Category Archives: Coding, Server Admin & Security

Why MySQL FULLTEXT Search Returns 0 Results (And How to Fix It)

phpMyAdmin SQL to alter table to InnoDB for database optimization

When optimizing custom database search queries by replacing standard SQL LIKE '%keyword%' queries with MySQL MATCH() AGAINST() full-text search, you might encounter a frustrating wall: the query returns 0 results, even when the search terms exist repeatedly across your database.

You created the FULLTEXT index, wrote the SQL query, and verified the matching records exist - yet MySQL returns an empty result set.

Here is why MySQL silently drops valid search terms in Natural Language Mode, and how to resolve

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security | Tagged 50% Threshold Rule, boolean mode, database, full-text search engine, fulltext index, InnoDB, keyword search, like vs fulltext, MyISAM, MyISAM vs InnoDB, mysql, mysql query optimization, natural language mode, natural relevance scores, slow mysql queries, sql, table storage engine | Leave a comment

How to Whitelist Googlebot, Bingbot in CSF

WHM ConfigServer Security & Firewall, CSF ignore file

One way to prevent server load spikes and maintain fast performance is to block problematic IP addresses and IP ranges. However, you have to make sure that legitimate crawlers, such as Googlebot and Bingbot, are not accidentally blocked from accessing your websites. Don't crash your SEO! We covered this important step in, “How to Stop High Server Load from Distributed Botnets, Scrapers, and Database Queue Locks”. If you don't know how to do this whitelisting, this tutorial is for

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security | Tagged bingbot, ConfigServer Security & Firewall, csf, csf.ignore, csf.rignore, domain masks, firewall, Googlebot, ignore, ignore files, ignore ip, lfd, nano text editor, reverse dns ignore, seo, terminal, whitelist crawlers, whm | Leave a comment

How to Edit .htaccess on the Site Level or Add Rules Globally

In "How to Stop High Server Load from Distributed Botnets, Scrapers, and Database Queue Locks" we talked about how to fix your high server loads. That included adding rules to your site's .htaccess file, or updating the rules globally. If you don't know how to do that yet, this guide is for you.

Crucial First Step: Make a Backup

Before touching .htaccess, always make a copy. A single typo in this file will cause a "500 Internal Server Error" and take

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security | Tagged .htaccess, 500 Internal Server Error, apache, apache configuration, cpanel, file manager, global apache configuration, global rules, include editor, nano text editor, post virtual host include, pre main include, pre virtualhost include, show hidden files, terminal, whm | Leave a comment

How to Stop High Server Load from Distributed Botnets, Scrapers, and Database Queue Locks

When a server load spikes to 30, 50, or 100+, most sysadmins panic and start haphazardly restarting services or blocking random IP addresses. However, modern attacks are rarely as simple as a single bad IP.

Today’s botnets use distributed Layer 7 (HTTP) floods, rotating through hundreds of unique IPs with only 1 connection each, exploiting web server application queues, fake WordPress scanners, background AJAX polling scripts, and WordPress admin-ajax.php endpoints that lock up MySQL.

This comprehensive guide covers how to diagnose,

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security | Tagged .htaccess, 127.0.0.1, 403 Forbidden errors, 404 errors, ajax, ajax polling, ajax requests, apache, apache rate limiting, automated system tasks, bingbot, botnets, cache, caching, cpu, cpu load, cron jobs, csf, csf whitelist, CT_BLOCK_TIME, CT_LIMIT, CT_PORTS, database polling, database queue locks, ddos attacks, distributed attack, Googlebot, high server load, http, ip address, Jeypack, layer 7, linux, load averages, mibew messenger, mod_evasive, mysql, operator refresh time, php, processes, RAM, scrapers, script, server attack, server load, server load spike, subnet attack, sysadmin commands, whitelist, whm, xmlrpc.php | Leave a comment

The Ultimate Guide to MySQL Query Optimization

PHPMyAdmin MySQL Explain Analyze command for optimizing slow queries

At its core, query optimization comes down to one goal: Make the database read as few rows as possible.

If MySQL reads 300,000 rows to return 5 results, it is slow. If it reads 5 rows to return 5 results, it is lightning fast.

In The Developer’s Guide to Identifying Slow MySQL Queries, we covered the mechanics of finding your slowest queries using server logs and gave a brief introduction to the EXPLAIN command.

But once you’ve identified a slow query,

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security | Tagged boolean mode, composite indexes, covering index, deferred join, ESR, explain, explain analyze, fulltext, indexes, like vs fulltext, match against, mysql, mysql database, mysql query optimization, natural language mode, order by, RAM, slow mysql queries, where | Leave a comment

The Developer’s Guide to Identifying and Optimizing Slow MySQL Queries

This tutorial will guide you through identifying, extracting, and analyzing your most problematic database queries using the command line on a WHM/cPanel server.

If you’re using UltimateWB for your backend, chances are you won’t need any of this. We optimize UltimateWB to run fast whether your website is small or large. But in case you need it - for example, if you are adding complex custom code or building a project from scratch - this guide has you covered.

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security, Web Hosting | Tagged cpanel, database optimization, fast website, guide, mysql, mysql database, mysqldumpslow, optimize database, Percona Toolkit, server performance, slow mysql queries, slow query log, software development, SQL optimization, technical seo, terminal, tutorial, web performance, whm | Leave a comment

Why should a developer use UltimateWB website builder instead of coding from scratch?

Save time with UltimateWB website builder vs coding from scratch

Short Answer: UltimateWB website builder makes the web development process a lot faster and easier, without limiting your flexibility or customization options.

If you’re a developer, you might be the kind of person who loves coding every single line by hand. There’s something satisfying about building a site from scratch - controlling every detail, writing custom code, and having full freedom.

But when it comes to launching websites faster, managing multiple projects, or delivering client sites with advanced features, coding

Posted in Ask David!, Coding, Server Admin & Security, Compare Website Builders | Tagged build websites faster, clean code, coding from scratch, custom website builder, developer website builder, developer-friendly CMS, scalable website builder, web development tools, website customization, website development platform | Leave a comment

Category Archives: Coding, Server Admin & Security

Why MySQL FULLTEXT Search Returns 0 Results (And How to Fix It)

How to Whitelist Googlebot, Bingbot in CSF

How to Edit .htaccess on the Site Level or Add Rules Globally

Crucial First Step: Make a Backup

How to Stop High Server Load from Distributed Botnets, Scrapers, and Database Queue Locks

The Ultimate Guide to MySQL Query Optimization

The Developer’s Guide to Identifying and Optimizing Slow MySQL Queries

Why should a developer use UltimateWB website builder instead of coding from scratch?

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