Quick answer: Use LiteSpeed’s official one-click script — it installs OpenLiteSpeed, PHP (lsphp), MariaDB, WordPress and the LiteSpeed Cache plugin in one run: bash <( curl -sk https://raw.githubusercontent.com/litespeedtech/ols1clk/master/ols1clk.sh ) -w. OpenLiteSpeed + LSCache is one of the fastest free WordPress stacks available.
Overview
OpenLiteSpeed is a free, event-driven web server whose killer feature for WordPress is LiteSpeed Cache — full-page caching integrated at the server level through the LSCWP plugin, typically outperforming plugin-only caches. Admin happens in a web console on port 7080. It’s a great choice for a dedicated WordPress VPS; if you prefer the classic stack, see WordPress with Nginx.
Before you start
- A fresh Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or AlmaLinux/Rocky 9 VPS — the script wants a clean server (reinstall from the Client Area service page if needed).
- SSH access as root and a domain pointed at the VPS.
Step-by-step guide
- Run the installer with the WordPress option:
It prints the generated MariaDB, WordPress and WebAdmin credentials at the end — save them.bash <( curl -sk https://raw.githubusercontent.com/litespeedtech/ols1clk/master/ols1clk.sh ) -w - Open the firewall for web and admin traffic:
sudo ufw allow 80,443,7080/tcp - Browse to
http://YOUR_VPS_IP/and finish the WordPress installer. - Log in to WebAdmin at
https://YOUR_VPS_IP:7080, set your virtual host’s domain, and map port 443 with your certificate (Let’s Encrypt viacertbot certonly --webrootworks fine). - In wp-admin, open the pre-installed LiteSpeed Cache plugin and enable page caching — it works out of the box with OpenLiteSpeed.
Common issues
- Can’t reach port 7080: firewall closed — allow it (and restrict to your IP for safety:
sudo ufw allow from YOUR_IP to any port 7080). - Script refuses to run: existing web server on the machine — ols1clk expects a clean OS.
- Cache not purging on updates: set purge hooks in LSCache → Cache → Purge; default rules cover posts and comments.
When to contact support
Open a ticket for platform issues (server unreachable, reinstall requests). OpenLiteSpeed itself is community-supported software — its documentation at openlitespeed.org covers WebAdmin in depth.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenLiteSpeed really faster than Nginx for WordPress?
For cached pages, usually yes: LiteSpeed Cache integrates at the server level and serves hits without touching PHP, which beats most plugin-based caching on identical hardware.
Is OpenLiteSpeed free, and how is it different from LiteSpeed Enterprise?
OpenLiteSpeed is fully free and open source. Enterprise adds .htaccess compatibility and commercial support, but for a standalone WordPress VPS the free edition is enough.
What runs on port 7080?
The OpenLiteSpeed WebAdmin console — the web interface where you manage virtual hosts, listeners, PHP versions and SSL. Keep it firewalled to your own IP address.
Related articles
- How to install WordPress with Nginx
- How to improve WordPress speed on a VPS
- How to configure Redis object cache
- How to install WordPress on a VPS
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