Introduction & Setup
Setup - Adding your own Custom Deployment Domain for your Customer/Client Sites
A deployment domain is a domain that is used to create the address for a site when it is first deployed. If your deployment domain is example.com, you will be able to create sites with domains like site1.example.com and customer.example.com. When you first subscribe to eitPopularCan I bring my own server to the Dollie Private Cloud?
New Dollie partners often ask if they can provide their own servers and use those servers for their customer sites. This article will provide you with some background on what this involves, what the requirements are, and lastly the implications this has when building your platform with Dollie. Question: Can I provide you with my own servers that will be used to host my customer websites? Yes you can. Our Dollie Private Cloud was built to be cloud agnostic. Meaning we can connect any oFew readersWhat happens behind the scenes when I launch a site to my Private Cloud?
Every time you or your customer/client deploys a new site through your Dollie Hub or you launch a site through Control HQ, a sequence of events happens behind the scenes to ensure a perfectly deployed WordPress site. Your Hub or Control HQ sends secure an API requests to your Private Cloud, which then starts the site deployment process. Here is a simplified breakdown of this process. You go to the “Launch Site” page inside your Dollie Hub or in your Control HQ and fill in mynewsite.yourdomFew readers
Performance & Security
What server resource limits are applied to my sites?
At Dollie, every site on our platform runs in two isolated containers that contain all of the software resources required to run theSome readersWhat Wordpress plugins are banned or incompatible?
The plugin ecosystem is one of Wordpress's most powerful features. Installing a particular plugin can add awesome functionality to your website quickly and easily, but Wordpress administrators should always proceed with caution when installing plugins on their important websites. Certain plugins can introduce security vulnerabilities or negatively impact performance. The combination of plugins should also be a concern. While some plugins may function perfectly on their own, using them in combinaSome readersDo you have a developer mode where all caching plugins are disabled?
Yes! Our SmartCaching automatically adjusts the server side caching based on whether you have a caching plugin activated and caching enabled. So if you disable page/object caching in your plugin caching will be bypassed.Few readersIs it possible to add additional resources for larger sites?
Our standard sites, if properly configured and tuned, should be sufficient for most needs. In certain cases, such as for e-commerce sites there maybe a need to reserve additional resources. To address this need we currently have a VIP offering. VIP sites cost $20 per month. It is currently not possible to upgrade a site to a VIP site directly from the CHQ or Hub, so if you have identified sites that do need upgrading please contact our support.Few readersHow secure are my deployed sites?
Dollie takes security very seriously, implementing active and passive measures to stop attacks and malicious intent in its tracks. We detect attacks as they happen and proactively stop malicious code from entering our network. We are extremely confident in the security of our platform, but that does not protect you from human errors, like you – or a site admin – forgetting to logout from a public computer, or logging in from an unsecured WIFI network. As a Dollie partner we advise you toFew readersHow do I disable caching?
While you should always use a caching plugin in production, when a website is in development it might be appropriate to disable it. Powered Cache Configuration Powered Cache is the caching plugin included in Dollie websites by default. To disable the cache, login as a website admin, click on the "Caching" menu item found on theFew readersDo you have an uptime guarantee?
We don’t currently offer an uptime guarantee for our non-Enterprise plans. We have 24/7 Emergency support for infrastructure issues and our hosting partner OVH has excellent uptime. If you are a potential enterprise customer who wants to know more about the SLA agreements we can offer please contact us.Few readersAre any security scans run for my websites?
A security scan is run against every website every 24 hours. This scan checks the active plugins and themes of the WP install and using the https://wpvulndb.com/ API determines whether plugin/themes need to be updated or not. We recommend that you keep all the plugins updated so as to minimize security threats.Few readersHow can I add a free SSL certificate to my website?
All websites hosted on Dollie are protected with with a free SSL certificate by default. Please contact us if you have a specific need and wish to add a certificate else where.Few readersWill I be notified of scheduled downtime in advance?
Yes, for any scheduled downtime you will be emailed in advance with details. It is also recommended to join our Slack, where our Engineers can speak to you in real time about any issues you might be experiencing and help you provide a complete service to your customers.Few readersHow do I fix 503 errors?
While there are many reasons why a site might return a 503 error code when it receives a request, one common one is that the site has a memory leak and has consumed all the available php memory. A quick remedy for this is to login to Control HQ, navigate to the site in question and open the Web Server section of the developer tools. From there press the "Restart PHP-FPM" button, which should get your site back in action quickly. If the issue becomes a persistent problem the code and plugins ofFew readers
Domains, DNS & Networking
What is a deployment domain?
A deployment domain is the root domain on to which a subdomain is created for each new site deployed. In DNS parlance a deployment domain can be considered akin to a zone. When first created, your account is provided with a deployment domain ending in dollie.io. You can replace this default with your own custom domain from the control panel by navigating to the settings area.Some readersI have the DNS changes for my custom deployment domain not propagated?
In order for you to use a custom deployment domain you must have access to the DNS registrar for that domain. On the registrar website, you must specify our DNS servers as the nameservers for your domain. These changes can take 48 to 72 hours to take effect. A good way to verify if yFew readersCan I add custom DNS records to my deployment domain?
There are various scenarios where adding custom DNS records to your domain might be beneficial. We are here to assist you in accomplishing this task. If you need to establish records for your custom deployment domain, for example for white label email delivery or verifying the domain elsewhere, feel free to get in touch with the Dollie team. We'll gladly take care of setting up these records for you.Few readersHow long does it take to propagate a change in the nameservers of a domain?
It can take up to 48 hours for the global DNS system become aware of changes to the nameservers of a particular domain. If it is taking longer than that please contact our support so that we can help investigate if there is a problem. To check the Nameserver propagation of your domain, you can use a DNS propagation checker such as https://www.whatsmydns.net/ and select “NS” as the record type.Few readersCan I use CloudFlare?
Yes, you can use Cloudflare with Dollie. What is CloudFlare? CloudFlare offer a simple and free solution to super charge your websites. It adds a layer of protection between your website and the rest of the internet and can greatly improve performance through it's global CDN. CloudFlare support is integrated with your Dollie powered services automatically so we recommend you to use and setup CloudFlare for as many (customer) sites as possible. CloudFlare Benefits FreFew readersHow do I flush my DNS cache in Linux?
When a computer needs to do a DNS lookup it will first look in its internal cache. If the computer is not refreshing its DNS cache in a timely manner, you may need to manually clear the DNS information. In order to run a command to flush the local DNS cache you must first open a command terminal window. There are a number of ways to flush your cache depending on your Linux distribution and the version of that distribution. Here are some of the most command commands in order of prevalence:Few readersHow do I flush my DNS Cache in Windows 10 and 11?
When a computer needs to do a DNS lookup it will first look in its internal cache. If the computer is not refreshing its DNS cache in a timely manner, you may need to manually clear the DNS information. The first step is to open a command terminal window. You can do so by right clicking on the Start menu icon and selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin) from the context list. Alternatively you can open the command terminal by typing cmd in the Start menu's seFew readersHow do I flush my DNS cache in MacOS?
When a computer needs to do a DNS lookup it will first look in its internal cache. If the computer is not refreshing its DNS cache in a timely manner, you may need to manually clear the DNS information. To clear the cache on MacOS you must first open a command terminal window. To do that first start a search by either clicking on the search icon of the OS or pressing CMD + the spacebar on your keyboard. Then type in terminal and hit enter. Once you have the terminal open, the command youFew readersCan I Use a Dedicated IP for a Site in My Private Cloud?
Some of our partners have asked if they can assign a dedicated IP address to a specific site within their Private Cloud. The Short Answer No, Dollie does not offer dedicated IPs on a per-site basis within our standard Private Cloud infrastructure. Our system uses a reverse proxy with a range of IPs, which are then mapped back to the containers on our nodes/servers. Why No Dedicated IPs? Our approach maximizes efficiency and scalability, ensuring that all our customers can enjoy high-sFew readersCan I use my own domain for blueprints?
You cannot use your own domain for blueprints. As blueprints are much cheaper than regular sites, our viability demands we avoid the possibility of service abuse in this area. Having blueprints available on your own domain is not necessary to achieve complete white-labeling of your service. Your customers see no trace of Dollie when they visit the wp-site.xyz domain. The domain chosen is intentionally generic. Furthermore, within the hub, the blueprints are displayed to customers within an i-frFew readers
Caching
What caching plugins can I use?
The Dollie platform tries to auto-detect the most popular WP caching plugins and auto implements container-level caching before WordPress is even loaded. This solution gives you the freedom to choose a caching plugin that works best for you, whilst still getting all the benefits of NGINX caching. Once a page is cached it is served directly through NGINX completely bypassing PHP and MySQL and thus resulting in near instant load times. Do I need to install a caching plugin? No. By defaultSome readersCan I use Redis Object Caching?
Redis is automatically configured for every site you deploy, and can be enabled by installing a Redis Object Caching plugin from the WordPress.org repository.Few readers
How can I connect to a website's database?
There is more than one means of connecting to a database. Using The Database Manager in Control HQ or Your Hub Adminer is a web based database administration tool written in PHP. It is included by default for all website in your Private Cloud and can be accessed either from Control HQ or in your Hub. In either case, navigate to the management page for a particular site, go to Developer Database Manager to access it. Using the MySQL client To mSome readersConnecting custom domain(s) to your websites in Control HQ
Introduction Inside Control HQ, there is a streamlined process to quickly connect one or multiple custom domains to your sites in the Private Cloud.. This guide explains how the domain management process works in Control HQ. Domain Connect Overview Default Domain: Every time you launch a site in your Private Cloud a default domain is created using your own white label deployment domain. For example newsite.your-platform-sites.io Primary Domain: This is the domain you connSome readersHow To Create and Modify a Cron Job
Cron is a powerful Unix/Linux utility that can be used to schedule commands or scripts to run in the background. A cron job is the task itself, which is used to schedule tasks.There are many different ways to use cron, but the most common use is to schedule WordPress tasks such as publishing posts or backing up your database. In this article, we will show you how to create and modify a WordPress cron job.Creating a Cron Job in WordPressTo create a cron job in WordPress, you first need to installFew readersWhere is the hosting infrastructure based?
Most of our servers are located in an OVH data center in Beauharnois, Canada. OVH provide servers with incredible performance and uptime, backed up with a robust level of customer service. Please contact us if you have specific hosting requirements.Few readersHow to use CloudFlare with my Website?
The following is a step-by-step guide on how to use cloudflare with your website. Note: This guide only applies to using Cloudflare for a specific website, not for a deployment domain. 1. Register for a new CloudFlare account Create Your CloudFlare account by clicking here. 2. Complete the CloudFlare getting started wizard 2.a Provide domain name After you have created your account you'll be taken through the CloudFlFew readersCan I use Git to manage my website?
Git is a powerful development tool which enables developers or a development team to securely push code changes from their local machine to their site on WP Engine with the benefit of version control. Installing Git Git is already installed on your website. If you open an ssh connection to your website, you will find the git command is available to you. Uploading Your Public Ssh Key In order to access the remote repository and push from your local machine, you need to first uplFew readersDoes Dollie provide a staging website or environment?
Yes, Dollie provides a complete staging solution. A staging environment is a safe way of test out significant changes to your website. When you are confident they will have no adverse impact they can be published. To make use of the staging feature for a particular site, from your control panel, search or browse for the particular site. There you will find a Staging tab where you can create, delete, recreate, and publish to production your staging site. Caution when using staging withFew readersHow can I customize the NGINX/PHP FPM configuration?
Legacy Wordpress Images If you ssh or sftp to the website environment, you will find the folders. If the required folder does not exist, you can create it. /usr/src/app/nginx /usr/src/app/php Custom Nginx Config To add a custom NGINX config for your website create a file in the nginx directory ending in .conf, and add your content to it. /usr/src/app/nginx/mycustomconfig.conf A faulty nginx config can prevent access to your website. To validate your config aFew readersHow can I develop my wordpress site locally?
You can transfer files between your local machine and the hosted website using either Git or SFTP. Using Git Git is a powerful development tool which enables developers or a development team to securely push code changes from their local machine to their site on WP Engine with the benefit of version control. For more details check out our article on how to use Git with Dollie.Few readersCan I make a Dollie website a wordpress multisite?
Yes. After a site has been deployed, it can be configured to be a multi-site as you would with any standard wordpress website.Few readersWho do I fix file ownership or file permissions in my website?
You must first ssh to the website in question. Then run the following two commands from the command line: source /opt/essentials/scripts/commonFunctions fixWPSitePermissionsFew readers