Pro Tips & Best Practices

Expert advice for optimal server management

Pro Tips

Best practices and tips for getting the most out of OpenSolr Server Management.

🔄 Always Backup First

Before making big changes, use the Backup feature or download your database. It only takes a minute and can save hours of recovery time.

📋 Use Templates

Edit VHost Template lets you customize your Apache config. Changes survive hostname updates and SSL renewals!

🔎 Check Logs First

When something breaks, the error log usually tells you exactly what went wrong. Always check logs before asking for help.

🌐 DNS Before SSL

Make sure your domain points to your server BEFORE setting up Let's Encrypt. SSL validation requires HTTP access to your server.

🛑 Test Config First

The system runs Apache configtest before applying changes. If it fails, you'll see the error and your site stays up.

🛠 Server Aliases

Add multiple domains to one project using Server Aliases. Great for www and non-www versions, or multiple domains pointing to the same site.

📈 Monitor Peaks

Performance charts show both average and peak values. Watch for spikes that indicate issues like memory leaks or traffic surges.

🔔 Enable Notifications

Set up alerts for backups and server issues so you're notified immediately when something needs attention.

Performance Tips

  • Use Production PHP preset - Enables opcache and hides errors
  • Monitor disk space - Full disks cause database corruption
  • Check memory usage - High memory may indicate leaks
  • Review error logs - Fix recurring errors to improve performance

Security Tips

  • Always use HTTPS - Free with Let's Encrypt
  • Keep software updated - Use Git pull to deploy updates
  • Use strong database passwords - Generated passwords are best
  • Limit SSH access - Only add keys for people who need access
  • Monitor terminal logs - Review who's running what commands

Backup Tips

  • Backup before changes - Always backup before major updates
  • Test restores - Periodically verify backups work
  • Use remote backups - Configure a backup server for off-site copies
  • Download important backups - Keep critical backups locally too