I run a WordPress site that attracts around 45,000 unique visitors daily.

Currently, I'm utilizing a VPS setup with 4 CPU cores and 4GB of RAM, managed via FastPanel.

Lately, I've observed occasional spikes in CPU usage reaching 75-80%, which leads to noticeable lag, causing pages to load in several seconds.

Could you provide guidance on whether I should upgrade my plan? Should I opt for 4 cores with higher clock speeds, or would it be better to simply increase the core count?

With 45,000 unique visitors daily, 4GB of RAM and 4 CPU cores might not be cutting it anymore, especially if you're hitting 75-80% CPU usage. You need to consider whether your site is primarily CPU-bound or memory-bound.
If it's CPU-bound, upgrading to cores with higher clock speeds could provide the performance boost you need for better single-threaded tasks. However, if your site's performance is being throttled by concurrent requests, increasing the core count might be the more effective route.

When it comes to VPS, you gotta grasp that you're not dealing with tangible hardware, no matter what the sales pitch says. The resources are, well, let's say 'elastic' - they can stretch and shrink depending on the host system's workload. And, trust me, those virtual machines are running on top of the host OS, where some processes are happening in the dead of night, like a 4 am snapshot, courtesy of the host's backup routine.

So, no matter how much you scale, you won't be able to outsmart the underlying infrastructure. If your project's peaks are infrequent and don't impact your bottom line, I'd say don't sweat it and focus on setting up some monitoring to identify the root cause of those spikes. That way, you'll be able to pinpoint what's driving the issue and make data-driven decisions to optimize your setup.

That 75-80% CPU utilization stat is basically meaningless without context. What's really driving the load: PHP or MySQL queries? The latter can be optimized, especially with a database of that size, so it shouldn't be a bottleneck.

If the load is coming from PHP, we need to pinpoint the culprit: are we talking about malicious bot traffic or legitimate user requests? If it's the former, we can take steps to block or limit it. And if it's the latter, we might need to rethink our caching strategy or consider upgrading our RAM.

As a sysadmin, it's my job to scrutinize every aspect of the system, from modules to caching to RAM allocation. We need to gather intel, draw conclusions, and then optimize accordingly. And if all else fails, it's time to bring in the hosting company's experts for a deep dive analysis. Only then can we start implementing fixes and solutions.

Optimizing a Virtual Private Server (VPS) for high traffic involves several key strategies. First, ensure adequate resource allocation (CPU, RAM, and bandwidth) to handle increased demand. Load balancing helps distribute traffic evenly across multiple servers, preventing overload. Implement caching mechanisms (e.g., Varnish, Redis) to reduce server load and speed up content delivery. Use content delivery networks (CDNs) for faster global access. Finally, regularly monitor server performance and optimize database queries to prevent bottlenecks and maintain uptime during peak traffic.

Consider upgrading to 4 cores with higher clock speeds for improved single-thread performance, crucial for WordPress. If traffic growth is expected, adding more cores ensures scalability and smoother multitasking.

Well, Hostignsource.com is everything a cheap vps host should be - it's there, it works, it's supported, and is extremely professional.
In the beginning, I was wary of how about the use of online tech support, but I often receive a reply within 5-10 minutes, and never more than a day's response.

Optimizing a VPS for high traffic involves several key steps. Start by choosing the right VPS plan with enough resources like CPU, RAM, and storage. Use a content delivery network (CDN) to reduce load times and distribute traffic. Enable caching to speed up page loading, and optimize your database for faster queries. Monitor traffic regularly to identify and resolve potential bottlenecks. Finally, consider load balancing and upgrading server resources as traffic grows to ensure smooth performance during peak periods.

VPS optimization requires several key steps, including upgrading resources such as CPU and RAM, optimizing server settings to improve performance, implementing caching solutions, and utilizing a content delivery network (CDN). Database management and regular monitoring are also essential for maintaining stability and speed.

Optimizing a VPS for high traffic involves several key strategies to ensure smooth performance. Start by choosing the right VPS plan with sufficient CPU, RAM, and bandwidth. Implement caching mechanisms like Varnish or Redis to speed up content delivery. Optimize your web server configurations (e.g., Nginx or Apache) and enable compression (gzip). Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute traffic globally. Regularly monitor server load and tweak configurations. Additionally, secure your VPS by updating software and using firewalls to protect against potential threats.