LiteSpeed Web Server is a drop-in alternative to Apache. It is a high-performing and highly scalable server system that addresses issues experienced by database administrators, web hosts and developers in terms of load limitations, security challenges and anything that creates bottlenecks in web hosting platforms.
The software was launched in 2003 with the aim to present a seamless transfer from Apache to a more efficient technology. It was designed to read and operate from Apache’s .htaccess and httpd.conf files so that no reconfiguration will be required when making the switch.
LiteSpeed can be installed without any downtime, in less than 15 minutes. The event-driven architecture allows quick and consistent response, as well as efficient use of memory. It has control panel plugins such as WHM, Plesk and DirectAdmin that assist in the installation of the software using the current interface.
The web server has LiteSpeed Cache for WordPress (LCWP) that provides the hosting site with excellent performance. This cache is compatible with plugins like Yoast SEO and WooCommerce.
LiteSpeed Features
LiteSpeed has robust features that address functions for performance, high availability and scalability. Its web administration console is easy to navigate and its security features block cyberattacks even before they can penetrate the web server. The software has 17 basic features that include unlimited IP and name-based hosting, scripting languages and server APIs.
Event-driven architecture
This feature addresses the issue on overhead consumption each time a process request is made for static content. What LiteSpeed does is it recruits a process for handling requests one by one. Web applications and database processes have a more complicated interaction as LiteSpeed fields requests for both static and dynamic content and gets a new event as soon as an external response is completed.
High-performance static and dynamic content
On high traffic, LiteSpeed handles static content up to 10 times faster than Apache, and up to 40x faster for dynamic content for web applications like PHP and Python. In a test benchmarking differences in request responses for 10 concurrent users, LiteSpeed gained 4.4 times faster than Apache in non-keep alive connections for static content and gained 8.5 times faster than Apache for keep-alive connections.
The benchmarking for dynamic content showed 127.4x gain of LiteSpeed over Apache /EA4 Default for non-keep alive connections, and 192.6x gain for keep-alive connections.
Control panel plugins
Popular hosting panels cPanel (WHM), Plesk and DirectAdmin that help manage LiteSpeed functions directly from the panel. This addresses functions like LiteSpeed installation, switching to and from Apache and restarting.
Virtual host templates and web admin console
This feature allows users to easily maintain multiple virtual hosts and customize basic setups separately. There are also usage-configurable templates for uses such as W3 Total Cache or reverse proxy.
The web admin console makes LiteSpeed configurations readily available while the user interface allows for a more intuitive control of the software.
Per-IP throttling and SSL renegotiation protection
LiteSpeed is equipped with customizable security features such as per-IP connection, bandwidth throttling and request. This blocks IPs that have too many connection and bandwidth requests so that cyberattacks are prevented even before they penetrate the server. SSL renegotiation protection then puts a limit to the number of times SSL materials can be renegotiated, as this can damage the server if it has a large overhead.
Brute force protection for wp-login.php
The WordPress protection system prevents attackers from bringing down the server by attempting log in to a target WordPress account using different passwords or passphrases. Wp-login.php and xmlrc.php are usually the targets for such attacks.
Integrations
LiteSpeed is compatible with some control panel integrations cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin and CyberPanel. These applications assist in the easy installation of both LiteSpeed Web Server and OpenLiteSpeed.
cPanel is LiteSpeed’s WHM plugin and has three additional plugins such as LS Web Cache Manager, WebADC ZeroConf and LSMCD Secure User Data.
Plesk is for LiteSpeed Enterprise management and requires an upgrade to the latest version of LiteSpeed Web Server. It has a one-click switch between Apache and LiteSpeed and is a plugin for WordPress.
DirectAdmin is a user-friendly plugin for LiteSpeed Enterprise and serves as a portal to the LSWS console.
CyberPanel is the web hosting control panel for LiteSpeed Enterprise edition that allows the use of cache plugins for WordPress and Magento.
LiteSpeed Benefits
LiteSpeed has numerous benefits, including its advantages over Apache, such as faster communication, improved security and efficient hardware utilization. Benefits for the website owners are enhanced productivity, built-in security system against DDOS attacks and significant reduction on website response time.
Apache-compatible
As a web server that has a free and open-source platform, Apache is slightly behind LiteSpeed in terms of speed and security. However, LiteSpeed was created to work on the disadvantages of Apache by providing the users the capability to seamlessly switch from their Apache web server to LiteSpeed without requiring any reconfiguration.
One-Click in the cloud
Users can easily install an instance in three minutes and custom-build one-click images for chosen cloud platforms. Some of the cloud-based applications featured in the collection of images are WordPress, Django and CyberPanel.
Reduced hardware costs
As LiteSpeed can keep the load low on the server, this will improve the users’ productivity by spending more time on actual work than looking for troubleshooting techniques to address server breakdown due to overload.
The web server can reduce costs for repair and troubleshooting as there is 24/7 support. 24/7 support can be contacted through the software and website for immediate action. Also, the software’s integration to cPanel will give users access to the application’s support team.
Security
Because of LiteSpeed’s compatibility to Apache, the mod_security module that protects Apache can work well with LiteSpeed. In addition to that, the software has its own security system that blocks DDS or DDOS attacks.
LiteSpeed Web Server Pricing
LiteSpeed Web Server is categorized into two types: Site Owner and Web Host. All packages include domain limit, number of workers and RAM limit. Domain limit differs per package, but sub-domains are unlimited. A 403 error will result from an excess in the specified limit.
The number of workers indicates the number of processes that will be generated from general server work. RAM limit, similar to Domain limit, differs per package. Any excess on the limit will cause an error in the system.
A 15-day free trial called Free Starter is available for those who want to try out LiteSpeed’s features first before completely getting a license. The package includes one domain, one worker, a maximum 2 GB of memory and LSCache.
Site owner package
There are two types of Site Owner packages. The first one is Site Owner that is priced at $10 per month. This provides access to five domains, one worker, a maximum 8 GB of memory and LSCache.
The second one is Site Owner Plus, which has everything that Site Owner has plus unlimited memory. This is priced at $16 per month.
Web host package
The Web Host category has five types, each providing unlimited domain and LSCache. Lite is priced at $26 per month, with one-worker process and a maximum of 8 GB memory; Essential is at $36 per month, also covering one-worker process but unlimited memory; Professional is at $46 per month, covering two-worker process and unlimited memory; Enterprise is at $65 per month, with four-worker process and unlimited memory; and Elite is at $92 monthly with configurable worker process and unlimited memory.
Conclusion
LiteSpeed Web Server is a powerful alternative to Apache providing Apache users as well as database administrators, web hosts and developers with faster, more efficient web hosting features and functionalities. Its security module efficiently protects users, including WordPress hosts, from cyberattacks as it can detect the threats before they can penetrate the servers. The software is easy on the pocket because of its support team that is available 24/7.
