PHP OPcache is a powerful caching engine that can significantly boost the performance of PHP applications by storing precompiled script bytecode in memory. This reduces the need for PHP to load and parse scripts repeatedly. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install and configure PHP OPcache on Ubuntu 20.04. If you're using a Windows VPS UK, you can still enable OPcache for PHP on Windows with a similar configuration.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the installation, make sure you have the following:

• An Ubuntu 20.04 server with root or sudo access.
• PHP installed on your server (version 7.4 or later).

If you’re using VPS UK Windows, you can also configure PHP OPcache to optimize PHP performance on a Windows-based server. Windows Virtual Private Servers provide dedicated resources that are ideal for boosting PHP applications using OPcache.

Step 1: Update Your System

Start by updating your package list to ensure you have the latest versions of the required packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install PHP OPcache

If PHP is already installed on your server, OPcache may already be included. To verify if OPcache is installed, run the following command:

php -m | grep opcache

If you don’t see "opcache" in the output, you can install it with this command:

sudo apt install php-opcache -y

Once installed, restart your web server (NGINX or Apache) for the changes to take effect:

sudo systemctl restart apache2  # For Apache
sudo systemctl restart nginx   # For NGINX

Step 3: Configure PHP OPcache

After installing OPcache, you need to configure it for optimal performance. Open the PHP configuration file for editing:

sudo nano /etc/php/7.4/apache2/php.ini  # For Apache
sudo nano /etc/php/7.4/fpm/php.ini   # For NGINX with PHP-FPM

Find and update the following OPcache settings, or add them if they don't exist:

[opcache]
opcache.enable=1
opcache.memory_consumption=128
opcache.interned_strings_buffer=8
opcache.max_accelerated_files=10000
opcache.revalidate_freq=60
opcache.fast_shutdown=1

Explanation of key settings:

• opcache.enable: Enables OPcache.
• opcache.memory_consumption: Sets the amount of memory allocated to OPcache (in MB).
• opcache.interned_strings_buffer: Amount of memory for interned strings (in MB).
• opcache.max_accelerated_files: The maximum number of cached files OPcache can store.
• opcache.revalidate_freq: How often OPcache checks for script changes (in seconds).
• opcache.fast_shutdown: Enables fast shutdown to improve performance.

Save and exit the configuration file, then restart your web server to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2   # For Apache
sudo systemctl restart php7.4-fpm   # For NGINX with PHP-FPM

Step 4: Verify OPcache Configuration

To confirm that OPcache is enabled and working correctly, you can create a PHP info page. Create a file named info.php in your web server’s document root:

sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php

Add the following content:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Save and exit the file. Then, open your browser and navigate to http://your_server_ip/info.php. Look for the OPcache section to see if it is enabled and properly configured.

Benefits of VPS Hosting for PHP OPcache

Using Windows VPS or virtual private server hosting Windows allows you to fully utilize the benefits of PHP OPcache, which significantly improves the performance of PHP-based applications. A UK Windows VPS or Windows VPS Italy provides dedicated resources, making it an ideal solution for optimizing high-traffic websites.

Hosting PHP applications on a Windows Virtual Private Server ensures that your server has the flexibility, control, and performance needed to handle OPcache and other performance-enhancing configurations efficiently.

Conclusion

PHP OPcache is an essential component for optimizing PHP applications by caching precompiled scripts in memory, reducing execution time. By following this guide, you can easily install and configure OPcache on Ubuntu 20.04 for better performance. For scalable hosting solutions, consider using Windows VPS Hosting UK to take advantage of dedicated resources and enhanced performance for your web applications.