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System Requirements ​

Fresh

Dashboard Server Requirements ​

RequirementMinimumRecommended
WordPress6.2+6.4+ (6.9+ for Abilities API)
PHP7.4+8.1+
MySQL5.7+8.0+
Memory256 MB512 MB+
OpenSSL1.1+3.0+
cURL7.0+7.74+
Max Execution Time120s300s+
Upload Max Filesize2 MB128 MB+

Child Site Requirements ​

RequirementMinimumRecommended
WordPress6.0+6.4+
PHP7.4+8.1+
OpenSSL1.1+3.0+

PHP Configuration ​

Required Extensions ​

openssl
curl
json
mbstring
mysql (or mysqli)
ini
max_execution_time = 300
memory_limit = 512M
upload_max_filesize = 128M
post_max_size = 128M
max_input_vars = 5000
allow_url_fopen = On

Hosting Compatibility ​

Fully Compatible ​

HostNotes
Self-hosted VPSFull control, recommended
CloudwaysExcellent performance
SiteGroundGood PHP configuration
A2 HostingVPS plans recommended
DigitalOceanDroplets with WordPress
LinodeGood for large deployments

Compatible with Configuration ​

HostNotes
WP EngineMay need support to enable OpenSSL
KinstaCustom PHP settings via dashboard
FlywheelContact support for cron setup
HostReason
WordPress.com FreeNo plugin installation
Shared hosting (oversold)Memory and execution time limits
Hosts blocking outbound HTTPMainWP requires outbound connections

Network Requirements ​

MainWP Dashboard must be able to make outbound HTTP/HTTPS requests to child sites.

RequirementDescription
Outbound HTTP/HTTPSDashboard → Child sites (ports 80/443)
DNS resolutionDashboard must resolve child site domains
SSL certificatesValid SSL on both Dashboard and child sites recommended
FirewallAllow Dashboard IP on child site firewalls
No WAF blockingEnsure WAF rules don't block MainWP requests

Scaling Guidelines ​

SitesServer SpecNotes
1–501 CPU, 2 GB RAMShared hosting may work
50–2002 CPU, 4 GB RAMVPS recommended
200–5004 CPU, 8 GB RAMDedicated or cloud
500+8 CPU, 16 GB RAMDedicated with system cron

Large Deployments

For 200+ sites, use system cron instead of WP-Cron, increase PHP memory to 1 GB, and consider a dedicated MySQL server.