Lighttpd (pronounced “Lighty”) is high-performance internet server device designed for velocity, safety, and versatility. It may be a very good possibility for environments with minimum assets, dynamic internet sites, or various programs. On the other hand, you could be questioning what makes it other from different answers.
On this article, we’ll discover Lighttpd and notice what makes it distinctive. We’ll additionally display you how you can run your WordPress web site on Lighttpd. Let’s get began!
What Is Lighttpd?
Lighttpd is open-source internet server device. It’s designed particularly for environments with restricted assets because it consumes minimum CPU and RAM. It’s additionally appropriate for each the Home windows and Linux Working Programs (OSs):
Lighttpd was once to start with launched in 2003 via Jan Kneschke, a German device developer. Kneschke initially wrote the device to end up that one server may just deal with 10,000 simultaneous connections, in a different way referred to as the c10k problem.
Like different internet server device, Lighttpd makes your content material visual on-line. When a consumer’s browser requests to view your web site, the device receives the question, retrieves your web page’s content material, and presentations it in HTML layout.
Until you place up your personal server, your hosting provider will typically decide your internet server device. Later on this submit, we’ll display you how you can in finding out in case your host is operating with Lighttpd.
Is Lighttpd Other From Different Internet Server Device?
Lighttpd is simply one of the internet server device choices. Internet hosting suppliers and web site house owners go for other device in step with their wishes with regards to safety, velocity, ease of use, and get admission to to developer equipment.
As an example, Apache could be a better choice in case you’re in search of extensibility and customization choices, because of its more than a few modules. On the other hand, Lighttpd makes use of fewer assets than Apache, making it extra environment friendly.
NGINX is every other very talked-about internet server that’s praised for its high-performance options. When in comparison to Lighttpd, NGINX is arguably extra strong and has extra widespread construction updates. Those device choices even have reasonably other working processes. Lighttpd runs as one procedure, while NGINX has an overarching procedure and supporting employee processes.
LiteSpeed is every other light-weight internet server device possibility. It’s spectacular for its high-performance options, minimum useful resource intake, and integrated safety. It normally receives extra updates and prices greater than Lighttpd (except you run the limited open-source version). Additionally, LiteSpeed is considerably extra common than Lighttpd, so that you’ll get get admission to to extra developer and consumer assets.
How Does Lighttpd Paintings?
Lighttpd comprises make stronger for FastCGI, CGI, and SCGI. As such, you’ll be able to use this server device with programs written in any programming language, together with:
- PHP
- Python
- Perl
- Ruby
- Lua
Moreover, Lighttpd handles requests asynchronously. Which means the internet server device doesn’t prevent the browser from appearing movements whilst it’s running within the background.
Subsequently, Lighttpd can deal with a couple of requests with out slowing down your web page and inconveniencing your customers. This setup allows you to paintings on more than a few programs concurrently.
The Execs and Cons of Lighttpd
Listed here are probably the most important benefits of the use of Lighttpd:
- It makes use of minimum CPU, RAM, and different assets.
- It helps all programming languages.
- It’s open-source and loose to make use of.
Against this, listed below are probably the most most vital disadvantages of this server device:
- It’s no longer as common as different device choices, so that you’ll in finding much less neighborhood make stronger and documentation.
- It lacks the complicated options and customizable modules of alternative server device.
- Lighttpd has restricted functionality benefits for greater internet sites.
General, Lighttpd will also be a very good selection if you wish to decrease CPU and RAM intake. This light-weight device could also be nice for construction because it helps internet programs in any programming language. On the other hand, it’s best possible fitted to smaller internet sites and apps.
The right way to Decide If Your Internet Server Is The use of Lighttpd
You may be able to see in case your internet server is the use of Lighttpd via navigating for your internet hosting supplier’s dashboard. This knowledge can also be to be had whilst you join a internet hosting package deal.
However, you’ll be able to decide your web site’s server device via Google Chrome. The browser has built-in Developer Tools that will help you be told extra about websites whilst you seek advice from them.
Open your web site, and hit Ctrl + Shift + I in your keyboard to open Developer Equipment. You will have to see a pop-up panel:
Now click on at the Community tab and refresh your web page to load the knowledge. Choose any of the entries underneath Title and scroll all the way down to Reaction Headers. Below Server, you will have to have the ability to see the internet server’s title and model:
It’s that straightforward! On the other hand, it’s possible you’ll no longer see the internet server device in case your web page makes use of Cloudflare or a equivalent proxy carrier.
In case your server isn’t the use of Lighttpd, you’ll be able to install and set up the software your self. You’ll then wish to observe the basic setup and configuration instructions to get it working as it should be.
On the other hand, you’ll desire a devoted server or Virtual Private Server (VPS) to get root get admission to and set up your personal internet server device. However, you’ll be able to search for a internet hosting supplier that helps Lighttpd via default, similar to A2 Hosting.
The right way to Run WordPress on Lighttpd (In 3 Steps)
In any case, let’s take a snappy take a look at how you’ll be able to arrange Lighttpd manually. Even if this device can technically run on Home windows, it’s higher fitted to Linux distributions similar to Ubuntu. Subsequently, we’ll focal point on that possibility to your WordPress web site.
Step 1: Set up Lighttpd
First, you’ll wish to replace and improve your machine recordsdata to be sure that the whole thing is operating because it will have to. Open the command line and input the next instructions:
sudo apt replace
sudo apt improve
The following command will set up Lighttpd in your machine (in case you haven’t completed so already):
sudo apt set up lighttpd
You’ll now wish to inform your OS to release your Lighttpd internet server every time it reboots. You’ll be able to set that up with this command:
sudo systemctl allow lighttpd
Step 2: Set Up PHP and Databases
Now it’s time to put in PHP and all of its extensions. Without PHP, your WordPress website can’t run, so this is among the crucial steps:
sudo apt-get set up php php-cgi php-cli php-fpm php-curl php-gd php-mysql php-mbstring zip unzip apache2-
The next instructions will allow the FastCGI extensions, and take a look at them to be sure that PHP will paintings as it should be:
sudo lighty-enable-mod fastcgi fastcgi-php
sudo carrier lighttpd force-reload
When you don’t have already got a MySQL database arrange to your WordPress web page, you’ll be able to use those instructions to create one and protected it in opposition to malicious actors:
sudo apt set up mysql-server
sudo mysql_secure_installation
You’ll additionally wish to make a database to your WordPress web site:
sudo mysql
Now create a reputation to your database, changing “example_database” along with your selected name:
create database `example_database` personality set = 'utf8';
You’ll now make a consumer and related password to your WordPress database, changing “title” and “password” along with your selected values. You’ll additionally give them permission to regulate your database:
create consumer 'title'@'localhost' known via 'password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `example_database`.* to `title`@localhost;
go out
Step 3: Obtain and Set Up WordPress
The next instructions will download the newest model of WordPress core to your web site:
cd /tmp
wget https://wordpress.org/newest.zip
You’ll then wish to make a root folder to your web page, changing “title” along with your web site’s title:
sudo mkdir /var/www/html/title
The next instructions will extract the WordPress recordsdata from the .zip folder and transfer them into your new folder:
sudo unzip /tmp/newest.zip
sudo mv /tmp/wordpress/* /var/www/html/title
You’ll additionally wish to make certain that your admin consumer can get admission to this folder:
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/title
Now get admission to your WordPress login via your browser with this handle, once more the use of your web site’s listing title:
http://server-ip-address/title
That’s it! Lighttpd is now arrange and in a position to make use of.
Conclusion
Opting for the proper server device to your wishes can spice up your web site or utility’s good fortune. Thankfully, Lighttpd is acceptable for a number of sorts of environments.
As we mentioned on this article, Lighttpd is a light-weight device that consumes minimum CPU and RAM. Subsequently, it’s a very good selection for Linux-based environments with few assets to spare. It’s additionally open-source, loose to make use of, and helps all programming languages.
Do you will have any questions on the use of the Lighttpd internet server device? Tell us within the feedback phase beneath!
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