How to Install LiteSpeed on a Linux Server

Himanshu Joshi Knowledgebase

LiteSpeed is a high-performance web server that offers enhanced speed, security, and reliability for hosting websites. Install LiteSpeed, because unlike traditional web servers like Apache, LiteSpeed can significantly improve site load times, especially for high-traffic environments.

This guide will walk you through the process of installing LiteSpeed on your Linux server in just a few simple steps.

Benefits of Using LiteSpeed on Linux

LiteSpeed on a Linux

LiteSpeed offers a range of benefits that make it a great choice for both small and large websites. Here are some of the key advantages:

  • Improved Website Performance: LiteSpeed delivers faster page load times and higher efficiency, particularly for dynamic content-heavy websites like WordPress.
  • Enhanced Security: LiteSpeed comes with built-in DDoS protection and various security measures, such as anti-leeching and secure HTTP headers.
  • Apache Compatibility: LiteSpeed is fully compatible with Apache’s configurations (like .htaccess), making the transition smoother.
  • Built-in Caching: LiteSpeed offers powerful caching features that can significantly reduce page load times and server resource consumption.

With all these advantages, LiteSpeed is becoming a popular choice for users who want both speed and security without compromising on ease of use.

Prerequisites

Before you proceed with the installation, make sure that you have the following prerequisites:

  • A Linux server with root or sudo access.
  • LAMP or LEMP stack installed (optional but recommended).
  • An active internet connection is required to download the required packages.
  • A domain name (optional for live servers).

Install LiteSpeed on a Linux Server

Installing LiteSpeed on a Linux server is a quick and efficient way to improve website performance. LiteSpeed is a high-performance web server that offers advanced features like HTTP/3 support, enhanced security, and caching, making it an excellent choice for boosting your site’s speed and SEO ranking. Here’s a simple guide to installing it on your Linux server:

Update Your System

First, make sure your system is up-to-date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Download LiteSpeed Installer

Download the latest LiteSpeed Web Server (LSWS) installer from the official website:

wget https://www.litespeedtech.com/packages/lsws-1.7.x-std-linux-x64.tar.gz

Extract the Tar File

Extract the downloaded tar file to your preferred directory:

tar -zxvf lsws-1.7.x-std-linux-x64.tar.gz

Install LiteSpeed

Run the installation script:

cd lsws-1.7.x
sudo ./install.sh

Start LiteSpeed

Once installed, start the LiteSpeed server:

sudo /usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl start

Access LiteSpeed Admin Panel

Access the LiteSpeed admin panel at http://your-server-ip:7080 to configure settings.

Configure LiteSpeed on a Linux Server

Configuring LiteSpeed on a Linux server allows you to customize the server’s settings to meet your specific needs, such as optimizing performance, enhancing security, and enabling advanced features. Here’s how you can configure LiteSpeed after installation:

Access the Admin Panel

Once LiteSpeed is installed, access the admin panel using your server’s IP address and port 7080:

http://your-server-ip:7080

Log in using the admin credentials you set during installation.

Set Up a Virtual Host

To configure LiteSpeed for different domains or websites, you need to set up a virtual host:

  • In the Admin Panel, navigate to Configuration > Virtual Hosts.
  • Click Add to create a new virtual host, specifying the domain name, root directory, and document root.
  • Assign this virtual host to a listener to define how it handles incoming requests.

Enable Caching

LiteSpeed offers powerful caching capabilities to speed up your website. To enable caching:

  • Go to Configuration > Cache > Cache Settings.
  • Enable caching by checking Enable Cache.
  • Adjust other settings based on your website’s needs, like cache expiration times.

Enable HTTP/2 and HTTP/3

To ensure fast loading times and modern protocol support, enable HTTP/2 and HTTP/3:

  • Navigate to Configuration > Listeners.
  • Edit the listener to enable HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 under the SSL tab, if using HTTPS.

Set Up SSL/TLS

If your website uses HTTPS, you need to configure SSL certificates:

  • Go to Configuration > Listeners.
  • Edit the listener for port 443 (HTTPS) and upload your SSL certificate and key.

Adjust Security Settings

To improve security, enable features such as anti-DDoS protection:

  • Navigate to Configuration > Security.
  • Enable Anti DDoS and Rate Limiting to protect your server from malicious attacks.

Optimize PHP Settings

If you use PHP, configure PHP settings to enhance performance:

  • Go to Configuration > PHP > External App.
  • Configure PHP versions and adjust the maximum allowed connections, memory limits, and other performance-related settings.

Restart LiteSpeed

After making any changes, restart LiteSpeed to apply the new configuration:

sudo /usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl restart

Conclusion

By following these steps, you’ve successfully installed LiteSpeed on your Linux server. LiteSpeed offers faster performance, stronger security features, and greater flexibility compared to traditional web servers. Take the time to explore LiteSpeed’s powerful features like caching and optimization to further enhance your website’s speed and user experience. For more, visit LiteSpeed Documentation.

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