WordPress Simple caching with Nginx try_files

Earlier we used to cache our wordpress sites using PHP-FPM technology. We have a tutorial for this: FastCGI Caching with Nginx on VPS for WordPress

Now, we cache our sites in a simpler and better method. We use a wordpress plugin named Simple Cache. And we shall order Nginx server to serve the cached content bypassing the database query and PHP. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Install and Activate the plugin Simple Cache.

Step 2: Add the following into wp-config.php if the plugin can’t do it for you.

define('WP_CACHE', TRUE);

Step 3: Edit virtual host file. e.g.

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/wbxpress.conf

Replace the following line inside location / block:

try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;

By

try_files "wp-content/cache/simple-cache/${http_host}${request_uri}index.html" $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;

Restart nginx server using the command.

sudo service nginx restart;

Step 4: Now turn on the caching.

That’s it. Now you have a fast loading site.