Getting Started

Install WPSwim Daemon

Install the WPSwim daemon on any Linux VPS in under a minute. No Docker, no configuration files - just one command.

Requirements

Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 / 24.04 LTS or Debian 11 / 12
Root or sudo access
Outbound HTTPS (port 443) to wpswim.io
Minimum 512 MB RAM
Existing WordPress site(s) in /var/www/ (or any path)

Get your API key

Go to Settings → →

SSH into your server and run the installer

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the key from step 1. If your WordPress is not in /var/www, also pass --wp-path (see below).

curl -sSL wpswim.com/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- --key YOUR_API_KEY

Wait ~30 seconds

WPSwim installs as a systemd service, detects your WordPress sites, and sends its first heartbeat to the cloud. Your server will appear in the dashboard automatically.

You're done

WPSwim is now monitoring your server 24/7. You'll receive alerts and see healing events in your dashboard as issues are detected and fixed.

Go to Dashboard → →

WordPress in a custom location?

If your WordPress is not in /var/www or /home, pass --wp-path and the installer will verify it before continuing.

curl -sSL wpswim.com/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- --key YOUR_API_KEY --wp-path /your/wordpress/path

The installer checks that wp-config.php and wp-includes/version.php exist at that path and shows an error if WordPress is not found.

What the installer does

Downloads the wpswim-agent binary to /usr/local/bin/wpswim-agent
Creates a system user: wpswim (minimum permissions)
Installs a systemd service: wpswim-agent.service
Writes config to /etc/wpswim/config.toml with your API key
Installs WP-CLI if not already present
Starts the service and sends first heartbeat to wpswim.com
Writes the mu-plugin to each detected WordPress site

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get my API key?

Sign up at wpswim.com, then go to Dashboard → Settings. Your API key is shown there. Keep it secret - it links the daemon to your account.

My WordPress is not in /var/www. What do I do?

Pass --wp-path to the installer: curl -sSL wpswim.com/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- --key YOUR_KEY --wp-path /path/to/wordpress. The installer verifies WordPress exists there before continuing.

Does WPSwim install Nginx, PHP, or MySQL?

No. WPSwim detects your existing stack and works with whatever you have installed. It won't install or remove any server software.

Does it support Apache?

Yes. WPSwim detects both Nginx and Apache. Config auditing and reloading works for both.

How do I uninstall?

Run: curl -sSL wpswim.com/uninstall.sh | sudo bash - this stops the service and removes the daemon binary. Add --purge to also remove config files and logs.

How much resources does the daemon use?

Approximately 15–25 MB RAM at idle. CPU usage spikes briefly during healing events but stays below 5% on average.

Can I use it on shared hosting?

No. WPSwim requires root or sudo access and runs as a system service. It works on any VPS, dedicated server, or cloud VM.