Game Server Panels

Once you run more than one server, SSH and a folder of start scripts stop being enough. A panel gives you a browser interface for the console, files, backups and settings of each server, and an account system so staff or customers see only theirs.

Pterodactyl is the established open source panel. Each game server runs in its own container, and a daemon on every host does the work, so one panel can manage many machines. Pelican is a separate open source panel for the same job, built on Laravel and Docker. MCSManager is an open source panel for Minecraft and other games with a distributed design: a web panel plus daemons on each host.

All three need a Linux machine you control and some comfort with the command line. They differ in age, community size, the extensions available and how each handles updates, so read each project's installation documentation and see which matches your host.

A panel is a high-value target because it can run commands on your machines. Put it behind HTTPS, keep it updated, use strong unique passwords and two-factor authentication where available, and restrict who can create servers.

Is a panel the same as hosting? No. A panel is software you install on a machine you rent or own. A host provides the machine, and some hosts provide their own panel.

Which panel has the most extensions? Pterodactyl has the longest history and the largest set of community extensions. Check each project for what it supports today.