Advanced Server Optimization Guide with Plesk

Introduction

Plesk is a powerful control panel in the web hosting field. However, achieving high performance can be challenging with default settings. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to server optimization with Plesk.

The Logic of Optimization

Server optimization is crucial for effective resource use and performance enhancement. While Plesk offers a robust interface for managing your websites, it needs to be utilized with the right settings.

Steps to Enhance Performance with Plesk

1. Check for Updates: Ensure that Plesk and all extensions are up-to-date. Updates can improve performance.
2. Optimize PHP Settings: Navigate to the PHP Settings menu within Plesk to adjust PHP settings. Make the following changes:

• memory_limit: 256M
• max_execution_time: 300
• upload_max_filesize: 50M

You can also adjust these settings in the php.ini file:

memory_limit = 256M
max_execution_time = 300
upload_max_filesize = 50M

3. MySQL Performance Settings: Edit your my.cnf file to improve MySQL database performance:

[mysqld]
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 1G
max_connections = 200
query_cache_size = 128M
query_cache_type = 1

These settings will allow MySQL to retain more data and execute queries faster.

4. Network Optimization: Review network settings via Plesk. Check the Server Settings section to verify Firewall settings. Close unnecessary ports and only open the essential ones.
5. DDoS Protection: Plesk offers several plugins to protect against DDoS attacks. Increase security by using a Web Application Firewall (WAF).
6. Use of SSL Certificates: HTTPS is crucial for security and SEO. Obtain a free SSL certificate via Let's Encrypt through Plesk.
7. Utilizing a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Use a CDN to reduce your website's load times. Integrate CDN through Plesk to rapidly distribute your content globally.

Conclusion

The optimizations you make with Plesk will enhance your server performance and improve user experience. Always stay updated and follow best practices.