How to Install and Configure WP Super Cache

The primary purpose for contemplating to install WP Super Cache and also set it to function optimally hinges on website load time which ultimately increase page rank on Google and other search engine. Apart from this, it is expedient to maximize on-site user experience by delivering quality service promptly in the process of converting prospective audience to loyal customer.

What WP super cache does is, it store or cache the pages on your site and deliver it on request just like that. It’s like storing an image version of your page. This ensure speedy page load because, signals are not sent to fetch each script or modules that make up the entire page thereby limiting the amount of resources consumed par time on the server.

There are so many WordPress caching plugins, but I seem to prefer WP Super Cache even to W3 Total Cache. This is a personal consideration. I discovered that W3 total cache often time conflict with lots of other plugins which otherwise would have articulated properly. Since blog setup management is an ongoing thing, I would always want to update, delete or install new plugin from time to time.

In my opinion, WP super cache is just as good as W3 total cache if configured properly in the rewrite mode, though it also has its effect in delaying prompt update preview. The simple solution would be to turn off caching by checking the caching off box on Easy menu and then reset to cache again when you are through with the update. Don’t forget to also set all the caching parameters on the advanced menu. Let’s now dwell on its installation.

How to install WP Super Cache

The installation of WP super cache follows the same procedure as WordPress plugin installation because, it is a WordPress plugin. I would advise you learn to install WordPress plugin like a pro. It is part of the fundamental basics of blog setup on WordPress. However, to install WP super cache automatically from WordPress admin back-end, follow the procedure below.

-Log in to WordPress admin panel
-Go to Plugin and click Add New
-Search for WP super cache on the search box
-It should be the first on the search result because the search is based on keyword
-Click on install now
-Click OK on the pop up message
-Click on Activate Plugin
And that’s all about installing WP super cache on your site. The next task which is the most important and crucial is setting the plugin to function optimally.

How to Configure WP Super Cache for Optimal Result

To access WP super cache setting page, go to Setting on your WordPress admin panel.
Look for WP Super Cache and click on it.
On Easy Menu:
Enable caching

On Advance Menu:
Check cache hits to this website
Check mod_rewrite to cache file from the three options.
This would give the best result, but some what technical because the .htaccess has to be updated. Just scroll down to the bottom of the Mod Rewrite Rule file and click Update Mod_rewrite Rules. Usually, WP super cache does this automatically and would prompt you to verify file update for consistency.

All you have to do is log in to your host server account. Click on file manager and then open .htaccess on the root directory for editing. Check if the file content is consistent with the updated sample.

Miscellaneous
I would rather suggest you tick all the suggested boxes and probably others you might find appropriate except 304 Not Modified Browser Caching.

Advanced Menu
You would want WP super cache to support your mobile devise so, you need to check the box.

Expiry time and Garbage Collection
Set Cache time to 3600s
Scheduler to 600s twice daily
You may choose to be email for notification, but I’d rather advise to uncheck this so they don’t flood your inbox with messages.

Accepted File names and Rejected URLs
Select the files you don’t want cached. I suggest you choose files like archives, search pages, feeds and author pages.

Lock Down
It is very important to enable lock down for unexpected traffic time when your posts consistently hit the front pages of Digg in and StumbleUpon.

Others:

CDN- Also known as Content Delivery Network helps to pull and mirror static contents like image, Javascript and CSS files on your site and supply them from another server,e.g Origin Pull, Amason S3, Cloudfront. All you need is to provide a URL and then enable it. But for Amason S3 and Cloudfront, you would have to install CDN Sycn Tool and configure it to seamlessly synchronize with WP Super Cache on your dynamic WordPress site.

Contents– Is a platform were you can view the number of cached and expired pages by a click on the Regenerate cache stats link. Also, you have the option to delete expired pages base on the set time.

Preload– Set this page to preload published pages and you can set the number of pages to cache. It is recommended that you cache only the newest post especially if the site is hosted on shared server.

Plugins– These are plugins that load simultaneously with WP Super Cache. You’ll have to enable the ones you need if they are disabled.

Debug– This is were you can fix problems relating to the plugin should it fail to cache home page appropriately or the front page downloading as zip file. It’s good when testing the effectiveness of the plugin for caching purposes.

Image Credit: WP Kube