StackCP CDN #
The StackCP CDN is a powerful, free content distribution network (or content delivery network) that uses physical, highly optimized servers across the world to cache the content of your websites served from the StackCP platform. Cached content is stored at multiple CDN nodes so global customers will connect directly to CDN nodes instead of directly to our local network, resulting in faster content delivery and quicker website load times.
It’s included at no extra charge with our Web Hosting, WordPress Hosting, Reseller Hosting, and Managed Hosting packages. The StackCP CDN is comparable to paid plans from other CDN providers, such as Cloudflare.
Benefits of a CDN #
Content is Actively Cached: Every global CDN node actively caches static files. This offers an enhanced and consistent user experience to visitors everywhere, improving page speed and delivering better-performing sites to your users.
Reduced Latency: The StackCP CDN has highly connected CDN nodes globally, ensuring your users will always reach a node close to them, reducing latency and improving website load times.
Improved SEO: With the StackCP CDN, you get access to the Website Acceleration Suite, which provides tools to help achieve a perfect Google PageSpeed Score of 100/100. By selecting the One Click Optimisation section, you can apply recommended settings to improve website load times. Since page speed is a direct ranking factor for your websites, using these options within the StackCP control panel can help optimize your sites for SEO.
Using the StackCP CDN #
You can power-up your websites using the StackCP CDN from within your StackCP account.
Understanding the StackCP CDN #
The CDN caches static content by default, including file types like:
bmp, class, css, csv, doc, docx, ejs, eot, eps, gif, ico, jar, jpeg, jpg, js, mid, midi, otf, pdf, pict, pls, png, ppt, pptx, ps, svg, svgz, swf, tif, tiff, webp, woff, woff2, xls, xls2, robots.txt
This cache, referred to as Edge Caching, is stored at our network edge (CDN nodes) and can be purged at any time from the Edge Caching section within your control panel. Access this via Manage Hosting > Manage > Edge Caching.
Dynamic Cache #
Dynamic caching involves caching content that is generated dynamically on the website, such as content from scripts. A copy of this content is stored and served to subsequent users until the cache expires. Our Dynamic Cache allows caching of any resource using public Cache-Control and Expires headers.
For websites using our StackCache plugin, this enables full-page dynamic content caching, ensuring rapid Time To First Byte (TTFB) times for all resources regardless of visitor location.
Checking Your Website is Being Cached #
To check that your site is being cached, use Google Chrome’s console to view your website’s response HTTP headers:
- Using Chrome, visit your website, right-click and select Inspect to open the Developer Tools.
- Select the Network tab.
- Reload the website and select any HTTP request from the left panel. The HTTP headers will be displayed in the right panel.
Look for the x-cdn-cache-status response to determine if the website has been cached:
- HIT: The website’s static content was requested from StackCP’s CDN.
- MISS: The website’s static content was not found in StackCP’s CDN and was loaded from the origin server. This will appear on the first load of a website; subsequent reloads should show a cache HIT.
- BYPASS: The origin server instructed the StackCP CDN to bypass cache. This occurs if you’re within the WordPress Admin to ensure you always see the latest changes.
Note: Other caching plugins such as W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache may interfere with the CDN and cause a cache MISS. These plugins can be disabled.
