Matrix Hosting
A game server hosting panel, built on custom PHP MVC.
The challenge
Build a complete hosting management system without a framework: customers order game servers and get support, while admins run users, games, plans, orders and servers from one panel.
My contribution
Wrote the MVC layer from scratch: a front controller, a regex router with route parameters, base Controller and Model classes and a PDO singleton. On top of it I built the customer area (ordering, server controls, support tickets, profile) and a separate admin panel with full CRUD. Approving an order automatically provisions a simulated server with an IP and port and emails the customer through PHPMailer.
How it works
A front controller passes each request to the custom router and the matching controller. Models access MySQL through PDO, while the customer and admin areas enforce role and ownership checks. An administrator approves an order, which creates a simulated server record with an IP and port and triggers a PHPMailer notification. Support tickets and replies connect the customer area to the admin workflow.
An order through the hosting panel
Place a customer order
The PHP MVC app handles requests with role and ownership checks.
Review as administrator
The administrator approves the pending order.
Create a server record
PDO stores the simulated IP and port in MySQL.
Notify and support
PHPMailer sends a notice; tickets handle follow-up support.
Provisioning is simulated: this flow creates a database record, not a running game server.
What it covers
- Custom router, controllers and models, no framework
- User and admin roles with ownership checks
- Order approval that provisions a server and sends an email
- Support tickets with replies and file attachments
- Prepared statements, CSRF tokens, XSS escaping and password hashing
Gallery
Outcome
A working hosting panel across 8 related MySQL tables, with role-based access, secure uploads and email notifications at every key step.
Project scope
This university project models a hosting management workflow. Server provisioning is simulated; approval creates a server record rather than deploying a live game server.