How to Install LiteSpeed Web Server from the Command Line

This wiki will cover how to install LSWS (either Enterprise or Standard edition) from the command line. This wiki is meant for those familiar with the Unix/Linux console command line environment that see a GUI (the WebAdmin console) as a distraction and overhead. Users using a control panel should use the guide associated with their control panel.

Run the following commands from ssh as root

cd /root
wget http://www.litespeedtech.com/packages/4.0/lsws-4.2.12-ent-x86_64-linux.tar.gz

Note: Replace the values in the URL to control for your OS and which version/edition of LSWS you wish to download:

lsws-4.2.12-ent-x86_64-linux = LSWS Enterprise 4.2.12 for 64bit Linux

lsws-4.2.10-std-i386-linux = LSWS Standard 4.2.10 for 32bit Linux

lsws-4.2.12-ent-x86_64-freebsd6 = LSWS Enterprise 4.2.12 for 64bit FreeBSD 6.x

Note: On some systems (FreeBSD), fetch can be used.

Unpack the tarball and run the install script

tar zxf  lsws-4.2.12-ent-x86_64-linux.tar.gz
cd lsws-4.2.12
./install.sh

The installer will ask you a number of questions (covered in detail here).

Note: It may be best to set Port Offset to a number other than “0”. If Port Offset is set to “0”, LSWS may stop Apache and start LSWS after a successful installation. This is not ideal, since we still need to build the PHP binary for LiteSpeed.

LSWS comes with a pre-built PHP 5 binary, but this only contains the barest of configurations and is not enough to run most websites. You should build your own PHP binary using configuration options to match those used by Apache.

If LiteSpeed is running, you should switch back to Apache temporarily by clicking “switch to Apache” link. Then, click “Build Matching PHP binary” link. It is going take a while.

NOTE:If you see below error message when Build Matching PHP, try increase “Max cPanel process memory (minimum: 256)” in cPanel (Main » Server Configuration » Tweak Settings) to at lease 512MB.

Found Errors

ERROR: /usr/local/bin/php -i returns 134 

You can try to build matching PHP from command line: 
"/usr/local/cpanel/whostmgr/cgi/lsws/cmd_buildmatchingphp.sh"

Just click “Restart LiteSpeed” Then you can verify if everything works as expected. It should!

If “Port Offset” is set to non-zero, you can now replace Apache with LiteSpeed Web Server. Just click “Switch to LiteSpeed”.

That's it.

WARNING: Do NOT uncheck “httpd” service under WHM service manager, otherwise WHM wont restart LiteSpeed automatically when configuration has been changed.