How to install OpenLiteSpeed

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OpenLiteSpeed is the Open Source edition of LiteSpeed Web Server Enterpriseopen in new window. OpenLiteSpeed contains all of the essential features found in LiteSpeed Enterprise, including LSCache (the Litespeed caching plugin needed for WordPress). However, it has some limitations such as : it supports only simple RewriteRules...

For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

বাংলা রোগী নোট এখনো যোগ করা হয়নি। পোস্ট এডিটরে “RX Bangla Patient Mode” বক্স থেকে সহজ বাংলা সারাংশ যোগ করুন।

এই তথ্য শিক্ষা ও সচেতনতার জন্য। এটি ডাক্তারি পরীক্ষা, রোগ নির্ণয় বা প্রেসক্রিপশনের বিকল্প নয়।

Article Summary

OpenLiteSpeed is the Open Source edition of LiteSpeed Web Server Enterpriseopen in new window. OpenLiteSpeed contains all of the essential features found in LiteSpeed Enterprise, including LSCache (the Litespeed caching plugin needed for WordPress). However, it has some limitations such as : it supports only simple RewriteRules in .htaccess files it requires a restart to apply changes to .htaccess or .user.ini files it does not support Apache...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains How to install OpenLiteSpeed in simple medical language.
  • This article explains How to edit PHP settings with OLS in simple medical language.
  • This article explains How to make OLS automatically reload after .htaccess changes in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Customizing OpenLiteSpeed in simple medical language.
Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.
Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.
Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

  • Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
  • New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
  • Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.
1

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

2

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

3

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Before reading

RX Patient Tools

Use these quick guides before reading the article, or return to them when you need help preparing questions for a doctor.

Start here Choose the right pathway for symptoms, reports, medicines, or urgent warning signs. Disease article roadmap Read this topic step by step: meaning, symptoms, warning signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up. Treatment planner Prepare questions about treatment choices, benefits, risks, side effects, and follow-up. Family & caregiver guide Organize symptoms, reports, medicines, questions, and follow-up safely. Nutrition & diet guide Prepare food, hydration, supplement, and medicine-timing questions safely. Prevention guide Organize risk factors, protective habits, screening, and warning signs. Recovery guide Prepare a safe plan for activity, rehabilitation, warning signs, and follow-up.
Definition

OpenLiteSpeed is the Open Source edition of LiteSpeed Web Server Enterpriseopen in new window. OpenLiteSpeed contains all of the essential features found in LiteSpeed Enterprise, including LSCache (the Litespeed caching plugin needed for WordPress).

However, it has some limitations such as :

  • it supports only simple RewriteRules in .htaccess files
  • it requires a restart to apply changes to .htaccess or .user.ini files
  • it does not support Apache configuration (uses its own syntax)

How to install OpenLiteSpeed

To install OpenLiteSpeed, do the following:

./build update
./build set webserver openlitespeed
./build set php1_mode lsphp
./build openlitespeed
./build php
./build rewrite_confs

If you have more than 1 version of PHP enabled, then the list of commands will look like thes (the example for 3 versions of PHP installed):

./build update
./build set webserver openlitespeed
./build set php1_mode lsphp
./build set php2_mode lsphp
./build set php3_mode lsphp
./build openlitespeed
./build php
./build rewrite_confs

How to edit PHP settings with OLS

As said previously, OpenLiteSpeed does not support Apache configuration via .htaccess files, so if you need to change PHP settings like memory_limit, then you’ll use .user.ini file with syntax like this:

memory_limit=128M

How to make OLS automatically reload after .htaccess changes

Currently OpenLiteSpeed reads .htaccess on startup, so, if some new .htaccess files are created, or existing ones modified, changes are not in effect until the reload of OpenLiteSpeed service.

Please note that DirectAdmin provides customers an ability to reload OpenLiteSpeed directly from the user level, and does this automatically for the .htaccess files edited in File Manager. Also, if Pure-FTPd is in use, it will also reload OpenLiteSpeed if the filename is .htaccess. To activate it:

cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild
./build update
./build set pureftpd_uploadscan yes
./build pureftpd

Note: As of today only Pure-FTPd supports it.

However, if you would like to have a cronjob set up, which would reload OpenLiteSpeed every X minutes if there are newer .htaccess files than the starting time of OpenLiteSpeed, you may use a cronjob like the following (where */3 means every 3 minutes, you may change it to happen less/more often):

*/3 * * * * root if ! find /home/*/domains/*/*_html/ -maxdepth 2 -type f -newer /usr/local/lsws/cgid -name '.htaccess' -exec false {} +; then /usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl restart; fi

Cronjob can be created as /etc/cron.d/openlitespeed_htaccess_scan. It scans for .htaccess files in public/private_html folders, with a max depth of 2 folders (it can be changed to 3, or even unlimited, however, it could slow the scanning down).

Customizing OpenLiteSpeed

Wildcard *.domain.com with OpenLiteSpeed

This guide is an extension of the Apache version and applies to a server running OpenLiteSpeed.

Use step 1 in the other guide to set up the DNS in the same manner.

  1. Use the tool Admin Level -> Custom HTTPD Configuration -> domain.com to edit the Apache configuration and add this code into the top text area:
|?SERVER_ALIASES=`SERVER_ALIASES`, *.`DOMAIN`|
In a similar fashion to the Apache guide, if you want normal control of other subdomains and the full domain, you'd use the zzzz subdomain method:
|*if SUB="zzzz"|
|?SERVER_ALIASES=`SERVER_ALIASES`, *.`DOMAIN`|
|*endif|

How to set up webmail.example.com with OpenLiteSpeed

Similar to the apache version of this guide, OpenLiteSpeed has the ability to set up a webmail.domain.com subdomain using the templates.

In this example, we’ll be setting it up for RoundCube.

  1. You’ll need to set up the server section for the webmail subdomain. This can be accomplished by adding a 2nd server section below the domain’s main one.

Edit /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/cust_openlitespeed.CUSTOM.8.pre to add this to the file

virtualHost webmail.|SDOMAIN|-|VH_PORT| {
|CUSTOM|
 user                    webapps
 group                   webapps
 vhRoot                  /var/www/html
 allowSymbolLink         1
 enableScript            1
 restrained              1
 setUIDMode              2
 # listeners  listener1, listener2, listener3
 listeners |LISTENERS|
 
 #VirtualHost config settings
 docRoot                   /var/www/html/roundcube
 vhDomain                  webmail.|SDOMAIN|
 vhAliases                 webmail.|SDOMAIN|
 adminEmails               |ADMIN|
 enableGzip                1
 enableIpGeo               1

 errorlog |APACHELOGDIR|/|LOG_NAME|.error.log {
   useServer               0
   logLevel                NOTICE
   rollingSize             0
 }
 accesslog |APACHELOGDIR|/|LOG_NAME|.log {
   useServer               0
   logFormat               %a %l %u %t "%r" %>s %O "%{Referer}i" "%{User-Agent}i"
   logHeaders              5
   rollingSize             0
 }
 accesslog |APACHELOGDIR|/|LOG_NAME|.bytes {
   useServer               0
   logFormat               %O %I
   rollingSize             0
 }

 scripthandler  {
   add                     lsapi:|SCRIPTHANDLER| inc
   add                     lsapi:|SCRIPTHANDLER| php
   add                     lsapi:|SCRIPTHANDLER| phtml
   add                     lsapi:|SCRIPTHANDLER| php|PHP1_RELEASE|
 }

 phpIniOverride  {
   php_admin_flag engine |PHP|
   php_admin_value sendmail_path "/usr/sbin/sendmail -t -i -f |PHP_EMAIL|"
   |CLI_PHP_MAIL_LOG|
 |*if HAVE_SAFE_MODE="1"|
   php_admin_flag safe_mode |SAFE_MODE|
 |*endif|
 }

 rewrite  {
   enable                  1
   autoLoadHtaccess        1
   |FORCE_SSL_REDIRECT|
 }

 |*if SSL_TEMPLATE="1"|
 vhssl  {
   |CUSTOM6|
   keyFile                 |KEY|
   certFile                |CERT|
   certChain               1
   sslProtocol             |SSLPROTOCOL|
 }
 |*endif|

 # include aliases
 include /usr/local/lsws/conf/httpd-alias.conf
}

Save, exit, then run:

cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild
./build rewrite_confs

to rewrite the User openlitespeed.conf files.

  1. You’ll also need to setup the dns portion.
cd /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates
cp dns_a.conf custom
cd custom
echo "webmail=|IP|" >> dns_a.conf

This will set up the** webmail A record for new DNS zones.**

For existing DNS zones, you’ll have to manually add the** webmail A** record to point to the domain’s IP.

Global and per domain CUSTOM templates

Ability to set global override tokens in core OpenLiteSpeed templates.

openlitespeed_listener.conf:

/usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_listener.conf.CUSTOM.1.pre/usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_listener.conf.CUSTOM.1.post … /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_listener.conf.CUSTOM.7.pre/usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_listener.conf.CUSTOM.7.post

To change the ‘sslProtocol 30’ to let say 28 :

Create: /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_listener.conf.CUSTOM.2.pre/usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_redirect_vhost.conf.CUSTOM.2.pre/usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_vhost.conf.CUSTOM.2.pre/usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_ips.conf.CUSTOM.2.pre

where the CUSTOM.2 choice in this particular case, is merely any token set after the original “|?SSLPROTOCOL=30|” value is set, to load it internally.

The |? tokens don’t output anything, and thus can be set anywhere you need to set in order to overwrite a variable.

Set each with code:

|?SSLPROTOCOL=28|

Any template file not controlled by DA wouldn’t be affected by this.

For example, the /usr/local/lsws/conf/httpd-vhosts.conf would not be controlled by tokens, so you’d just copy your customized version to:

/usr/local/directadmin/custombuild/custom/openlitespeed/conf/httpd-vhosts.conf

with the “sslProtocol 28 change” set in there.

Adding security headers to get A+ rating

This guide is similar to the apache guide for adding security headers, but is tailored to the OpenLitespeed webserver. You may refer to the mentioned Apache guide for generalized information regarding security headers and online tools for testing them. Here are the instructions for accomplishing the same with OpenLitespeed:

  1. Copy the vhost template:
cp -p /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/openlitespeed_vhost.conf /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/
  1. Edit the /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed_vhost.conf file and after |CONTEXTS| directive add following code:
context / {
    location      $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse     1
    extraHeaders   Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preload
  }
  context / {
    location        $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse     1
    extraHeaders   X-Content-Type-Options nosniff
  }
  context / {
    location       $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse    1
    extraHeaders    X-XSS-Protection 1;mode=block
  }
  context / {
    location    $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse    1
    extraHeaders  X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN
  }
  context / {
    location      $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse   1
    extraHeaders   Referrer-Policy strict-origin
  }

  context / {
    location     $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse   1
    extraHeaders  Expect-CT enforce, max-age=21600
}
  context / {
    location    $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse    1
    extraHeaders  Permissions-Policy 'geolocation=*, midi=(), sync-xhr=(self "https://|DOMAIN|" "https://www.|DOMAIN|"), microphone=(), camera=(), magnetometer=(), gyroscope=(), payment=(), fullscreen=(self "https://|DOMAIN|" "https://www.|DOMAIN|")'
}
  context / {
    location    $DOC_ROOT/
    allowBrowse   1
    extraHeaders  Content-Security-Policy default-src https:; font-src https: data:; img-src https: data:; script-src https:; style-src https:;
}
  1. And rewrite configs:
cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild/
./build rewrite_confs

How to adjust environment values with OpenLiteSpeed

The environment values that are usually adjusted with .htaccess for apache will not work with OpenLiteSpeed. The proper way of applying them for OpenLiteSpeed is to modify the OLS config files. For example, SetEnv MAGICK_THREAD_LIMIT 1 from .htaccess will translate to the OLS config template file /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/custom/openlitespeed/conf/httpd-phplimits.conf like so:

env MAGICK_THREAD_LIMIT=1

Then apply the changes via CustomBuild:

cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild/
./build openlitespeed
./build rewrite_confs

 

 

Doctor visit helper

Prepare before seeing a doctor

A simple rural-patient checklist to help you explain symptoms clearly, ask better questions, and avoid unsafe self-treatment.

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

  • Write when the problem started and how it changed.
  • Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
  • Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
  • Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
  • Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
  • How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
  • When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

  • Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
  • Basic physical examination by a clinician
  • CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
  • Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
  • Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

  • Rest, drink safe water, and observe symptoms carefully.
  • Keep a written note of symptoms, duration, temperature, medicines already taken, and allergy history.
  • Seek medical care quickly if symptoms are severe, worsening, or unusual for the patient.

OTC medicine safety

  • For mild pain or fever, ask a registered pharmacist or doctor before using common over-the-counter pain/fever medicines.
  • Do not combine multiple pain medicines without advice, especially if you have kidney disease, liver disease, stomach ulcer, asthma, pregnancy, or take blood thinners.
  • Do not give adult medicines to children unless a qualified clinician advises it.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
  • Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
  • Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

  • Severe symptoms, confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty, chest pain, severe dehydration, or sudden weakness need urgent medical care.
Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider
Tests to discuss with doctor
  • Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
  • Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment
Questions to ask
  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
  • Which tests are really needed now?
  • Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Safe pathway to proper treatment

Care roadmap for: How to install OpenLiteSpeed

Use this simple roadmap to understand the next safe steps. It is educational and does not replace examination by a doctor.

Go to emergency care if you notice:
  • Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
  • Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration
Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

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