System types

The four host system types in TurboStack and how each one changes the tabs and options available in a host's workspace.

Every host in TurboStack has a system type that describes how the underlying server is managed. The type you choose determines how much you configure directly in TurboStack and which tabs and options appear in the host workspace.

The four types

customstack

A customstack host is a pure Nginx or Apache server managed directly by TurboStack through the system users > applications (vhosts) model. This type gives you the most control and flexibility: every configuration tab is available, and you manage system users, applications, mail, caching, queues and FTP yourself.

cPanel / WHM

A cpanel host is managed by cPanel/WHM. Accounts, mail, Domain Name System (DNS) and domains are managed inside cPanel rather than in TurboStack, so the Applications/system-users area and several Advanced options (mail, Varnish, RabbitMQ, FTP server) are hidden or handled by the panel. The security stack (TurboShield, Firewall and TurboRadar) still applies.

DirectAdmin

A directadmin host follows the same model as cPanel, but the server is managed by DirectAdmin. The panel owns accounts, mail, DNS and domains, so the equivalent TurboStack tabs and Advanced options are hidden or deferred to DirectAdmin, while the security stack still applies.

Windows

A windows host is a Windows server. It supports .NET applications, and Linux- and SSH-specific options are hidden because they do not apply to the Windows platform.

What changes per type

The table below summarises which parts of the host workspace are available for each type.

Area customstack cPanel / WHM DirectAdmin Windows
Applications / system users Available Hidden (managed by panel) Hidden (managed by panel) Available (.NET)
SSH Available Available Available Hidden
Advanced: mail, Varnish, RabbitMQ, FTP server Available Hidden (managed by panel) Hidden (managed by panel) Hidden / not applicable
Mail / DNS / domains Managed in TurboStack Managed in cPanel Managed in DirectAdmin Platform-specific
Security stack (TurboShield, Firewall, TurboRadar) Available Available Available Available

How the type is set

The type is stored on the host as system_type, with one of these values:

Value System type
customstack Pure Nginx/Apache managed by TurboStack
cpanel cPanel / WHM-managed host
directadmin DirectAdmin-managed host
windows Windows server