Case Study - VPS Web Server and Database Performance Optimization for Vollta.ru

About the Project

Vollta.ru is an online store for electrical equipment, smart home systems, and electrical supplies powered by Webasyst Shop-Script. The website runs on a VPS and serves a large product catalog, so request processing speed and server stability directly affect store operations.

The Task

The project required a faster website, web-server and database settings aligned with the actual workload, a current PHP version, and stronger VPS protection against automated scanning.

The main workstreams were:

• upgrading to PHP 8.2;
• configuring Nginx + PHP-FPM;
• optimizing the database configuration;
• reducing the impact of scanning bots;
• configuring firewall rules;
• verifying Webasyst Shop-Script stability after the changes.

VPS Audit

Before making changes, we analyzed the server configuration, resource allocation between the web server, PHP, and the database, as well as the incoming request patterns.

This helped separate application and infrastructure bottlenecks and prepare settings appropriate for the VPS resources.

Upgrade to PHP 8.2

The project was moved to PHP 8.2. We verified the compatibility of Webasyst Shop-Script, installed applications, and server modules with the new runtime.

The upgrade provided the store with a current, supported execution environment and access to modern PHP performance mechanisms.

Nginx and PHP-FPM Configuration

The web stack was configured around Nginx + PHP-FPM:

• Nginx accepts incoming requests and serves static files;
• dynamic Webasyst requests are passed to PHP-FPM;
• PHP-FPM pool settings are aligned with the VPS resources;
• settings that caused unnecessary load and instability during request spikes were removed.

This setup separates static delivery from PHP execution and makes the online store's behavior more predictable under load.

Database Optimization

We reviewed the database workload and aligned its server parameters with the available memory and Shop-Script usage patterns.

Special attention was paid to memory use, connection limits, and stable catalog request processing. The database changes were coordinated with the rest of the VPS setup so that the web server, PHP-FPM, and database would not compete for resources.

Protection Against Scanning Bots

Request logs revealed automated scanners generating unnecessary load and accessing service and nonexistent URLs.

To reduce their impact, we:

• filtered characteristic unwanted requests;
• limited repeated suspicious activity;
• put the firewall rules in order;
• kept only the network services required by the project accessible.

The protection was configured to remove technical noise without interfering with regular visitors and search engines.

Complimentary Webasyst Updates

In addition to the server optimization, we updated the project's software components:

• Webasyst Framework;
• the Shop-Script application;
• installed plugins with available compatible updates.

After the update, we verified the storefront and the online store's core functions on PHP 8.2.

Result

Vollta.ru received a current PHP 8.2 server environment, a tuned Nginx and PHP-FPM stack, a coordinated database configuration, and stronger VPS protection.

The work removed unnecessary background load from scanning bots and prepared Webasyst Shop-Script for stable ongoing operation and further development without outdated components.