[wp-edu] New WP Launch...

Thu Aug 20 13:35:35 UTC 2015

We had a lot of issues with SuperCache on a very large multi-site and had to ditch it. It had problems expiring cache properly when used with some other plugins. For our multisite we ended up putting varnish in place. It’s not for the faint of heart though, as it took a lot of configuring to get right, but the overall performance has been excellent with over 30k sites.

I would have liked to use WordFence, but it’s a very heavy module. Most the customizations you can make directly to apache or the .htaccess file to accomplish the same thing. We thought about Relevanssi, with an elastisearch backend, but the team ended up going with the Reader plugin from wpmudev. 

I’ve been looking at WP Spam Shield lately, since this is one of the few plugins that will intercept spam before it hits the db. This would decrease possible outburst of those creative spammer kiddies.

p: (814) 865-1840, c: (814) 777-7665
Systems Administrator
Teaching and Learning with Technology, Information Technology Services
The Pennsylvania State University

> On Aug 20, 2015, at 9:10 AM, Ben Bakelaar <bakelaar at rutgers.edu> wrote:
> 
> I recommend WP Super Cache. Zero configuration, just install and activate (and maybe click “on”). Reduced the load time on our WP network of ~50 sites from 1700-2300ms down to <500ms.
>  
> Meanwhile another colleague here was trying to use W3 Total Cache on a WP network with 30-40 sites and because it gives you complete power and control over caching options (like dozens of options) he could never get it working, despite being a top notch system administrator.
>  
> Ben Bakelaar
> IT Services
> School of Information, Rutgers University
>  
> From: wp-edu [mailto:wp-edu-bounces at lists.automattic.com <mailto:wp-edu-bounces at lists.automattic.com>] On Behalf Of Covello, Steve
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 11:51 PM
> To: Low-traffic list discussing WordPress in education.
> Subject: Re: [wp-edu] New WP Launch...
>  
> WordFence is a security plugin. It does not do caching like the caching plugins do.
>  
> - Steve
> From: wp-edu <wp-edu-bounces at lists.automattic.com <mailto:wp-edu-bounces at lists.automattic.com>> on behalf of Leslie Geary <leslieg at ucsc.edu <mailto:leslieg at ucsc.edu>>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 7:40 PM
> To: Low-traffic list discussing WordPress in education.
> Subject: Re: [wp-edu] New WP Launch...
>  
> Quick question for Steve - doesn't WordFence do caching?  Why have a caching plugin like Super Cache or W3 Total Cache?  We are having performance issues and I'm wondering if the caching from WordFence is not adequate.
>  
> On Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 1:09 PM, Covello, Steve <Steve.Covello at granite.edu <mailto:Steve.Covello at granite.edu>> wrote:
> From looking through your theme and plugins via http://whatwpthemeisthat.com/ <http://whatwpthemeisthat.com/>, I recommend the following plugins:
>  
> Wordfence (install this NOW!!!!)
> iThemes Security
> Enable media replace – super handy
> Duplicate post – good for templates that you can copy
> Google sitemap generator
> Relevanssi – improves search capability
> WP DB Manager – archives DB backup
> A caching plugin like Super Cache or W3 Total Cache
>  
> Otherwise, it looks great!
>  
> Thx - Steve
>  
> -- 
> Steve Covello
> Rich Media Specialist/Instructional Designer/Online Instructor
> Chalk & Wire e-Portfolio Administrator
> Granite State College
> 603-513-1346 <tel:603-513-1346>
> Skype: steve.granitestate
> Scheduling: http://meetme.so/stevecovello <http://meetme.so/stevecovello>
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: wp-edu <wp-edu-bounces at lists.automattic.com <mailto:wp-edu-bounces at lists.automattic.com>> on behalf of "Berardi, Richard" <rberardi at georgian.edu <mailto:rberardi at georgian.edu>>
> Reply-To: "Low-traffic list discussing WordPress in education." <wp-edu at lists.automattic.com <mailto:wp-edu at lists.automattic.com>>
> Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 4:02 PM
> To: "Low-traffic list discussing WordPress in education." <wp-edu at lists.automattic.com <mailto:wp-edu at lists.automattic.com>>
> Subject: [wp-edu] New WP Launch...
>  
> Hello all,
> We launched our new WP site on Monday, a year in the making. (switched from Ektron)
> Everything was done in-house. (I am a one man show here, with the support of our marketing staff)
> Everything on the site is new (content, images, hosting, CMS, etc.) - we started with a blank slate.
>  
> I still have lots to do, but we needed to launch before the students came back.
> Please let me know your thoughts:
> http://georgian.edu <http://georgian.edu/>
>  
> Richard Berardi
> Web Administrator
> Marketing & Communications
> Georgian Court University
> 900 Lakewood Ave.
> Lakewood, NJ 08701
> p: 732-987-2469 <tel:732-987-2469>
> e: rberardi at georgian.edu <mailto:rberardi at georgian.edu>
> 
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> 
> 
>  
> -- 
> Leslie Geary
> Project Management Group, Interim Mgr
> Web Service Manager
> Information Technology Services, UC Santa Cruz
> 831-459-1075
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