username prefix (had been added 
yet. I see it was kind of promissed round the 10th of December 2004 ( I 
quote James, then Scott and finally Mark) from the "[cpx] not intuitive, at 
all. (cpx)" thread:

James:
 "assigned usernames. (like imanpro)"

Scott:

 "What does this mean? Is it like adding a prefix to the username (e.g.,

jgc_useranme)? We've had a request for this functionality as an

enhancement already. Am I guessing right?"

Mark:
 "Yes, a user prefix (or even an incremental suffix). It is a big 
timesaver for resellers that are doing virtual sub hosting, to not have to 
explain why the user 'webmaster' is already taken to each domain admin that 
wants it. With iManagerPro, I give the server admin the ability to set a 
login prefix for each domain admin. When the domain admin goes to create a 
user, the login prefix is prepended to whatever they use (giving you 
jgc_username type users).

I also allow the server admin to assign a userid that increments by one for 
each new user a domain admin creates - and not allow the domain admin to 
pick a userid. So, if I use 'jgc' as the login prefix for a domain admin, 
then each new user that the domain admin creates will automatically have 
the userid assigned for them as jgc1, jgc2, jgc3.

Finally, we also have the option just like CPX, where the domain admin can 
create any userid they like, so long as it is not already being used."

As far as I can see from my test today is that more than a year later this 
request has not been honored. WHY NOT?

Surely, It can't be that much work to add a prefix string for each domain 
admin, and then use it for evey username he adds, and also reduce the 
amount of usable characters for the 'free choice' part of the username 
*ie... the prefix 'test_' would leave 11 chars of 'free choice').

The prefix helps in so much ways. For instance we can do simple greps on 
the vlistuser shell command, run it through pipes etc..... call this from 
automated scripts etc etc....

PLEASE add it.

Kind regards,

Fred