Purge Varnish Cache

by Dsingh

Description

Purge Varnish Cache provides integration between your WordPress site and multiple Varnish Cache servers. Purge Varnish Cache sends a PURGE request to the URL of a page or post every time based on configured actions and trigger by site administrator. Varnish is a web application accelerator also known as a caching HTTP reverse proxy.

Features:
* Support on all varnish versions of 3.x, 4.x, 5.x and 6.x
* One time configuration.
* admin-socket integration and Varnish admin interface for status.
* unlimited number of Varnish Cache servers.
* Custom URLs purge.
* User interface for manual purge.
* Single click entire cache purge.
* Debugging.
* Actively maintained.

Requirements: Apache sockets module/extention should be enabled.

Purpose: The main purpose of developing this plugin is to deliver updated copy of content to end user without any delay.

Enhancement Request: For any further enhancement, please mail me at dev.firoza@gmail.com

Installation

How to install Purge Varnish?

Go to your admin area and select Plugins -> Add new from the menu.
Search for “Purge Varnish” or download
Click install and then click on activate link.

How to configure settings?

Access the link DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-settings and configure terminal settings.
Access the link DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-expire and configure required actions and events.
Access the link DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-urls for purge urls from varnish cache.
Access the link DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-all to purge all varnish cache.

Screenshots

Terminal settings screen for test connectivity from varnish server.
Action trigger configuration screen to make automate purge varnish cache for post expiration.
Action trigger configuration screen to make automate purge varnish cache for comment expiration.
Action trigger configuration screen to make automate purge varnish cache on menu update.
Action trigger configuration screen to make automate purge varnish cache on theme change.
Purge whole site cache.
Purge URLs screen to purge URLs manually from varnish cache.

Faq

How can I check everything’s working?

It is not difficult. Install this plugin and configure Terminal settings using below link.
DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-settings.

If status is ‘Varnish running’ means everything is working perfectly!

What versions of Varnish is supported?

Currently it is supporting all varnish versions of 3.x, 4.x, 5.x and 6.x

How do I manually purge a single URL from varnish cache?

Click on ‘Purge URLs’ link or access below link.
DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-urls.

What if I have multiple varnish Servers/IPs?

You need to configure multiple IPs in Varnish Control Terminal textfield in ‘Terminal’ screen like 127.0.0.1:6082 127.0.0.2:6082 127.0.0.3:6082

How can I debug?

Add below constant in wp-config.php file.
define(‘WP_VARNISH_PURGE_DEBUG’, true);

It will generate a log file ‘purge_varnish_log.txt’ inside uploads directory.

How do I manually purge the whole site cache?

Clicking on link ‘Purge all’ or access below link:
DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-all.

What it purge?

It allow you to configure purge settings.
Please configure by clicking on Expire link or accessing below link.
DOMAIN_NAME/wp-admin/admin.php?page=purge-varnish-expire to configure purge expire setting.Clicking on Expire link

Reviews

Does Exactly What it Should

By stratoextra on February 14, 2025

Does exactly what it should and still works with WordPress 6.7.2.

Possible malware - images/purge16x16.png

By Igor Kovacic (ikovacic) on November 24, 2022

EDIT: Resolved very quick. We've just finished scanning of our website, and malware scanner reported file wp-content/plugins/purge-varnish/images/purge16x16.png If you open that file in text editor, you'll notice some Javascript although it's PNG file. Please let me know why this file contains suspicious JS. Everything else is great.

Functional and very useful plugin

By pradipktiwari on April 17, 2020

This Plugin works perfectly now with wordpress version 5.2 and Varnish 6.x, and I’m very happy using it. The only working plugin for me.

Life saver

By escapefromhere (bukowski1982) on March 15, 2020

Working perfectly, thanks!

Only working plugin for varnish, thank you!

By meken on January 1, 2019

The only working plugin for me, since Varnish 4 ~ 6. I am running Apache+php fpm, 7.0~7.2

useful for my site

By kozora on October 1, 2017

developer help solve problem, thanks a lot this plugin is useful for my site, can auto purge Varnish

Functional plugin, friendly dev

By leears on July 20, 2017

Initially had some issues with this plugin working properly, so I contacted the plugin author. He was extremely friendly and very fast to respond, and he added some code to fix my issue. Plugin works perfectly now with WP 4.8 and Varnish 5, and I'm very happy with it. I'd recommend it over the other Varnish plugins at this point, because it works with Varnish 5 and most others seem to be stuck on 3 or have limited support for 4.

Very useful plugin

By rajeevkumarchy on November 17, 2016

After installing Varnish we need to instruct WordPress to purge the cached content whenever it is modified. This plugin is helpful to achieve this.

nice plugin

By cpsinghal on November 3, 2016

Great help for wordpress developer

Purge Varnish Cache automatically based on configurable actions upon events or s

By Dsingh (devavi) on April 20, 2020

I try so many plugins available on wordpress.org but it have the following unique features in respect of available other plugins on wordpress.org.

admin-socket integration and Varnish admin interface for status etc.

Unlimited number of Varnish Cache servers

Configurable actions upon events that will expire URLs from varnish cache like reverse proxy caches.

Purge multiple URLs manually from Varnish cache.

Debugging

Changelog

1.1.4

Fix:
1. PHP 8 error: socket_connect()= 1.1.3 =

Fix:
1. Make it Comptable with WP 6.0.2

1.1.2

Fix:
1. Update Icon

1.1.1

Fix:
1. Resolve css conflicts occur with wp-admin elements

1.1.0

Fix:
1. Fix Notice: Undefined index.
2. AH01071: Got error ‘PHP message: Recieved status code 106

1.0.9

Fix:
1. Fix minor warning issues.
2. Fix css issues.
3. Re-test on php7.2

1.0.8

Fix:
1. Wrong number of arguments’ errors filling up logs.
2. Purge Varnish cache on comment post/update on published post.

1.0.7

Fix:

Plugin shows white screen after setup.
Multiple Varnish terminals connect message is wrong.

1.0.6

Fix:
1. Plugin shows white screen after setup.
1. Multiple Varnish terminals connect message is wrong.

Implement Trigger to purge post on comment approved/unapproved
Fix: Wrong number of arguments
Update respected screens.

1.0.5

Purge Custom URLs
Update screens.

1.0.4

Enable expire configuration automatically when plug in enabled.
Add more tags.
Update screens.

Version 2.x

PHP 4.x/5.x/6.x/7.x compatibility.