# OpenLiteSpeed — High-Performance Open Source Web Server

> A lightweight, high-performance HTTP server with an event-driven architecture, built-in caching, and native support for PHP via LiteSpeed SAPI, delivering faster page loads than traditional web servers.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# OpenLiteSpeed — High-Performance Open Source Web Server

## Quick Use
```bash
# Ubuntu/Debian
wget -O - https://repo.litespeed.sh | sudo bash
sudo apt install openlitespeed lsphp83
# Access admin panel at https://your-server:7080
# Default credentials: admin / 123456 (change immediately)
```

## Introduction
OpenLiteSpeed is the open-source edition of the LiteSpeed Web Server, designed as a high-performance drop-in replacement for Apache. It uses an event-driven architecture to handle high concurrency with low memory usage and includes a built-in page cache (LSCache) that can dramatically accelerate dynamic applications like WordPress and Laravel.

## What OpenLiteSpeed Does
- Serves static and dynamic content with an event-driven, non-blocking architecture
- Provides native PHP processing through LiteSpeed SAPI, faster than PHP-FPM for many workloads
- Includes LSCache, a built-in full-page cache with ESI support and cache purge APIs
- Offers a web-based administration panel for server and virtual host configuration
- Supports .htaccess rewrite rules for Apache compatibility

## Architecture Overview
OpenLiteSpeed uses a multi-worker event-driven model where each worker handles thousands of concurrent connections through non-blocking I/O. PHP runs natively via LSAPI (LiteSpeed Server API), avoiding the overhead of FastCGI or FPM process management. The built-in cache engine stores rendered pages in shared memory and serves them directly without invoking the application layer. Configuration is managed through XML files and exposed via a web admin interface.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install from the official LiteSpeed repository on Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, or AlmaLinux
- Access the web admin panel at port 7080 to configure listeners, virtual hosts, and SSL
- Install LiteSpeed PHP (lsphp) packages for native PHP processing
- Enable LSCache per virtual host and install the cache plugin for WordPress or other CMS platforms
- Configure .htaccess rewrite rules for compatibility with existing Apache-based applications

## Key Features
- Event-driven architecture handling tens of thousands of concurrent connections per worker
- LSCache built-in page caching with tag-based purge and ESI for partial page updates
- Native LSAPI for PHP with lower overhead than PHP-FPM
- HTTP/3 and QUIC protocol support for modern client connections
- Web-based admin panel with real-time server statistics and log viewing

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Apache** — process/thread-based model with higher memory usage under load; OpenLiteSpeed is event-driven
- **Nginx** — similar performance profile but lacks a built-in page cache and native PHP processing
- **Caddy** — automatic HTTPS with simple config; OpenLiteSpeed provides more advanced caching features
- **LiteSpeed Enterprise** — commercial edition with clustering and advanced features; OpenLiteSpeed is the free core
- **Traefik** — cloud-native reverse proxy; OpenLiteSpeed is a traditional web server with application hosting

## FAQ
**Q: Can OpenLiteSpeed replace Apache for WordPress hosting?**
A: Yes, OpenLiteSpeed supports .htaccess rules and pairs with the LSCache WordPress plugin for significant performance gains over Apache.

**Q: What is the difference between OpenLiteSpeed and LiteSpeed Enterprise?**
A: OpenLiteSpeed is the free, open-source edition. LiteSpeed Enterprise adds features like real-time QUIC, cPanel integration, clustering, and commercial support.

**Q: Does OpenLiteSpeed support reverse proxying?**
A: Yes, OpenLiteSpeed can function as a reverse proxy, though Nginx or Traefik are more commonly used for that role.

**Q: How does LSAPI compare to PHP-FPM?**
A: LSAPI communicates with PHP through a persistent connection with lower per-request overhead than PHP-FPM, resulting in faster response times for PHP applications.

## Sources
- https://github.com/litespeedtech/openlitespeed
- https://openlitespeed.org

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-ec7aa0e6
Author: Script Depot