The default wp-cron.php job was disabled in favour of a server-level cron job which runs twice per hour.

Gzip compression was enabled on the server.

Metrics/resource usage were checked on the server side; to be monitored regularly.

In about a week, the hosting provider will look over the situation again.

This completes the recommended updates to address the problem.

Various things were suggested; so far, I have implemented the recommendations listed below.

Clean up themes

The following unused themes were deleted from the system: Astra, Book Publisher, Culinary, Digital Books, Dulcet, Fotografie Blog, Full Page, Hestia, Keenshot, Leftside, Minimalist Blogger, Minimalist Writer, Music, Music Lite, OceanWP, Publish, Publishers, Restaurant Zone, Totomo, Twenty Fifteen, Twenty Fourteen, Twenty Nineteen, Twenty Seventeen, Twenty Sixteen, Twenty Twenty, Twenty Twenty-one, Twenty Twenty-two, Verlex, Vilva, Writ, Yummy Recipes.

The following were then updated: Bloom Recipe, Unos.

Clean up plug-ins

The following unused plug-ins were deleted from the system: Akismet, bbp Style Pack, bbp Press, GD bbpress Tools, Image Upload for bbPress, KaTeX, weForms.

The following were then updated: Asgaros Forum, Coblocks, Contact Form 7, Front End PM, HootKit, TablePress, Testimonial Slider, Testimonial Slider Showcase, Updraft Plus, Word Press Importer, WP Recipe Maker, ZotPress.

The following was added, network activated, and auto-configured to improve performance: W3 Total Cache.

WordPress core

WordPress core (British English version) was updated to 6.3.

UpdraftPlus maintenance

Back-up frequency was checked to ensure it was running weekly.

All back-ups prior to the most recent six (6) were deleted to save space.

To be continued

More suggested configuration changes will be made soon.

WordPress was upgraded to 6.1.1.

Plug-ins and themes

All plug-ins were brought up-t0-date. Co-blocks was updated at the end of the process as a new PHP version was required.

All themes were brought up-to-date.

PHP

For security reasons, PHP was upgraded to 7.4. This update had been delayed since the ZotPress plug-in, which is used extensively on several sites here, was not upgraded for compatibility until recently.

This update made it possible to update the Co-Blocks plug-in as well.

The PHP update was required in order to keep certain plug-ins updated as well as for security reasons.

Site identity

Since at least one of the sites now hosts users who are not part of the actual family—and given the amused reaction I got from one new user when he received the welcome message asking for registration confirmation—it seemed best to change the title of this master website to something more meaningful!¹

Site theme

Finally, in the interest of improved aesthetics, the site theme was changed from TwentyNineteen to CatchySketch.

It turns out this multisite system sets the default limit at 1500 kb. I increased that to 5000. Let’s see how I fare.

I was just about to do so and realized it might be good to categorize posts relating to configuration changes, so I created a category `Settings’ and updated the posts to date to reflect the new category. This should make them easier to find in future.

Now I’m REALLY gone!

Next, I created a new sub-site at http:// locost.feuerherm.ca where I plan to feature my research and findings (and, I hope, actual eventual progress!) regarding the building of a Locost (replica Lotus Seven) to be registered in Ontario, Canada. I realized while I was configuring that site that I hadn’t set the clock format here, so adjusted it to 24-hour clock.

Then, I added plug-ins Easy Footnote and Tablepress and enabled them for network use as well.

Now I really have to get back to the grindstone of preparing lectures for my class on ancient Egypt!!

• Uploaded the GB version of WordPress to the root and performed the usual 5-minute installation.
• Edited the wp-config.php to enable multisite.
• Installed multisite, and
  • in light of a warning, created a Wildcard DNS entry.
• Added lines to wp-config.php as instructed.
• Made hidden files visible in CPanel then added lines to .htaccess as instructed.

If you’re interested, I found instructions here: https://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/ultimate-guide-multisite/

• Changed the timezone to Toronto and first day of the week to Sunday.
• Disallowed commenting for unregistered users as an anti-spam measure.