docs(whp): add backend-switching how-to + Optimized Webserver (OLS) add-on page
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- how-to/switching-site-backend: change a site's container type between standard PHP/FPM and the premium LiteSpeed/OLS backend; required steps to move off premium before cancelling the add-on (panel blocks the disable otherwise). - add-ons/optimized-webserver: what the OLS/LSCache add-on is, advantages, when NOT to use it, how to enable/use, and cancellation requirements. - add-ons/overview: list the new add-on. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
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---
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title: Switching your site's backend
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description: Change the web engine (container type) running a site — standard PHP/FPM or the premium LiteSpeed/OpenLiteSpeed tier.
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sidebar:
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order: 5
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---
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import { Steps, Aside } from '@astrojs/starlight/components';
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import SignIn from '~/content/partials/signing-in.mdx';
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import Support from '~/content/partials/support-link.mdx';
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Every WHP site runs inside a container. The **container type** determines the web engine that serves your site's files and runs your PHP code. Most sites use a standard PHP or PHP-FPM container, which handles the vast majority of WordPress and PHP workloads well. If you've enabled the **Optimized Webserver** add-on, you also have access to LiteSpeed/OpenLiteSpeed (OLS) container types — a premium engine known for its built-in full-page cache (LSCache) and lower memory usage under traffic.
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Switching backends is a one-step change in the Sites editor, but it does briefly restart your container, so plan for a few seconds of downtime.
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## Before you start
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- You need **admin access** to your WHP account.
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- If you want to switch **onto** a LiteSpeed backend, your account must have the [Optimized Webserver add-on](/whp/add-ons/optimized-webserver/) enabled. If it isn't, those container types won't appear in the dropdown.
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- About 2 minutes, plus a brief site restart.
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## Sign in to WHP
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<SignIn />
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## Steps
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<Steps>
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1. In the sidebar, click **Sites**.
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2. Find the site you want to change and click **Edit** (the pencil icon next to it).
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3. In the **Edit Site** form, locate the **Container Type** (or **PHP Version / Backend**) dropdown.
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4. Select the backend you want:
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- **PHP** or **PHP-FPM** options — standard shared webserver tier, suitable for most WordPress and PHP sites.
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- **LiteSpeed PHP** options (e.g. *LiteSpeed PHP 8.x*) — premium OLS tier. These only appear if the Optimized Webserver add-on is active on your account.
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5. Click **Save**. WHP recreates the container with the new engine. Expect a brief moment of downtime (typically a few seconds) while the container restarts.
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</Steps>
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<Aside type="note">
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After switching backends, any server-side page cache starts cold. For LiteSpeed sites this means LSCache has nothing cached yet — your first few page loads will be slightly slower while the cache warms up. This is normal and resolves on its own within minutes.
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</Aside>
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## Switching onto the premium LiteSpeed backend
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The LiteSpeed/OpenLiteSpeed container types are part of the **Optimized Webserver** add-on. If you open the Container Type dropdown and don't see any LiteSpeed options, the add-on isn't enabled on your account yet.
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To enable it:
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1. Visit the [Optimized Webserver add-on page](/whp/add-ons/optimized-webserver/) for details and pricing.
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2. Enable it from your [client portal](https://secure.anhonesthost.com/clientarea.php).
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3. Once active, the LiteSpeed PHP options will appear in the Container Type dropdown when editing any site.
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## Before cancelling the Optimized Webserver add-on
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<Aside type="caution">
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You must move **all** of your sites off the LiteSpeed backend before you can cancel or disable the Optimized Webserver add-on. The system will block the cancellation and show an error listing every site that still needs to be moved.
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</Aside>
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To prepare for cancellation, switch each affected site back to a standard PHP or PHP-FPM container type:
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<Steps>
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1. In the sidebar, click **Sites**.
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2. For each site currently on a LiteSpeed container type, click **Edit**.
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3. Change the **Container Type** to a standard **PHP** or **PHP-FPM** option.
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4. Click **Save** and wait for the container to restart before moving to the next site.
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5. Repeat until no sites are on a LiteSpeed backend.
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</Steps>
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Once all sites are on standard backends, you can cancel or disable the add-on from your [client portal](https://secure.anhonesthost.com/clientarea.php) without errors.
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## Troubleshooting
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**LiteSpeed options don't appear in the dropdown.** The Optimized Webserver add-on is not enabled on your account. See [Optimized Webserver](/whp/add-ons/optimized-webserver/) to add it.
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**Site doesn't come back up after switching.** Wait 30 seconds and reload — the container may still be starting. If the site is still down after a minute, contact support.
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**Cancelling the add-on shows an error listing sites.** Switch each listed site to a standard PHP/PHP-FPM backend first (see the steps above), then retry the cancellation.
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**LiteSpeed cache not serving cached pages after the switch.** This is expected — the cache starts empty after every container recreation. It warms up automatically as visitors load pages.
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## Related
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- [Create a site](/whp/how-to/create-a-site/)
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- [Optimized Webserver add-on](/whp/add-ons/optimized-webserver/)
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- [Resource upgrades](/whp/add-ons/resource-upgrades/)
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## Still stuck?
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<Support />
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