Tiny Tiny RSS (TT-RSS) is a self-hosted, open-source RSS aggregator requiring hosting with PHP/MySQL support, SSH access, and low latency. Optimal providers include A2 Hosting, DreamHost, and Hostinger, prioritizing one-click installs, scalability, and security. This guide explores critical factors like performance benchmarks, migration strategies, and cost-efficiency to maximize TT-RSS functionality.
What Are the Key Performance Factors for Tiny Tiny RSS Hosting?
TT-RSS demands low-latency databases and PHP 7.4+ compatibility. Hosts with LiteSpeed servers or OPcache reduce feed refresh times. For example, A2 Hosting’s Turbo servers achieve 200ms response times during peak RSS updates. SSD storage and ≥2GB RAM prevent bottlenecks when parsing 500+ feeds. Monitor CPU allocation—shared hosting may throttle during cron jobs.
How to Install Tiny Tiny RSS via One-Click Installers?
Softaculous (Hostinger) and DreamHost’s custom script automate TT-RSS deployment. Post-install, configure cron jobs via cPanel (e.g., */30 * * * * php /var/www/html/tt-rss/update.php). Fix permission errors using chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/tt-rss. Enable PostgreSQL for multi-user setups through PgSQL extension activation.
Why Is Security Critical for Self-Hosted RSS Aggregators?
TT-RSS vulnerabilities like CVE-2020-35745 require hosts with ModSecurity and automated patching. Isolate TT-RSS in a chroot jail via CageFS (CloudLinux). SSL/TLS encryption with Let’s Encrypt prevents MITM attacks during feed fetching. Daily backups via R1Soft or JetBackup mitigate ransomware risks targeting OPML files.
Regular security audits are essential to identify potential vulnerabilities in your TT-RSS setup. Hosting providers offering integrated Web Application Firewalls (WAF) can block malicious traffic before it reaches your application. Additionally, implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) for TT-RSS admin access adds an extra layer of security. Hosts that provide automatic SSL certificate renewal ensure encrypted connections remain uninterrupted, crucial for protecting sensitive feed data. Below is a comparison of security features across recommended hosting providers:
| Hosting Provider | ModSecurity | Automated Patching | Backup Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2 Hosting | Yes | Yes | R1Soft, JetBackup |
| DreamHost | Yes | Weekly | Daily Offsite |
| Hostinger | Yes | Daily | Weekly |
How to Scale TT-RSS for Large Feed Volumes?
Upgrade to VPS hosting when CPU usage exceeds 70% during updates. Configure Redis (define('CACHE_DEFAULT_EXPIRE', 3600)) for 10,000+ feed items. Load balancing across dual Xeon servers reduces latency. Use plugins like Fever API to offload mobile sync traffic to CDN edge nodes.
Monitoring tools like NetData or New Relic help track resource usage patterns, allowing proactive scaling before performance degrades. For databases with over 50,000 feed items, consider implementing read replicas to distribute query loads. Advanced users can leverage containerization with Docker to isolate TT-RSS processes and scale individual components independently. The following table outlines recommended server configurations based on feed volume:
| Feed Volume | Recommended Hosting | RAM | CPU Cores |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000-5,000 | VPS | 4GB | 2 |
| 5,000-20,000 | Dedicated Server | 8GB | 4 |
| 20,000+ | Cloud Cluster | 16GB+ | 8+ |
What Cost-Efficiency Strategies Apply to TT-RSS Hosting?
GreenGeeks’ idle resource scaling cuts costs by 40% during off-peak hours. NVMe caching on Hostinger’s Business plan halves database I/O costs. Archive older feeds to Object Storage (Wasabi: $5.99/TB) via TT-RSS’s “Purge Old Posts” plugin. Shared hosting suffices for <1,000 feeds but audit “unlimited” policies for process limits.
How to Migrate TT-RSS Between Hosts Without Downtime?
Use mysqldump with --single-transaction for live DB transfers. Sync /var/www/html/tt-rss via rsync (rsync -azP --exclude 'cache/*' user@oldhost:/tt-rss/ /newhost/tt-rss/). Update config.php with new DB credentials. Test with a temporary domain before DNS switch. Cloudflare’s 301 redirects minimize mobile client disruptions.
What Community Support Exists for TT-RSS Hosting Issues?
The TT-RSS Forum and GitHub repo resolve 89% of setup errors. For hosting-specific bugs, Hostinger’s Guru Crew offers PHP version rollbacks. Community plugins like mercury_fulltext fix article scraping errors. Docker images (e.g., linuxserver/tt-rss) simplify deployment on AWS Lightsail or Linode.
Expert Views
“TT-RSS’s true potential unlocks only on tuned hosting. I recommend prioritizing LEMP stacks over standard LAMP—Nginx’s reverse proxy handles concurrent feed updates 3x faster. Also, avoid hosts blocking outgoing HTTP/2 connections, as broken feeds are the top support headache.”
— Mikhail S., Senior SysAdmin at RSSHostingExperts
Conclusion
Choosing TT-RSS hosting requires balancing technical specs (PHP 8.1, MariaDB 10.5) with budget. Top providers like DreamHost and A2 Hosting deliver 99.9% uptime for feed aggregation. Implement Redis caching and offsite backups to ensure seamless RSS access. Regularly audit cron jobs and SSL renewals to maintain security as feed counts grow.
FAQ
- Can TT-RSS Run on Shared Hosting?
- Yes, for <500 feeds. Ensure PHP’s max_execution_time ≥ 120s and 512MB memory_limit. Avoid hosts disabling proc_open(), required for update_daemon.php.
- Does TT-RSS Support PostgreSQL?
- Yes. Edit config.php with
define('DB_TYPE', 'pgsql'). Requires pgsql PHP extension enabled—request via hosting control panel. - How to Secure TT-RSS Login?
- Enable two-factor authentication via the TFA plugin. Restrict admin access to static IPs using .htaccess rules. Hosts with Imunify360 block brute-force attempts.