Speed up your website
Sheernox hosting runs on OpenLiteSpeed, a fast web server with its own page cache, LSCache. A few switches in the control panel make PHP sites, and WordPress in particular, faster still.
Opcode caching
Section titled “Opcode caching”Opcode caching keeps a compiled copy of your PHP code in memory, so the server does not have to read and compile it again on every visit. It is on for new websites.
To check it, open the website, select Advanced, then Optimization. Leave Opcode caching on unless a developer asks you to turn it off while debugging.
Redis object caching
Section titled “Redis object caching”Redis keeps the results of database queries in memory, which speeds up busy, database-heavy sites such as shops and membership sites. Your software has to support it: for WordPress, that is a Redis object cache plugin.
- Open the website, select Advanced, then Developer tools, and switch on Redis.
- Turn on Redis support in your software. WordPress installed from the control panel already has the Redis Object Cache plugin; open its settings in WordPress and make sure the object cache is enabled. Other software has its own setting.
Page caching with LSCache
Section titled “Page caching with LSCache”LSCache stores ready-made copies of your pages, so most visitors get a page without PHP running at all. For WordPress, install the LiteSpeed Cache plugin to use it.
Use only one page caching plugin. Two caching layers can show visitors out-of-date or broken pages.
IonCube loader
Section titled “IonCube loader”Some commercial PHP software is protected with IonCube and will not run without the IonCube loader. Only turn it on if your software’s instructions ask for it: open Developer tools, scroll to IonCube loader and switch it on.
The loader is not available for every PHP version; the panel says when your website’s version is not supported. See Choose your PHP version and settings.
Other ways to keep a site fast
Section titled “Other ways to keep a site fast”- Keep PHP up to date; newer versions are noticeably faster.
- Remove plugins and themes you do not use, and keep the rest updated.
- Resize and compress images before you upload them.