Remote Media Storage

Q: What is Remote Media Storage?
A: Remote Media Storage is a WordPress plugin that stores your media files (images, videos, documents) on external FTP/SFTP servers instead of your hosting server, reducing hosting storage usage and improving performance.

Q: How does the plugin work?
A: The plugin intercepts WordPress media uploads, transfers files to your configured FTP server, indexes them in the database, and rewrites URLs to point to the remote storage location while maintaining full WordPress Media Library compatibility.

Q: What WordPress version is required?
A: Remote Media Storage requires WordPress 5.0 or higher and PHP 7.4 or higher. The FTP extension must also be enabled on your server.

Q: What types of storage servers are supported?
A: Currently v0.0.2 supports FTP connections. SFTP and FTPS support is planned for v0.0.3. Future versions will add cloud storage options like Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and Azure Blob Storage.

Q: Will my existing media files be moved automatically?
A: No, existing files remain in place. A migration tool is planned for v0.0.3 that will allow you to move existing media to remote storage. New uploads will go to remote storage once enabled.

Q: Can I use multiple storage servers?
A: Currently v0.0.2 supports one storage space. Multiple storage spaces will be available in the Pro version (planned for v1.0).

Q: What happens if my FTP server goes down?
A: Media URLs will return 404 errors if the remote server is unavailable. It's recommended to use a reliable FTP hosting service. Future versions will include fallback mechanisms.

Q: Are my local files deleted after upload?
A: By default, local files are kept. You can enable "Delete Local Files" in settings to remove local copies after successful remote upload. Always backup before enabling this option.

Q: How do I know if files are being uploaded to remote storage?
A: Check the "File Index" in the database or test by uploading a new file and verifying it appears on your FTP server. The connection test feature also confirms FTP connectivity.

Q: Can I disable remote storage temporarily?
A: Yes, simply uncheck "Enable Remote Storage" in settings. New uploads will go to local storage until re-enabled. Existing remote files will remain accessible.

Q: What happens to my media if I uninstall the plugin?
A: Database tables and file indexes are removed, but files remain on your FTP server. You'd need to manually migrate them back to local storage if needed.

Q: Is my FTP password secure?
A: Passwords are stored encrypted in the WordPress database using WordPress's built-in encryption methods. Always use strong, unique FTP credentials.

Q: Can I use this with CDN services?
A: Yes! The plugin is compatible with CDN services. Configure your CDN to point to the same public URL used in your storage space configuration.

Q: How does this affect WordPress Media Library?
A: The Media Library continues to work exactly as before. You can still view, edit, and manage media through WordPress, but files are stored remotely.

Q: What file types are supported?
A: All WordPress media file types are supported: images (JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP), documents (PDF, DOC, TXT), videos (MP4, AVI, MOV), and audio files (MP3, WAV).

Q: Can I set a custom directory structure on the FTP server?
A: Yes, use the "Root Path" setting to specify a custom directory (e.g., "/media/2025" or "/uploads"). The plugin will create directories as needed.

Q: How do I backup my remote media files?
A: Backup your FTP server separately from WordPress. Future Pro versions will include automated backup features with scheduling.

Q: Does this work with multisite installations?
A: Basic functionality works, but full multisite support with per-site isolation is planned for the Pro version (v1.0).

Q: What's the performance impact?
A: Uploads may take slightly longer due to FTP transfer, but website performance often improves since media is served from specialized storage servers rather than shared hosting.

Q: Can I test the plugin before using it?
A: Yes! Use the test.php script included with the plugin, or set up a test FTP server to verify functionality before using on production sites.

Q: How do I get support if I have issues?
A: Check the troubleshooting section in INSTALLATION.md, enable WordPress debug mode, and review error logs. The plugin includes comprehensive error logging and connection testing.

Q: Is this plugin free?
A: The basic version (v0.0.x) is free with core FTP functionality. Future Pro versions will add advanced features like multiple storage spaces, SFTP/FTPS support, migration tools, and backup functionality.

Q: What's the difference between free and Pro versions?
A: Free version includes single FTP storage space and basic features. Pro version (planned for v1.0) will include multiple storage spaces, SFTP/FTPS, migration tools, scheduled backups, health monitoring, and priority support.

Q: How often is the plugin updated?
A: We follow a regular release schedule with monthly minor updates for bug fixes and quarterly major updates for new features. Security updates are released as needed.

Q: Can I request features?
A: Yes! Feature requests can be submitted through GitHub issues. We prioritize features based on user feedback and technical feasibility.

Q: Does this work with WordPress page builders?
A: Yes, the plugin is compatible with all page builders (Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, etc.) since it works at the WordPress core level.

Q: What happens to media URLs in existing content?
A: Existing content URLs are not automatically changed. A URL rebuild tool is planned for v0.0.3 to update all media URLs in posts and pages.

Q: Can I use this with WooCommerce?
A: Yes, the plugin works with WooCommerce product images and media. All WooCommerce media will be stored remotely when the plugin is enabled.

Q: Is there a file size limit?
A: The plugin itself doesn't impose limits, but your FTP server and WordPress settings may have file size restrictions. Check both configurations for large file uploads.

Q: How do I monitor storage usage?
A: Check your FTP server's storage usage directly. Future Pro versions will include storage health monitoring with usage statistics and alerts.

Q: Can I export my storage configuration?
A: Currently configuration is stored in the WordPress database. Import/export functionality is planned for future versions to make site migration easier.

Q: Does this work with WordPress mobile apps?
A: Yes, media uploaded through WordPress mobile apps will be processed by the plugin just like desktop uploads, as long as the plugin is active on the site.

Q: What's the roadmap for future versions?
A: v0.0.3 will add SFTP/FTPS support and migration tools. v0.1.0 will be the beta release. v1.0 will be the production release with Pro features. See Roadmap.md for detailed planning.

Q: How can I contribute to development?
A: We welcome contributions! Check the GitHub repository for development guidelines, report bugs, submit pull requests, or help with documentation and testing.