Question very confused about running FPM (apache vs nginx)

[larryk]

== sorry for the long post, but just looking for answers (that I'm sure many people have) ==

Hi,
so looking for:
- advice
- best way to use or configure
- anything else I'm NOT asking but should know about

Here is my situation:
1) my old server is 11.5 plesk on linux (only apache)
2) new server is 12.5 plesk on linux (with upgraded hardware)
3) a) I want to use nginx because i've read it will speed up my websites, etc.
b) I have websites that have various mod rewrite rules, etc. etc. (and database intensive sites)
c) many sites are Wordpress and all FUTURE sites will be WP.

So, I'm having a hard time get my sites on old server migrated and running on new server...
THESE are new server settings, for what I think are 'important' to my confusion:

PHP Settings for - any given domain:
PHP support for 5.4.45, run PHP as FPM application served by Apache
[[[[ or confused if I want FPM application served by nginx ?? ]]]]

short_open_tag = on
[[[[[ this solved many problems ]]]]]]]

[[[[ any other settings I should know about ]]]]


Apache & nginx Settings for - any given domain:
[[[[ SO THIS IS MY BIGGEST source of confusion -- this page... while I can read the text on this page, I don't know what it means. Why you turn on, off, or provide a certain value? ]]]]

HERE IS WHAT I THINK I KNOW --- yes, scary assumptions I know

1) with 12.5, I can have apache running and nginx running at same time.
2) via the apache and nginx settings page, I can control the site customizations I need, depending on what the site needs to do. For me, its mainly lots of URL parameters via SEO friendly URLS, etc.
example: domain.com/param1/param2/
or
domain.com/param1/display-dynamic-content.php
3) my .htaccess files for any given domain are working fine, but understand that nginx does not USE .htaccess
4) I had thought that Plesk 12.5 could allow you to run both nginx and apache at same time and for any given domain, you can "pick" which server type you wanted:

these are my options = what I thought the option meant
CGI application served by apache = only running apache via cgi
FastCGI application served by apache = only running apache via Fastcgi
FPM application served by apache = running apache as primary with nginx secondary
FPM application served by nginx = running nginx as primary with apache secondary

5) so again, it seemed like a great idea to move any mod-rewrite rules I had into the 'apache and nginx settings' page.
-- issues that come up:
scripts are different?
where do they go?
need a good way to convert my existing rules for use on this page
my learning curve of nginx rules (FYI. I never used or seen nginx before)

6) apache vs nginx
- apache is better at php / dynamic content pages
- nginx is better at flat files, pictures, html, css files, etc.

with that said, i thought the best option was: FPM application served by apache
that would get best of both worlds?


OVERALL, I just need to get my new server up and running...
so I could go with ONLY apache and turn off nginx... so old sites would work as is?
BUT a main reason to new server is to take advantage of nginx.
I just didn't realize all the changes that would mean to my existing sites


anyway, I'm assuming that "your readers" can immediately see where my thoughts or assumptions or ideas are wrong/incorrect.... PLEASE let me know what I have wrong

and would LOVE to get your advice on what I should do.

thanks
larry

PS. once all running, I can test various settings to "test" what is better or faster, pretty easily, right?
my idea of testing is like so:
- run benchmark of a site via gtmetrix.
- then make one change (either a change on the 'apache and nginx settings' page OR try running PHP as fastcgi,FPM apache, or FPM nginx.
- then run benchmark again
= see which options are better/faster?
ANYONE see a problem with this testing idea?

THANKS

 

[larryk]

little more info:
- on dedicated server
- 32 g of ram
- Intel Xeon E3-1271 v3 Quad-Core
- SSD HD

For right now, just trying to learn what I SHOULD be doing... what is 'best practice' for setting up 12.5 to take advantage of apache + nginx
and how to get best performance from running PHP intensive sites (like Wordpress and a couple custom sites I have).

I will shortly start running higher versions of PHP and Mysql... as I read those are much better than the old versions I'm running now.

thanks

 

[larryk]

some of the answer are here:
https://talk.plesk.com/threads/diff...11-5-only-apache-vs-12-5-apache-nginx.339821/

but still looking for advice, details...
maybe you know of other resources so i can read more details?

thanks

 

[larryk]

Specific setup/installation question ---

IS THIS good or okay to have in the php settings page:

I have these 2 options, for PHP handler:
-- FPM application served by apache
-- FPM application served by nginx

I'm assuming not everyone has those 2 options? or their plesk is not configured that way?
just asking....

thanks