[Plugin: W3 Total Cache] Memcache Vs. Memcached

I’m sure the error code might help too:

“Page caching is not working properly. Memcached server(s): [server IP removed] may not running or not responding. This error message will automatically disappear once the issue is resolved.”

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I spoke with tech support and it is not possible to install memcached on cloud sites(which I am) – memcached in only available on their cloud servers. Looks like I’ll be using disk based caching from now on.

I think stormondemand.com lets you use memcache. They’re a cloud provider. I have xcache going with them at the moment, and they suggested memcached and did not indicate any disallowance.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I do no recommend the user of memcache(d) for a single server deployment, use an opcode cache as necessary.

One use-case for memcache is when you’re using PHP Handler of CGI, which means (to my knowledge) that xcache, for example, does not create persistent object caches, only opcode.

In this circumstance, I think it’s going to be useful even on a single server.

I still cannot say that is always true that it will be the fastest of the remaining methods.

Frederick … i have a dedicated server on the cloud does this mean its a stand alone server or multiple? meaning should i run memcache or opcode? thanks!

@ds123 A dedicated server is a single server. If you’re only running one server then stick to something like APC.

Here’s a good article that might help to explain caching a little better: https://markjaquith.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/apc-object-cache-backend-for-wordpress/

thanks @kfawcett …i just wasn’t clear on what is running a multiple server means ….. i thought because it is powered by a cloud of servers that it might be considered multiple servers like i know it can get cpu from other servers when needed …… if i really had multiple servers though i would have more than one ip address correct?

What do you mean it’s powered by a cloud of servers? Who is your hosting provider? Are you sure you have a dedicated server?

if i really had multiple servers though i would have more than one ip address correct?

Probably, but there are more factors than that.

It’s kind of silly to say you should not use memcache on a single server, and that you should use opcode caching instead… two different things. You should actually be using both if you got the memory for it. That is to say opcode caching for the PHP code itself (which can be enabled by default with APC and such in php.ini), and memcache for the content.

@kbeezie, I don’t think you understand how those technologies and servers work. Memcached is not going to be faster “in general” there are exceptions. APC is going to be great for lots of optimizations, but not all etc. The point is not to use your available memory.