A few months ago I updated the WP Super Cache plugin on Technically Easy and ran into a major issue. After updating, I didn’t check my blog to ensure that it was still up and running. The next day I logged into Technically Easy, and then attempted to view the blog. Sure enough, the blog wasn’t up – all I got was a blank screen. It had been down all night. Not realizing the problem at first, I began to think about what changes I had made.
The only thing I could think of was the update to the WP Super Cache plugin. I immediately disabled that plugin and recheck my blog. It appeared in my web browser instantly. The update to the plugin had prevent my blog from loading. From that point until a few weeks ago I hadn’t been using a cache plugin. I decided to once again look at plugins to cache my blog, but I wanted to see what other cache plugins existed before retrying WP Super Cache. I managed to find another plugin, and am currently using it on Technically Easy.
Do More Than Just Cache
A few weeks ago I installed the W3 Total Cache plugin. I was leary at first, but I tried it on another, low traffic, blog to ensure that I wouldn’t run into many problems. Once I installed the plugin and enabled it, I experienced no problems at all. I then installed it on Technically Easy, and verified it worked by loading my blog.
After finding out my blog still works, I decided to look at the options that are available for the plugin. There are several pages of options that you can modify to control how your blog is cached.
The W3 Total Cache plugin includes the following options:
W3 Total Cache Options
(Click to enlarge)
- Page Caching. This one is obvious and allows you to cache the pages of your blog.
- Minify. This setting allows you to easily reduce the size of your CSS and Javascript (JS) files by automatically removing unnecessary data from those files.
- Database Caching. Allows you to cache database queries to reduce post, page, and feed creation times.
- Content Delivery Network. If you use a CDN, such as S3, your can enable this option to use static files on your CDN host.
- Debugging. If you have issues, you can enable debugging for any of the above mentioned options to find out the problem. This will output information into the web page source, so you only want to enable this option when you have problems.
You can enable or disable the options you want to use. For example, if you don’t want database caching or don’t have a CDN, then you simply disable those options, but keep the page caching and minify enabled.
At the top of the “General Settings” page, there are links to individual settings pages where you fine tune how you want the plugin to cache your blog. There are many options to set within each cache setting page, but the default values also work very well.
If you have trouble, there is a FAQ link also at the top as well as a Support link beside it. I found the options pretty intuitive that I was easily able to understand what they were, so may will probably not have much difficulty modify the settings within the plugin as well.
Overall, I have been very happy with the plugin. Installation and setup was very easy, and all I needed to do was enable the settings that I wanted to use. If you are looking for a cache plugin for your WordPress blog, you would like to try an alternative to WP Super Cache, I recommend you try W3 Total Cache.
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on May 8, 2010 at 9:32 am
Does this program work with the Bad Behavior Plugin? Super Cache will function with bad behavior, but at a limited level. As long as a plugin does not increase CPU usage on the server or make permanant changes, I’m happy to test them. Bbut if they leave database entries, folders on the server, or other baggage, I hate having to clean up after them.
on May 8, 2010 at 11:03 am
According the plugin’s readme file, it does support Bad Behavior. I’m using Bad Behavior and have had no problems with either plugin. I haven’t checked to see what folders/files this plugin leaves behind, but I’ll have to check on that one. So far, however, I haven’t noticed any problems.
on May 8, 2010 at 6:56 pm
I don’t get much traffic to my sites, but if I can improve the experience for those that do visit I’m all for it.
I’ll give it a try this weekend. I tend to use a lot of plugins, so caching will problem help load speeds and CPU usage.
thanks
on October 31, 2010 at 5:57 pm
just foun this article from google and i installed for my blog with 5000 hits daily and its awsome. This plugin is pretty cool. But i have a problem to disable a folder cached. Can you help me?
Regards
on October 31, 2010 at 9:40 pm
What kind of problem with regards to the folder cache are you having? Are you trying to disable the caching of a folder?
If you are, then you can add the folder to the “Never cache the following pages:” option in the Page Cache section.
on November 2, 2010 at 2:41 am
Oh I love W3 Total Cache, i use it in my blog.
For non-techie person like me, uninstalling wp super cache is a nightmare.
What i love about W3 Total cache is, it is extremely easy to deactivate it.
Thanks.
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on November 2, 2010 at 8:07 am
I like the number of options that W3 Total Cache provides compared to some of the other cache programs.
on November 15, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Glad to know that you post this kind of topic, this is exactly what my site needs. I’m with WordPress a couple of months ago and I want this kind of plugin thanks so much for posting this.
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on January 28, 2011 at 4:46 am
Not sure if this is the right question for this topic. My webspace has 32MB memory, according a memory usage plugin I’m presently I’m using 79% of those 32MB. Is this still ok or is it getting close to the limit of being constrained?
on January 28, 2011 at 8:05 am
You should be fine. This blog has gone over the 32 MB limit, so I have had to increase it to 64 MB. If you keep adding plugins, you may go over as well.
on March 10, 2011 at 1:49 pm
W3 Total Cache is actually the best wordpress cache plugin. It makes the wordpress websites load realy fast.
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on March 10, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I definitely like using the W3 Total Cache plugin. There is just so many options, and the fact that it does the work of at least two other plugins makes it the best.
on November 16, 2011 at 6:16 pm
I agree all the comments above, W3 Cache plugin is truly a great plugins that wordpress ever exist. This is exactly what I need, thanks for the following information Paul!
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on November 17, 2011 at 8:03 am
No problem, Ethan. I still like the W3 Total Cache plugin as I still find it to be the best overall caching plugin.
on May 5, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I have not used any catche plugin for my WordPress blog, but after reading your article it is a necessary plugin to have in WordPress. Thanks for share it!
Best Regards!
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