Plesk Vs. C-Panel / Control Panel

I indicated that I've basically been using my webhosting company as "file storage".

1) I create all my files in .html using notepad

2) My files are limited to .html, .jpg, .gif, (and a couple of .js and .css) files.

3) My domain is not connected with my webhost; I use the nameserver zoneedit.com and I use URL forwarding and mask/cloak the domain the address bar (using multiple domains) as follows:

domain1.com --> forwards to [url]

domain2.com --> forwards to [url]

domain3.com --> forwards to [url]

4) For uploading files, I go to ftp://123.456.78 and drop/drag/copy/paste files into the window using my browser

5) I'm able to password protect the subdirectories as I choose.

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I called my webhost, Hostik, and told them that I was unable to do anything on my web console. I can't change a password, create a user, or even access my usage/bandwidth quotas.

They told me that I'm on an "old server" using the windows-based console (probably C-Panel / Control Panel) and they're in the process over the next three months of transfering everyone over to "Plesk".

So, they set me up with a new Plesk account, while keeping the old one in place, so that I could move/transfer my files to the Plesk account.

When I went to Plesk, I realized things are not the same:

1) In my Control Panel / C-Panel, I had a unique IP URL Address - [url]

2) In Plesk, it seems there's a set IP URL Address - [url] - that everyone shares.

3) I was told that in Plesk, many people use that IP URL address and that I'm supposed to place my files into the "httpdocs" folder.

Appearently, this is a system of shared hosting whereby many people have the same IP URL address (different from what I had before) and it recognizes each account by the login or something, so the "httpdocs" folder would identify my domain.

I was then told that in Plesk, I must have my domain affixed to the Plesk account.

In other words, I can no longer do what I was doing before, having my domain separated in another location and using URL forwarding from an outside nameserver.

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So, my original question is what's the difference between Plesk vs. C-Panel/Control Panel?

Perhaps I answered most of it above.

Is it correct that I can't do things the way I've been doing them so far if that's the case?

It might be that Plesk is not for me and I may need to find a host that gives me my own unique IP URL Address. However, I was informed that not many companies are doing that as most are switching over to Plesk.

In addition, Hostik does not offer multiple domains.

In response to this thread, David recommended I try synhosting.com

synhosting.com has "Multiple Websites". I assume this means mulitiple domains. Correct?

What's my best option at this point?

1) Find a host that has C-Panel / Control Panel (if any there are)?

2) Use a service such as synhosting.com and move all my domains over to them?

3) If I do use synhosting.com, am I required to move my domains over to their nameservers?

4) I have my MX Mail records pointing to Fastmail.fm for my email virtual domains. Would I still be able to do this if my domain is dedicated to a webhost and opt not to use their email feature?

5) Should I get rid of this old-school thought of using my web host as "file storage" and stop this practice of using URL forwarding and cloaking?