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Website Tools & Features

Dennis Nind
By Dennis Nind
• 6 articles

How to Manage PHP Versions and Extensions

Your Eco Web Hosting account includes a powerful PHP Selector, powered by CloudLinux, which allows you to easily switch between PHP versions and enable or disable specific PHP extensions — no need to edit configuration files manually. Whether you're troubleshooting compatibility issues, running a modern CMS like WordPress, or setting up a custom app, the PHP Selector gives you the flexibility you need. 🔐 First: Access Your Hosting Control Panel If you're not already logged in, start here: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel ⚙️ Accessing the PHP Selector 1. In the control panel dashboard, locate and click on Select PHP Version or PHP Selector 2. You'll be taken to the PHP management interface 🔄 Changing Your PHP Version 1. At the top of the PHP Selector page, you’ll see a dropdown menu showing the current PHP version (e.g. 8.1, 8.2, etc.) 2. Click the dropdown and choose the PHP version your site or application requires 3. Click Apply (or Set as current, depending on your theme) ⚠️ Some websites or scripts may only work with specific PHP versions. If unsure, check your application’s documentation or ask our support team. 🧩 Enabling or Disabling PHP Extensions Below the PHP version selector, you'll see a list of available PHP extensions (like pdo, mysqli, zip, curl, etc.). 1. Tick the checkbox next to each extension you want to enable 2. Untick any extensions you don’t need 3. Changes are applied automatically, or you may see a Save button depending on the interface Common extensions for WordPress and popular apps include: - mysqli - pdo_mysql - zip - gd - intl - curl 🔧 Adjusting PHP Settings (Optional) Click on the Options or Switch to PHP Options tab (may appear as a link or tab depending on the theme). Here you can adjust common PHP settings like: - memory_limit - upload_max_filesize - post_max_size - max_execution_time - display_errors To change a setting: 1. Click the value next to it (e.g. change 128M to 256M) 2. Select or type your new value 3. Click Apply or Save These settings can help optimise performance for larger sites or specific applications. 🧪 Troubleshooting Tip If your website starts showing errors after a PHP version change: - Try switching back to a previously working version - Re-enable essential extensions - Clear any website or browser caches - If using WordPress, disable plugins via File Manager or FTP to isolate the issue

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Installing and Managing WordPress

WordPress is the world’s most popular website platform — perfect for blogs, business sites, portfolios, and even eCommerce stores. With Eco Web Hosting, you can install and manage WordPress easily using the Softaculous App Installer built into your hosting control panel. This guide will walk you through setup and ongoing management. 🔐 First: Access Your Hosting Control Panel If you're not already logged in, start here: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel 🚀 Installing WordPress Using Softaculous 1. In your hosting control panel, scroll down and click on WordPress under the Softaculous Apps Installer section 2. Click the Install Now button 3. Fill in the details for your site: Choose Installation URL - Select your domain (e.g. https://yourdomain.com) - Leave the "Directory" field empty if you want WordPress on the main site (if you enter blog, it installs to yourdomain.com/blog) Site Settings - Site Name: Your website title - Site Description: A short description or tagline - Enable Multisite (optional): Leave unchecked unless needed Admin Account - Set your WordPress admin username, password, and email - Use a strong password and a secure email address Choose Language - Select your preferred language for the WordPress dashboard Select Plugins (optional) - You can pre-install common plugins like Limit Login Attempts or Classic Editor 4. Click Install at the bottom You’ll see a progress bar, and within a few seconds your new WordPress site will be live. A success screen will show your admin URL (typically https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin). 🧰 Managing WordPress After Installation You can manage your WordPress site at any time from Softaculous > WordPress Manager: - Access your admin dashboard - Change your admin password - Manage backups and staging copies - Clone, move, or delete the installation - Set automatic WordPress, theme, or plugin updates 🔄 Keeping WordPress Updated Keeping WordPress up to date is essential for security and performance. Softaculous makes this easy: - Enable automatic updates during install or from the WordPress Manager - Or update manually from the WordPress admin dashboard (under Dashboard > Updates) 🛠 Need to Clone, Stage, or Move a Site? From the WordPress Manager, you can also: - Clone your site to another domain or subdomain (e.g. for redesign work) - Create a staging site to test changes without affecting your live site - Backup or restore with one click These features are especially useful for developers and growing sites.

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Setting Up Automated Tasks (Cron Jobs)

Cron jobs allow you to schedule scripts or commands to run automatically on your hosting account — for example, to trigger backups, send scheduled emails, or refresh data. If your website or application relies on regular background tasks, setting up a cron job ensures these tasks run reliably without manual intervention. 🔐 First: Access Your Hosting Control Panel If you’re not already logged in, follow this guide: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel Once logged in, look for the Cron Jobs section. ➕ Creating a Cron Job 1. In the control panel, click on Cron Jobs 2. Under Add New Cron Job, configure the following: ⏲ Schedule You can manually enter values or use the dropdown presets. Each field defines when your script runs: - Minute (0–59) - Hour (0–23) - Day (1–31) - Month (1–12) - Weekday (0–6, where 0 = Sunday) For example, to run a task every day at 3am: - Minute: 0 - Hour: 3 - Day: * - Month: * - Weekday: * Or use the preset dropdown for quick options like: - Once per day - Once per hour - Once per week 💻 Command to Run This is the actual command or script you want to run. Common examples: PHP Script: /usr/local/bin/php /home/yourusername/domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/cron.php Wget (URL-based script): /usr/bin/wget -q -O /dev/null https://yourdomain.com/cron.php Curl (alternative to wget): /usr/bin/curl -s https://yourdomain.com/cron.php > /dev/null Make sure your script is: - Executable - Correctly located in your file structure - Capable of running in a non-browser environment (i.e., command line) 🧪 Testing a Cron Job - You can run the script manually via File Manager or a browser to confirm it works - After saving the job, wait for the scheduled time to see if it executes - For debugging, consider adding output to a log file: /usr/local/bin/php /home/yourusername/domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/cron.php >> /home/yourusername/cronlog.txt 2>&1 📌 Managing Existing Cron Jobs - All saved cron jobs appear in a list below the form - You can Edit or Delete any cron job at any time - Review them periodically to remove unused or outdated jobs 🛡 Security Tip If you're triggering cron jobs using a public URL (e.g. cron.php), consider: - Adding a secret token in the URL - Blocking public access to the script via .htaccess or IP restriction

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Enabling and Managing Redis

Redis is a high-performance in-memory caching system that helps improve website speed and reduce server load — especially for dynamic sites using platforms like WordPress, Magento, or Laravel. With Redis now available on our hosting platform, you can enable it in just a few clicks from within your hosting control panel. 🔐 Accessing the Hosting Control Panel If you're not already logged in, follow this guide: 👉 How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel 🚀 How to Enable Redis 1. From your hosting control panel dashboard, go to: Advanced Features > Redis 2. If Redis is currently disabled, you’ll see a message: “This account has Redis disabled.” 3. Click the green Enable button to activate Redis for your account Redis will now start automatically in the background using a secure Unix socket. 📂 Redis Socket Path Once enabled, Redis will be accessible via a Unix socket file located in your home directory: /home/yourusername/.redis/redis.sock Replace yourusername with your actual hosting username (visible in your control panel’s account info section) 🔌 Using Redis in Your Applications To connect Redis to your site or CMS: - Use the Unix socket path listed above instead of a host/port combination - For apps or plugins that require a port, use: Port: 0 This is especially useful for WordPress Redis caching plugins, Magento cache backends, and Laravel queue drivers. 🛠 Troubleshooting & Tips - If your app isn’t connecting, double-check the socket path and permissions - Some plugins may require manual configuration of the Redis path - To avoid excessive memory usage, set a TTL (time to live) or max memory usage in your application config - Redis is designed for short-term storage — avoid storing large persistent data

Last updated on Apr 30, 2025

Optimizing WordPress Performance: Configuring Redis and LiteSpeed Cache

Optimizing WordPress Performance: Configuring Redis and LiteSpeed Cache **Description:**A step-by-step guide for WordPress site owners using Eco Web Hosting’s shared hosting to improve website speed with Redis and LiteSpeed Cache. This guide is tailored for customers with basic technical knowledge and focuses on self-service solutions, using tools provided within your hosting control panel. Why Use Redis and LiteSpeed Cache? Website speed is crucial for user experience and SEO. Two powerful tools for WordPress performance are: - Redis: An in-memory caching system to speed up database-driven sites. - LiteSpeed Cache (LSCache): A server-level cache solution with a WordPress plugin for easy management. Both are available on Eco Web Hosting’s shared hosting platform. Prerequisites - An active shared hosting account with Eco Web Hosting - A WordPress site installed and accessible - Access to your hosting control panel and WordPress admin dashboard Step 1: Enabling Redis in Your Hosting Control Panel 1. Log in to your Eco Web Hosting client area and access your Hosting Control Panel. 2. Navigate to Advanced Features > Redis. 3. If Redis is disabled, click the Enable button. 4. Note the Redis socket path shown (e.g., /home/yourusername/.redis/redis.sock). - You’ll need this for plugin configuration. Step 2: Installing and Configuring LiteSpeed Cache Plugin 2.1 Install LiteSpeed Cache Plugin 1. In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New. 2. Search for "LiteSpeed Cache". 3. Click Install Now, then Activate. 2.2 Basic Plugin Configuration - Go to LiteSpeed Cache > General. - Ensure Enable LiteSpeed Cache is ON. Step 3: Integrating Redis with LiteSpeed Cache 3.1 Enable Redis Object Cache in LiteSpeed Plugin 1. In WordPress admin, navigate to LiteSpeed Cache > Cache > Object. 2. Set Object Cache to ON. 3. Set Method to UNIX Socket. 4. In Host, enter the socket path from Step 1 (e.g., /home/yourusername/.redis/redis.sock). 5. Set Port to 0. 6. Save changes. Example Configuration: Host: /home/yourusername/.redis/redis.sock Port: 0 Replace yourusername with your actual hosting username. 3.2 Test Redis Connection - After saving, check the Status at the top of the Object Cache settings page. - You should see:Object Cache Enabled & Connected Step 4: Fine-Tuning LiteSpeed Cache Settings 4.1 Recommended Cache Settings - Cache > Cache: - Enable cache for logged-in users (optional) - Enable cache for REST API and login page - Cache > TTL: - Adjust cache lifetimes as needed (default values are suitable for most sites) - Cache > Purge: - Configure automatic purging for updates (posts, pages, comments) 4.2 Excluding Content from Cache - If needed, use Cache > Excludes to exclude specific pages or cookies from being cached. Step 5: Verifying Performance Improvements - Use tools like GTmetrix or Pingdom Tools to test your site’s speed before and after configuration. - Look for reduced load times and improved scores. Troubleshooting Redis Object Cache Not Connecting - **Double-check the socket path:**It must match your home directory and username. - Port must be 0 when using UNIX Socket. - Plugin not connecting? - Disable object cache, save changes, re-enable, and re-save. - Ensure Redis is enabled in your hosting control panel. Cache Not Working - LSCache Plugin Not Detected:— Make sure your hosting uses LiteSpeed Web Server (all Eco Web Hosting shared hosting does). - Changes not visible on site:— Clear cache via LiteSpeed Cache > Toolbox > Purge All. - Admin Bar Cache Status:— Install LSCache Admin Bar Addon for detailed cache status. Frequently Asked Questions How can I confirm Redis is working? - Go to LiteSpeed Cache > Toolbox > Object Cache and check the cache status. - Look for messages like “Object Cache Enabled & Connected”. Can I use other caching plugins with LiteSpeed Cache? - It’s not recommended to use multiple full-page caching plugins (e.g., WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache) together, as this can cause conflicts. - LiteSpeed Cache is optimized for the server environment and should be the only full-page cache plugin enabled. Further Resources - LiteSpeed Cache Documentation - Eco Web Hosting Knowledge Base - How to Enable Redis on Eco Web Hosting **Tip:**If you encounter issues you can’t resolve, submit a support ticket via your Eco Web Hosting client area with detailed information and screenshots if possible.

Last updated on Aug 08, 2025

How to Upgrade and Configure PHP for WordPress Performance

How to Upgrade and Configure PHP for WordPress Performance **Description:**A step-by-step guide for shared hosting customers to check, upgrade, and configure their PHP version for optimal WordPress performance. This article covers how to select your PHP version (with a focus on DirectAdmin), what to expect from different versions, and practical troubleshooting tips. Table of Contents - Why PHP Version Matters for WordPress - How to Check Your Current PHP Version - How to Select or Upgrade Your PHP Version in DirectAdmin - Configuring PHP Extensions and Settings - Troubleshooting Common PHP Upgrade Issues - Frequently Asked Questions Why PHP Version Matters for WordPress - Performance: Newer PHP versions (e.g., 8.1, 8.2, 8.3) are significantly faster than older versions. - Security: Only supported PHP versions receive security updates. Older versions are a risk. - Compatibility: Latest WordPress releases and plugins may require a minimum PHP version. > **Tip:**WordPress recommends using PHP 8.0 or higher for best performance and security. How to Check Your Current PHP Version There are two main ways: 1. Using WordPress - Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. - Go to Tools > Site Health. - Click on the Info tab, then expand the Server section. - Look for the PHP Version entry. 2. Using the Hosting Control Panel - Log in to your Eco Web Hosting client area. - Click Manage Hosting for your site. - Open your hosting control panel - Look for a section like PHP Selector, Select PHP Version, or PHP Settings. - Your current PHP version will be displayed here. How to Select or Upgrade Your PHP Version in DirectAdmin > **Note:**Changing your PHP version only affects your website and does NOT require server admin access. Step-by-Step: Upgrade PHP in DirectAdmin 1. Log in to DirectAdminAccess your hosting control panel via your client area or directly. 2. Navigate to PHP Selector - Look for Extra Features or a similar section. - Click on Select PHP Version (or PHP Selector). 3. View Current PHP Version - At the top, see the current active version for your account or domain. 4. Choose a New PHP Version - Click the dropdown list and select your desired version (e.g., 8.2). - Click Set as current or similar button to apply the change. 5. Wait for the Update - Changes are applied instantly, but it’s a good idea to refresh your site and test key pages. 6. (Optional) Test WordPress Functionality - Visit your website and WordPress dashboard. - Check if all plugins and themes are working. - If something breaks, you can revert to the previous PHP version. Configuring PHP Extensions and Settings Optimizing PHP for WordPress means enabling the right extensions and adjusting settings as needed. Enable Essential PHP Extensions - In the PHP Selector screen, checkboxes for common extensions (modules) will be listed. - Recommended for WordPress: - mysqli - pdo_mysql - curl - zip - gd - intl - Tick the boxes to enable, and click Save or Apply if required. Adjust PHP Options - Click the Options tab or Switch to PHP Options link. - Common settings to adjust: - memory_limit (e.g., 256M) - upload_max_filesize (e.g., 64M) - post_max_size (e.g., 64M) - max_execution_time (e.g., 120) - Click the value to edit, select or type a new value, then Save. > **Example:**To increase the upload limit for large plugins or themes: > > > upload_max_filesize = 64M > post_max_size = 64M > Troubleshooting Common PHP Upgrade Issues 1. Website Errors or White Screen - Revert to Previous Version: Go back to the PHP Selector and choose your old version. - Disable Plugins: Via WordPress admin, or rename the /wp-content/plugins/ folder using File Manager. - Check .htaccess: Custom rules may need updating for new PHP versions. 2. Missing Extensions - Double-check the relevant extensions are enabled in PHP Selector. - Save changes and refresh your site. 3. Incompatible Themes or Plugins - Update all plugins and themes to the latest versions. - Check plugin documentation for PHP compatibility. 4. "Allowed Memory Size Exhausted" Error - Increase the memory_limit in PHP Options (e.g., set to 256M). 5. Still Having Issues? - Revert to the previous working PHP version. - Consult the Eco Web Hosting Knowledge Base for more tips. - You can open a support ticket with details if you need further help. Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Is it safe to upgrade PHP?**A: Yes, but always test your site after upgrading. Most WordPress sites work best with the latest stable PHP version. **Q: Will my website go offline during the upgrade?**A: No downtime occurs when changing PHP versions—changes are instant. **Q: Can I have different PHP versions for different domains?**A: Yes, you can set PHP versions per domain or subdomain in DirectAdmin. **Need more help?**If you encounter issues not covered here, please refer to our Knowledge Base or raise a support ticket via your client area with specific details about the problem.

Last updated on Aug 08, 2025